Kent | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The airplane departed RAF Lindholme at 2013LT on September 2 on an operation to Frankfurt. While outbound, over Oudenaarde, Belgium, it was hit by the German Flak which causedc a fire in the starboard engine. The pilot turned about, but the port engine subsequently failed and the bomber was ditched 7 miles off the South Foreland near ST Margaret's at Cliff. All six crew members were rescued by HSL147.
Crew:
Sgt Molata,
F/O Drzechowski,
F/O Jarkewski,
Sgt Kratowchil,
Sgt Reng,
Sgt Czech.

Probable cause:

Damaged by the German Flak.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF Manston: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 7, 1941 at 1755 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

R3816

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Manston - Manston

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in a local test flight out from RAF Manston on this aircraft that have been repaired. Upon takeoff from a grassy runway, it appears that the airplane became airborne sooner than normal due to a bump in the surface of the airfield. Shortly after liftoff, it entered a right turn then stalled and crashed. Two crew members were killed and a third was injured.
Crew:
P/O Harold Andrew Thomas Lind, pilot,
Sgt Norman William Paples, observer,
Sgt Eric Douglas Kennedy, wireless operator.

Probable cause:

The report, which fails to list details of the crew, carries on to describe the accident which befell the Blenheim. It appears that it became airborne sooner than normal due to a bump in the surface of the airfield ( Manston was, of course, a grass airfield in those days) and, almost immediately, it commenced a right-hand turn at a low speed, and the undercarriage was lowered as if the pilot was attempting to land again. Unfortunately the Blenheim stalled and crashed. Examination of the wreckage at the scene of the accident showed that the main controls were in order, but after removal of the aircraft for more detailed examination it was found that the starboard elevator was jammed 'solid' in the neutral position. Unbroken dope showed that this tab had not moved from the neutral position in which it had been left after the inspection on 26.7.41. The port tab was fully down in the tail heavy position but this was considered to be due to impact. All three hinges on the starboard tab were rusted tightly on the sleeves which form the bearing journals and which are pinned on to the elevator framework tubing. In the centre bearing which is nearest to the tab actuating lever the bearing journal locating rivet had sheared, possibly during an effort to alter the tab settings. There was no sign of lubrication on any of the hinges. The report concludes by running through the likely sequence of events that lead to the accident, beginning with the Blenheim being left outside for so long, which allowed the parts to rust solid, continuing with the suggestion that the pilot had relied on the tab position indicator being in neutral and hadn't tested the circuit, and ending with his decision to land so that the trim problems could be investigated. The ultimate cause of the crash was, of course, the low-speed stall.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I near Dartford: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 31, 1941 at 0400 LT

Type of aircraft:

Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden

Operator:

Registration:

P4399

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

North Luffenham - North Luffenham

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF North Luffenham at 2306LT on July 30 on an operation to Cologne. While returning to base the following morning, the crew encountered very bad weather conditions. While flying in a violent storm, the airplane went out of control and crashed at Deast Hill near Dartford. Three crew members were killed and a fourth was injured.
Crew:
Sgt V. E. Baker, pilot,
F/Sgt Roy John West Geater, observer, †
Sgt Wilfred Leonard Butler, wireless operator, †
Sgt William Chambers, wireless operator. †

Probable cause:

Loss of control while flying in a violent storm.

Crash of a Junkers JU.88A-5 off Sheerness: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 28, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.88

Operator:

Registration:

7T+ML

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

6396

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane was shot down by a Hurricane and crashed into the sea off Sheerness. Two crew members were killed and two others were rescued and became PoW.
Crew:
1st Lt Rudolf Diehl, pilot, †
Stfw Friedrich Werner, mechanic, †
Fw Egon Gräubel, radio operator,
Uffz Josef Ferngruber, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a British fighter.

Crash of a Douglas A-20A Havoc in Manston: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 26, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston

Operator:

Registration:

AW402

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Manston - Ford

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

During the night, the airplane was involved in an operation to Ostend then returned to RAF Manston. After being refueled, it was taking off to return to its base at RAF Ford. It crashed upon takeoff for unknown reasons, coming to rest in flames. All three crew members were seriously injured and the pilot died from injuries sustained on August 10.
Crew:
F/Sgt J. B. Raffels,
Sgt R. W. Richardson,
Sgt C. L. M. Forsyth.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF Manston

Date & Time: Jul 21, 1941 at 1520 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

Z7501

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Manston - Manston

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Manston at 1445LT on an anti-shipping operation. Approaching the French coast, it was badly damaged by enemy fire but the crew was able to evacuate the area and to return to base. The airplane belly landed in a flapless configuration and came to rest. All three crew members evacuated safely, among them the observer was injured.
Crew:
Sgt John Hamilton Wotherspoon, pilot,
Sgt Colin Hugh Buchanan, observer,
Sgt Albert James Derrick, wireless operator.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV on Goodwin Sands

Date & Time: Jul 18, 1941 at 1150 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

V6369

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Manston - Manston

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Manston at 1115LT on an anti-shipping operation. Damaged by enemy fire, it was returning to base when it crash landed on Goodwin Sands. All three crew members were injured.
Crew:
Sgt L. Maguire, pilot,
Sgt E. R. Bangor-Jones, observer,
Sgt J. R. L. Haskins, wireless operator.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a enemy fire.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling I off Deal: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jul 18, 1941 at 1140 LT

Type of aircraft:

Short S.29 Stirling

Operator:

Registration:

N6030

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Wyton - Wyton

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Wyton in an attempt to raid Wesel using cloud cover. Due to clearing skies, the crew returned to base when the airplane was shot down by a Me.109 and crashed into the seas off Deal. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Kenneth Godfrey Howard Davies, flight engineer,
Sgt Alfred James Higgison,
F/O Sydney Douglas Marshall,
Sgt Gordon Hogarth Mayor,
P/O John Davis Walker McCallum, observer,
F/Sgt Charles George White, wireless operator,
Sgt Arthur Walter Dudley Frost, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Heinkel He.111H-5 in Kennington

Date & Time: May 11, 1941 at 0045 LT

Type of aircraft:

Heinkel He.111

Operator:

Registration:

A1+JN

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Lille - Lille

MSN:

3976

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Lille Airport to attack the London docks. While flying at night, it was shot down by a British fighter and crash landed in a field located in Kennington. All five crew members were injured and became PoW.
Crew:
Fw Richard Fürthmann, pilot,
Hpt Albert Hufenreuter, observer,
Uffz Karol Gerhardt, radio operator,
Gefr Josef Berzbach, flight engineer,
Gefr Edgar Weber, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a British fighter.

Crash of a Heinkel He.111H-5 in Upchurch: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 11, 1941 at 0022 LT

Type of aircraft:

Heinkel He.111

Operator:

Registration:

A1+CL

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Vitry-en-Artois - Vitry-en-Artois

MSN:

4002

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The bomber departed Vitry-en-Artois Airfield at 2230LT on an operation to London (Victoria Docks). While cruising at an altitude of 15,000 feet, the airplane was shot down by a British fighter and entered a dive. The crew was able to bail out but three of them were killed, maybe because they bailed out too late.
Crew:
Lt Walter von Siber, pilot,
Fw Josef Fischer, observer,
Uffz Adolf Schurff, radio operator, †
Ofw Helmut Meister, mechanic, †
Fw Edmund Wylezol, air gunner. †

Probable cause:

Shot down by a British fighter.

Subscribe to Kent