Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III at RAF Croft

Date & Time: Nov 15, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
BK276
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Croft - Croft
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a night training exercise at RAF Croft. After takeoff, while climbing away for a third circuit, the bomber collided with the tops of trees bordering the airfield and crashed into a field just beyond the boundary. All six crew members escaped with various injuries.
Crew:
Sgt Southwood +5.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.63 Halifax V in Birkby: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 9, 1942 at 1530 LT
Operator:
Registration:
DG238
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Leeming - Leeming
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Leeming on a fighter affiliation exercise. In flight, the pilot initiated a steep turn when the airplane stalled and crashed in Birkby. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Ronald George Bell, pilot,
Sgt Arthur Ernest Fuce Giles, flight engineer,
Sgt Douglas Dean Gardner, navigator,
sgt Ian Fowler Stewart McColl, wireless operator,
P/O Philip Malcolm Matthews, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Pilot error.

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III at RAF Croft: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 10, 1942 at 1443 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
BK335
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Croft - Croft
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training exercise at RAF Croft. While taking off, the airplane suffered an engine failure and crashed, bursting into flames. Four crew members were injured and two others were killed. The next day, the pilot died from injuries sustained.
Crew:
Sgt Lewis William Scobie, pilot, †
F/Sgt Richard John Todd Colvin, bomb aimer, †
P/O P. Campbell,
Sgt G. A. Lloyd,
Sgt Hans D'Aperng,
F/Sgt Herbert Ernest Hicks, air gunner. †
Probable cause:
Engine failure at takeoff.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II at RAF Middleton St George: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 28, 1942 at 1545 LT
Operator:
Registration:
W7665
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Middleton Saint George - Middleton Saint George
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training exercise at RAF Middleton St Geroge. The airplane crashed while attempting to land on three engines, the port outer being feathered. The airplane was destroyed and all five crew members were injured. The following day, the pilot died from injuries sustained.
Crew:
F/Sgt Sidney Tackley, pilot, †
Sgt H. W. Owen,
Sgt Wilson,
Sgt Morgan,
Ac1 Robertson.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II at RAF Middleton St George: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jun 25, 1942 at 1530 LT
Operator:
Registration:
R9482
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Middleton Saint George - Middleton Saint George
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in a local test flight at RAF Middleton St George. It took off at 1530LT and crashed almost immediately, due to one, or both engines, failing on the port side. The Halifax climbed slowly to approximately 100 feet, stalled and dived into the ground and burst into flames. Five crew members were killed and the sixth occupant was injured.
Crew:
Sgt Arthur Aston, pilot, †
Sgt Herbert Ralph Smith, flight engineer, †
P/O William Joseph Cole, observer, †
Sgt Cecil Douglas Barnett, wireless operator, †
Sgt Lawrence Desmond Richardson, air gunner, †
P/O Herbert Reginald Higgins, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Failure of one or two engines.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II in RAF Middleton St George: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jun 24, 1942 at 1118 LT
Operator:
Registration:
W7661
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Middleton Saint George - Middleton Saint George
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at RAF Middleton St George. While flying in the vicinity of the airbase at an altitude of 2,000 feet, just below the cloud base, a RAF Avro 652 Anson registered V4140 appeared on a converging course. The pilot tried to dive beneath the Halifax but its tail assembly caught the Halifax and both airplane dove into the ground and crashed near the airfield. All eight crew members in both airplanes were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt James Henry Gordon Bingham, pilot,
Sgt Maurice Charles Glover, navigator,
W/O Melvin Harry Roberts, observer,
Sgt John Black Fraser Fanning, wireless operator,
Sgt Robert Gymer Warkcup, wireless operator,
Sgt Richard Hubert Bircher, air gunner.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I at RAF Middleton St George: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 24, 1942 at 1118 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
V4140
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Middleton Saint George - Middleton Saint George
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at RAF Middleton St George. While flying in the vicinity of the airbase at an altitude of 2,000 feet, just below the cloud base, the twin engine airplane suddenly appeared on a converging course. The pilot tried to dive beneath a RAF Halifax (registered W7661) but its tail assembly caught the Halifax and both airplane dove into the ground and crashed near the airfield. The Halifax was also completing a local training exercise at RAF Middleton St George. All eight crew members in both airplanes were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Frank Raymond Magson, pilot,
Sgt John Charles William Sealey, pilot.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II at RAF Croft: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 5, 1942 at 2325 LT
Operator:
Registration:
W7669
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Croft - Croft
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Croft at 2321LT on an operation to Essen. Shortly after takeoff, the port inner engine caught fire. The crew jettisoned the bombs and the pilot turned the aircraft around and into the airfield's landing circuit to go around and land. On final approach, the port wing dropped, the airplane stalled and crashed short of runway. Three crew members were killed and four others were injured. The airplane was destroyed.
Crew:
F/O Harold Ernest Bedford, pilot, †
Sgt Vincent George Musselwhite, flight engineer, †
P/O Frank Eric Alder, navigator, †
Sgt James O'Rourke, wireless operator,
Sgt John George Meller, air gunner,
Sgt Phillips,
Sgt W. L. Turner.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the engine fire was the consequence of a fuel leak.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II at RAF Middleton St George

Date & Time: Jun 4, 1942 at 0500 LT
Operator:
Registration:
W1035
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Middleton Saint George - Middleton Saint George
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Middleton St George at 2303LT on June 3 on an operation to Bremen. It burst the port tire after running over a Glim Lamp. The pilot decided to continue with the operation, and this was completed satisfactorily. On return to base at 0500LT the following night, the undercarriage collapsed as the Halifax landed, sustaining considerable damage. There were no injuries among the crew.
Crew:
Sgt J. H. G. Bingham,
Sgt G. Thom,
Sgt M. C. Glover,
F/S M. H. Roberts,
Sgt J. B. F. Fanning,
Sgt R. H. Warkcup,
Sgt R. N. Bircher.
Probable cause:
Undercarriage collapsed upon landing after a tire burst during the previous takeoff.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II at RAF Croft

Date & Time: May 27, 1942 at 0840 LT
Operator:
Registration:
W1090
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Croft - Croft
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local test flight at RAF Croft. Almost immediately after takeoff, the airplane crashed and collided with another Halifax. The second airplane involved was repaired and there were no injuries among the crew.
Crew:
Sgt W. Dench +4.