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Kent

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester I off RAF Manston: 7 killed

Date & Time: Apr 8, 1942 at 2330 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 679 Manchester
Operator:
Registration:
R5837
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Scampton - Scampton
Location:
Manston
Kent
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Scampton at 2101LT to drop leaflets in the region of Paris. Outbound, it was hit by the German Flak in the starboard engine. The crew elected to return to England but eventually ditched the airplane at 2330LT off RAF Manston. The captain survived and was later rescued while all other seven crew members failed to reach the dinghy.
Crew:
P/O M. A. Sproule, pilot,
F/O Douglas James Renvoize, flight engineer, †
Sgt Edward Augustine Fitchett, observer, †
F/O Donald Goodman, bomb aimer, †
P/O Harold Dickinson, wireless operator, †
Sgt John Neary, air gunner, †
Sgt Dennis Gerrard Porter, air gunner, †
P/O Robert James Dyer, air gunner. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7B Boston III off Dover: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 1, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
W8387
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Great Massingham - Great Massingham
Location:
Dover
Kent
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Great Massingham at 1209LT on an operation to Boulogne. Over the target area, it was hit by the German Flak and the crew decided to return to base. Approaching the British coast, the airplane was ditched in The Channel off Dover. Two crew members were killed and two others were rescued by a Royal Navy vessel.
Crew:
P/O Harry Neal, †
Cpl Donald Parr Thwaite, †
Sgt S. R. G. Adams,
Sgt P. Brady.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester I near Warden: 7 killed

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1942 at 0210 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 679 Manchester
Operator:
Registration:
R5831
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Scampton – Scampton
Location:
Warden
Kent
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Scampton at 2040LT on March 25 on an operation to Essen. While returning to base the following night, it collided with the cable of a barrage balloon and crashed near Warden, on the Isle of Sheppey. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Evan Moffat Price, pilot,
F/Sgt Robert Charles Snowball, pilot,
W/O Peter Richard Thompson, observer,
F/Sgt Matthew Cameron Roberts, wireless operator,
Sgt Joshua Arnold Devalle, wireless operator,
Sgt Harry George Samuel Garnham, air gunner,
Sgt Samuel Block, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Collision with the cable of a barrage balloon.

Crash of a Douglas A-20 Havoc I off Margate: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 27, 1942 at 1540 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
BB900
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Manston - Manston
Location:
Margate
Kent
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew departed Manston Airport on a local training exercise (proficiency check). An engine failed in flight and the airplane was ditched in the sea off Margate. The observer was killed and three other crew members were rescued.
Crew:
P/O Offord, pilot,
F/Sgt James Gerard Shandley, observer, +2.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Douglas A-20 Havoc I in Mereworth Wood: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
BD116
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
West Malling - West Malling
Location:
Mereworth Wood
Kent
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local test flight out from West Malling Airfield. While circling in the vicinity of the airport, the airplane went out of control and crashed at Mereworth Wood. The pilot was killed and the radio operator was injured.
Crew:
W/O James Hopewell, pilot,
Sgt C. W. Cragg.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the accident was the consequence of a loss of control due to flight control malfunction.

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III of Herne Bay: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 27, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 417 Wellington III
Operator:
Registration:
X3287
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Honington - Honington
Location:
Herne Bay
Kent
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Honington at 1713LT on an operation to Düsseldorf. While returning to base the following evening and while crossing the Dutch coast, the starboard engine caught fire. The airplane was abandoned by the crew and crashed into the sea off Herne Bay, Kent. Two crew members drowned and four others were injured and rescued.
Crew:
Sgt Gerald Gordon Armstrong, pilot, †
Sgt W. T. Ramey, pilot,
Sgt Peter William Bilsborough, air gunner, †
Sgt J. J. Amphlett,
Sgt K. W. Stevens,
Sgt J. Rutherford.
Probable cause:
Engine fire in flight.

Crash of a Douglas A-20A Havoc II in Deal: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 31, 1941 at 2005 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
AH520
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Hunsdon - Hunsdon
Location:
Deal
Kent
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane was returning to base at RAF Hunsdon following a maritime patrol flight when it crashed for unknown reasons in Deal. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
W/Cdr Arthur Thomas Drake Sanders, pilot,
F/O Sydney Austin.

Crash of a Vickers 406 Wellington II in Manston: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 21, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 406 Wellington II
Operator:
Registration:
W5452
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Stradishall - Stradishall
Location:
Manston
Kent
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Stradishall at 1924LT on September 20 on an operation to Berlin. For unknown reasons, the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing at Manston Airport where it crashed on approach after it collided with trees. Five crew members were killed and a sixth was injured.
Crew:
P/O Cyril William Abrey, pilot, †
Sgt Laurence Douglas Kissack, pilot, †
P/O John Benjamin Ruston, observer, †
Sgt John Aitken, wireless operator, †
Sgt Ivan John Green, wireless operator, †
P/O L. W. White.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC in Manston

Date & Time: Sep 21, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 416 Wellington IC
Operator:
Registration:
R1712
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Stradishall - Stradishall
Location:
Manston
Kent
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Stradishall at 1931LT on September 20 on an operation to Berlin. Approaching Münster, it was severely damaged by the German Flak but was able to leave the combat area and to return to Manston. It crashed upon landing and was damaged beyond repair. A crew member was injured.
Crew:
P/O Barnard,
Sgt Avent,
Sgt Emmerson,
Sgt Harvey,
Sgt Kitney,
Sgt Nash.
Probable cause:
Severely damaged by the German Flak.

Crash of a Douglas A-20A Havoc in West Malling: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 11, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
BJ486
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
West Malling - West Malling
Location:
West Malling
Kent
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
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 exercise at West Malling Airfield. On final approach, the crew initiated a go around procedure when the airplane stalled and crashed. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O E. G. Curtice,
Sgt A. Smalley.
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