Topcliffe AFB | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The airplane departed RAF Topcliffe at 2207LT on August 5 on an operation to Frankfurt. After bombing Koblenz as an alternative target, the airplane was returning to base when it was shot down by the German Flak. All five crew members bailed out and became PoW. One of them evaded.
Crew:
P/O Douglas Gordon Baser,
Sgt Michael Bonaventure Cyrille Delaney,
P/O Ivan Arnold Kayes,
Sgt William Frederick Thuell,
Sgt Albert David Day.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V at RAF Topcliffe

Date & Time: Jul 31, 1941 at 0025 LT

Type of aircraft:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley

Operator:

Registration:

T4212

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Topcliffe - Topcliffe

MSN:

1885

YOM:

1940

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The airplane departed RAF Topcliffe on an operation to Boulogne. Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, it stalled and crashed, bursting into flames. All five crew members escaped uninjured.
Crew:
P/O D. Iveson,
Sgt W. G. Carter,
Sgt Lloyd,
Sgt E. W. Burgess,
Sgt Morgan.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V in Maurik

Date & Time: Jul 26, 1941 at 0235 LT

Type of aircraft:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley

Operator:

Registration:

Z6866

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

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Schedule:

Topcliffe - Topcliffe

MSN:

2207

YOM:

1941

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The airplane departed RAF Topcliffe at 2230LT on July 25 on an operation to Hanover. Passing over the Netherlands, it was shot down by the German Flak and crash landed in Maurik. All five crew members became PoW.
Crew:
Sgt Henry George Benfield,
Sgt Kenneth Samuel Carter,
P/O Idrwerth Patrick Bentley Denton,
Sgt Walter Raymond Gibson,
Sgt Robert Valentine Harnett.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V off Den Helder: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 26, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley

Operator:

Registration:

Z6576

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Topcliffe - Topcliffe

MSN:

2047

YOM:

1941

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The airplane departed RAF Topcliffe at 2224LT on July 25 on an operation to Hanover. Passing over the Netherlands, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed into the sea some 10 km west of Den Helder. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
S/L Eric Alliott Verdon-Roe, pilot,
Sgt Anthony Russell Holmes,
Sgt William Albert McGinley,
Sgt Leslie Netherclift,
P/O William Larry Rees.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V in Aldbourne

Date & Time: Jul 24, 1941 at 0450 LT

Type of aircraft:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley

Operator:

Registration:

Z6643

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

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Schedule:

Topcliffe - Topcliffe

MSN:

2077

YOM:

1941

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The airplane departed RAF Topcliffe at 2157LT on July 23 on an operation to La Pallice, west of La Rochelle. While returning to base the following night, it crashed in unknown circumstances in Aldbourne. All four crew members were injured.
Crew:
F/L F. A. Dury,
Sgt D. R. Brown,
Sgt D. V. Flavell,
Sgt Whittam.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V in Snaaskerke: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 10, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley

Operator:

Registration:

Z6743

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Topcliffe - Topcliffe

MSN:

2131

YOM:

1941

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The airplane departed RAF Topcliffe at 2229LT on July 9 on an operation to Aachen. After passing the Belgian coast, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in Snaaskerke. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Peter John McLean, pilot,
Sgt Reginald Brearley, wireless operator,
Sgt Albert Eaves, wireless operator,
P/O Grahame Gordon Whitting, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V in Orvelte: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 8, 1941 at 0055 LT

Type of aircraft:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley

Operator:

Registration:

Z6799

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

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Schedule:

Topcliffe - Topcliffe

MSN:

2159

YOM:

1941

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The airplane departed RAF Topcliffe at 2230LT on July 7 on an operation to Osnabrück. Passing over the Netherlands, it was shot down by a Me.110 and crashed in Orvelte. Four crew members were killed and a fifth became PoW.
Crew:
Flt Lt Charles Robert McLeod Petley, †
Sgt Gerald Lightley, †
Sgt Kenrick William Marshall Christopher, †
Sgt R. L. Luce,
Sgt Josiah Herbert Wilson. †

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V in Epe

Date & Time: Jul 7, 1941 at 0355 LT

Type of aircraft:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley

Operator:

Registration:

Z6642

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

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Site:

Schedule:

Topcliffe - Topcliffe

MSN:

2076

YOM:

1941

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The airplane departed RAF Topcliffe at 2238LT on July 6 on an operation to Dortmund. It crashed for unknown reasons in Epe and was destroyed. All five crew members became PoW.
Crew:
Sgt Norman Cound Bizley,
Sgt Geoffrey Cliffe Carter,
Sgt William Henry Ernest Harwood,
Sgt William John Haslam,
Sgt Walter Petch.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V near Heeze

Date & Time: Jul 7, 1941 at 0200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley

Operator:

Registration:

Z6752

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

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Site:

Schedule:

Topcliffe - Topcliffe

MSN:

2140

YOM:

1941

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The airplane departed RAF Topcliffe at 2240LT on July 6 on an operation to Dortmund. Over the Netherlands, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed near Heeze. All four crew members became PoW.
Crew:
Sgt Ernest Henry Alderton,
Sgt Denis Bradley,
Sgt Stephen Albert Evans,
F/Lt Jack Edward Simmonds.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V in Bacton

Date & Time: Jul 4, 1941 at 0440 LT

Type of aircraft:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley

Operator:

Registration:

T4330

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Topcliffe - Topcliffe

MSN:

1963

YOM:

1940

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The crew was forced to make an emergency landing for unknown reasons. The airplane crash landed in Bacton and was damaged beyond repair. All four crew members were uninjured.
Crew:
Sgt A. Davis,
Sgt R. H. Burr,
Sgt G. R. Davidson,
Sgt E. M. Cooke.