Marston Moor AFB | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The crew was engaged in an air gunnery training exercise with a RAF Spitfire. Shortly after takeoff from RAF Marston Moor, while climbing, the captain initiated a sharp turn when he lost control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed in a huge explosion in a field located about 800 metres from the airbase. The airplane was destroyed and all 10 crew members were killed.
Crew (1653 HCU):
F/Sgt Bryn Williams, pilot,
Sgt Alan Francis Bell, pilot,
P/O Thomas Henry Jones, air gunner,
Sgt Wilfred Anthony Kup, observer,
Sgt Edward Thorley, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Sidney Sampson, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Edward Albert Smith, air gunner,
Sgt Kenneth Caselton, air gunner,
Sgt William Henry Charles Booth, air gunner.
Sgt Douglas Arnold Wood.

Probable cause:

Loss of control in initial climb caused by the failure of the tail section, maybe due to a structural issue.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II in Luttenberg: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 26, 1942 at 0209 LT

Type of aircraft:

Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II

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Registration:

V9993

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Marston Moor - Marston Moor

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The airplane departed RAF Marston Moor at 2358LT on June 25 on an operation to Bremen. Over the Netherlands, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in Luttenberg. Two crew members were killed and five others became PoW.
Crew:
F/O Kenneth Derek Whisken, pilot, †
F/Sgt Harry Francis Spratt, copilot,
Sgt Victor Arthur Martin, flight engineer,
P/O William Henry Andrews, observer,
F/O David Bruce McKenzie, bomb aimer,
Sgt Robert Walker Wagstaff, wireless operator,
F/Sgt Ian Reay Watson, air gunner. †

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II in IJmuiden

Date & Time: Jun 2, 1942 at 0241 LT

Type of aircraft:

Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II

Operator:

Registration:

R9372

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Marston Moor - Marston Moor

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The airplane departed RAF Marston Moor at 0008LT on an operation to Essen. Over the target area, it lost power from one engine. The crew returned to England but over the Netherlands, while flying low, the airplane was shot down by the German Flak and crash landed near IJmuiden. All six crew members became PoW.
Crew:
Sgt Henry Jasper Daly,
Sgt Frank Edward Gostling,
Sgt Harry Vincent Jakcson,
Sgt Charles Richard Read,
Sgt Harry Aston Williams,
Sgt J. Williams.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax I near Weert: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 31, 1942 at 0207 LT

Type of aircraft:

Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax I

Operator:

Registration:

L9605

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Marston Moor - Marston Moor

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The airplane departed RAF Marston Moor at 2359LT on May 30 on an operation to Cologne. Over the Netherlands, it was shot down by a German fighter. Four crew members were able to bail out and became PoW while the fifth occupants crashed with the aircraft and was killed.
Crew:
F/Lt Stanley Grover Wright, pilot,
Sgt Hugh Percival Lowman, flight engineer,
F/O Douglas Gordon Cookson, observer,
Sgt Ronald Jack Tavener, wireless operator,
Sgt Kenneth James Arthur Manley, air gunner. †

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.