Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC near Ashburton

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
Z8971
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Feltwell - Feltwell
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Feltwell on an operation to Brest. While returning to base, it crashed for unknown reasons in Dartmoor, northwest of Ashburton. All six crew members escaped with minor injuries.
Crew:
Sgt Machin, pilot,
Sgt Thompson,
Sgt G. S. Bolshaw,
Sgt W. F. Bourne,
Sgt Buckby,
Sgt J. D. Clements.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland II off RAF Mount Batten: 11 killed

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
W3998
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Mount Batten - Mount Batten
Region:
Crew on board:
15
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The floatplane departed RAF Mount Batten on a maritime patrol flight with a crew of 15 on board. Shortly after liftoff, while climbing, it went out of control and crashed into the sea some 200 yards offshore. Eleven crew members were killed and four others were rescued.
Crew:
F/Lt David James Fletcher, pilot, †
AC1 Kenneth William Bennett, †
AC1 Robert Cunningham, †
LAC James Wallace Douglas, †
LAC John Burnett Hides, †
Cpl John Humphrey Martin, †
F/Sgt Herbert Frederick Mitchell, air gunner, †
AC2 James Robinson, †
Sgt Herbert Leslie Southall, †
LAC John Hay Wallace, †
AC2 William Watson, †
Sgt G. F. H. Booth,
P/O W. W. Ince,
Sgt H. S. Lodge,
Sgt A. Penny.

Crash of a Vickers 406 Wellington II in Exeter: 6 killed

Date & Time: Sep 27, 1941 at 1645 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
W5432
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Driffield - Driffield
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Driffield on a test flight. En route, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and decided to divert to Exeter Airport where the bomber crashed on approach. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Leslie Mellor Rhodes, pilot,
P/O John Ross Robertson, pilot,
Sgt Matthew Ward Wright, observer,
Sgt Bernard Kenneth George Willmer, wireless operator,
Sgt Gordon Bannerman Dundas, wireless operator,
Sgt Victor Ernest Thomas Riddiford, air gunner.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC in Horrabridge

Date & Time: Sep 4, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
W5684
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Marham - Marham
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Marham at 2003LT on September 3 on an operation to Brest. After being damaged by the German Flak over the target area, the crew returned to base. As he encountered poor weather conditions, he abandoned the airplane that crashed near Horrabridge. All six crew members escaped uninjured.
Crew:
P/O Scholes,
Sgt Morton,
Sgt Batty,
Sgt Newark,
Sgt Kinsey,
Sgt Haynes.
Probable cause:
Damaged by the German Flak and abandoned by the crew.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I off Hartland Point

Date & Time: Aug 26, 1941 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L7072
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea off Hartland Point, Devon. Crew fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Junkers JU.88A-5 near Tavistock: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 17, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
7T+BL
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
4392
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in an operation to the Plymouth Canal (Tamar). It was shot down by the British Flak and crashed in the Gawtons Wood near Tavistock. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Lt Ernst Otto Wentzler, pilot,
Gefr Roderic Severin von Heinman, observer,
Gefr Alexander Reimann, radio operator,
Gefr Hans Otto Pusch, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the British Flak.

Crash of a Boeing B-17C Flying Fortress I at RAF Roborough: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 16, 1941
Operator:
Registration:
AN523
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Polebrook - Polebrook
MSN:
2056
YOM:
1940
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Polebrook at 0903LT on an operation to Brest. Approaching the target area at an altitude of 32,000 feet, the airplane was attacked by the pilots of two German fighters. The crew was able to evacuate the combat area and later initiated a descent to RAF Roborough located 6 km north of Plymouth. On approach, the airplane crashed near the airfield, bursting into flames. Three crew members were killed and four others were injured.
Crew (90th Squadron):
F/Sgt Sidney Ambrose, wireless operator, †
F/Sgt Michael John Leahy, wireless operator, †
Sgt Harold Needle, wireless operator, †
P/O Sturmey,
P/O Franks,
P/O Mulligan,
F/S Goldsmith.
Probable cause:
Shot down by German fighters.

Crash of a Vickers 406 Wellington II off Torpoint

Date & Time: Jul 24, 1941 at 1635 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
W5581
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Pocklington - Pocklington
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Pocklington at 1134LT on an operation to Brest. While returning to base, it was engaged in an aerial combat and has to be ditched some 300 yards off Torpoint. Three crew members were injured.
Crew:
Sgt J. J. Hughes,
Sgt G. K. Higgins,
Sgt J. W. Craig,
Sgt H. McNeil,
Sgt R. Leonard,
Sgt Bain.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I off Plymouth: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 7, 1941 at 0242 LT
Operator:
Registration:
AD861
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Coningsby - Coningsby
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Coningsby in the evening of July 6 on an operation to Brest. While returning to base the following night, it collided with the cable of a barrage balloon and crashed in the Plymouth Sound. Two crew members were killed and two others were injured.
Crew:
F/Sgt Robert McCormick, wireless operator, †
Sgt John Wright, wireless operator, †
Sgt J. J. Field,
Sgt C. F. Bedell.
Probable cause:
Collision with a barrage balloon cable.

Crash of a Douglas A-20A Havoc in Exeter

Date & Time: Jun 16, 1941 at 0130 LT
Operator:
Registration:
AX925
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Exeter - Exeter
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Exeter Airport on a mine laying operation but was forced to return earlier because GCI was unable to take control. On final approach at night, the pilot descended too low when the airplane collided with an embankment and crashed short of runway. The airplane was destroyed and both crew members were injured.