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

Date & Time: May 20, 1942 at 1105 LT
Operator:
Registration:
W1103
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 completing a local test flight at RAF Croft. On final approach, the bomber crashed in a field, about 3 km north of the airbase. All five occupants were rescued, among them one was injured.
Crew:
S/L G. D. Leyland +4.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V at RAF Croft: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 14, 1942 at 0040 LT
Operator:
Registration:
Z9389
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Croft - Croft
MSN:
2396
YOM:
1942
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Croft at 1809LT on March 13 on an operation to Boulogne. While returning to base the following night, the pilot encountered difficulties. On the fifth attempt to land, the airplane overshot, impacted trees and crashed, bursting into flames. Three crew members were killed and two others were injured. One of the survivors died the next day from injuries sustained.
Crew:
P/O Cecil Frank Ferris, pilot, †
Sgt Robert Curragh Bell, copilot, †
Sgt Noel Thomas Gander, observer, †
Sgt John Ivor Evans Davies, wireless operator, †
Sgt Maurice Arthur Hentall, air gunner.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I at RAF Middleton St George

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1942 at 1155 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
V4139
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Middleton St George - Middleton St George
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at RAF Middleton Saint George. On final approach, at an altitude of 600 feet, the airplane suffered a loss of engine power, stalled and crashed. All three crew members were injured.
Crew:
S/L I. R. C. MacPherson,
P/O D. K. Hulme,
P/O A. E. Holt.
Probable cause:
Loss of engine power on final approach.

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

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1942 at 1100 LT
Operator:
Registration:
L9611
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Middleton St George - Middleton St George
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
For unknown reasons, the airplane crashed almost immediately after takeoff from RAF Middleton St George. All crew members were injured.
Crew:
Sgt F. W. Anderson.

Crash of a Junkers JU.88A-4 off Hartlepool: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 15, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
S4+EH
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
1612
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Approaching the coast of County Durham, the bomber was shot down by the British Flak and crashed into the sea. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Uffz Friedrich Pott, pilot,
Lt Dieter Andresen, observer,
Uffz Josef Scholze, radio operator,
Fw Franz Gruschka, mechanic.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax I at RAF Middleton Saint George

Date & Time: Jan 15, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
L9578
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Middleton St George - Middleton St George
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in a local training exercise at RAF Middleton St George. After landing, the undercarriage collapsed and the airplane was damaged beyond repair. There were no injuries among the crew.
Crew:
Sgt J. B. Stark +3.
Probable cause:
The undercarriage collapsed upon landing.

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

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1941 at 1630 LT
Operator:
Registration:
Z9308
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Croft - Croft
MSN:
2372
YOM:
1941
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Croft at 1607LT on an operation to Brest. Less than half an hour later, it suffered a loss of power on the right engine and crash landed near Harwood, northwest of Barnard-Castle. All five crew members escaped uninjured.
Crew:
Sgt J. A. Attwell,
Sgt Martin,
Sgt Howitson,
Sgt Turpin,
Sgt Johnston.
Probable cause:
Loss of power on the right engine in flight.

Crash of a Junkers JU.88D-1 off Seaham: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1941 at 1050 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F6+CL
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
1465
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While approaching the British coast, the bomber was shot down by a Hurricane and crashed into the sea some 10 miles off Seaham. All four crew members were killed.
Crew.
Lt Fritz Böhme, pilot,
Ofw Ludwig Volk, observer,
Ofw Friedrich Schackert, radio operator,
Fw Walter Lentfert, flight engineer.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a British fighter.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax I at RAF Middleton Saint George

Date & Time: Nov 30, 1941 at 2335 LT
Operator:
Registration:
L9604
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Middleton St George - Middleton St 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 1718LT on an operation to Hamburg. While returning to base in the late evening, it crashed upon landing and was damaged beyond repair. There were no injuries among the crew.
Crew:
Sgt G. R. Herbert,
Sgt J. H. G. Bingham,
Sgt Street,
Sgt M. H. Roberts,
Sgt J. B. Fanning,
Sgt Fulton,
Sgt M. C. Glover.

Crash of a Junkers JU.88A-5 off Hartlepool: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 16, 1941 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
S4+KH
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
0694
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Approaching the English coast, the bomber was shot down by a Spitfire. Both engines caught fire and the airplane crashed into the sea some 50 km northwest of Hartlepool. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Fw Bruno Schlau, pilot,
Obfhr Dieter Kutz, observer,
Uffz Karl Wilhelm, radio operator,
Ogefr Fritz Hölzgen, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a British fighter.