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Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Gibraltar: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
Z7294
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Gibraltar - Luqa
Location:
Gibraltar
All United Kingdom
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew departed Gibraltar on a ferry flight to Luqa. Shortly after takeoff, one of the engine failed. The crew decided to return for an emergency landing but on final approach, the airplane stalled and crashed into the sea. Two crew members were killed and two others were injured.
Crew:
P/O Andrew Thomas Lawson-Tancred, pilot,
Sgt D. R. McKinnon, observer,
Sgt Robert Sangster, wireless operator. †
Passenger:
Cpl William Harry Wallett. †
Probable cause:
Engine failure after takeoff. It is believed that on approach, the crew mistakenly raised the landing gear and mispositioned the flaps.

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

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley
Operator:
Registration:
Z9385
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Stradishall - Stradishall
MSN:
2392
YOM:
1941
Location:
Stradishall AFB
Suffolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While returning to RAF Stradishall following special duties, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances. Three crew members were killed and one of the pilot was seriously injured. He died from injuries sustained on 12 January 1942.
Crew:
F/Sgt John Russell Petts, pilot,
F/Sgt Alvin Wilbert Reimer, pilot,
Sgt George Russell Stewart Gordon, observer,
Sgt Herbert Andrew Pickering, wireless operator.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC near Ashburton

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 416 Wellington IC
Operator:
Registration:
Z8971
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Feltwell - Feltwell
Location:
Ashburton
Devonshire
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 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 Bristol 142 Blenheim I off Port Swettenham: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L1243
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
8526
YOM:
1938
Location:
Port Klang
Selangor
Country:
Malaysia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane was shot down by British Commonwealth troops and crashed into the sea off Port Klang. Two crew members were killed and a third was rescued after he bailed out.
Crew:
F/Sgt Ronald Vincent Burbidge, †
F/Sgt George Harold Desmond Dawson, †
F/Sgt Dutton, wireless operator.
Probable cause:
Mistakenly shot down by friendly fire.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V off Petten: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 27, 1941 at 2146 LT
Type of aircraft:
Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley
Operator:
Registration:
Z6841
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Linton-on-Ouse - Linton-on-Ouse
MSN:
2201
YOM:
1941
Location:
Petten
North Holland
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Linton-on-Ouse at 1656LT on an operation to Düsseldorf. While returning to base in the evening, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed into the sea some 1,5 km west of Petten. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Melville John Hyland Hunt, pilot,
Sgt Ian Allan,
Sgt Eric Frank Elkanah Hodges,
Sgt Reginald Alfred Johnson,
W/O John Joseph Lynch.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V in Kempen: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 27, 1941 at 2125 LT
Type of aircraft:
Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley
Operator:
Registration:
Z6956
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Leeming - Leeming
MSN:
2248
YOM:
1941
Location:
Kempen
North Rhine-Westphalia
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Leeming at 1644LT on an operation to Düsseldorf. It was shot down by a Me.110 and crashed near Kempen. A crew was killed and four others became PoW.
Crew.
Sgt William Alan Blackburn, wireless operator, †
Sgt Cyril Henry Grace,
F/O Richard John Kimbell,
P/O Charles Walter Murphy,
Sgt Allan Bernard Wiggins.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V in Viersen: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 27, 1941 at 2045 LT
Type of aircraft:
Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley
Operator:
Registration:
Z9226
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Leeming - Leeming
MSN:
2331
YOM:
1941
Location:
Viersen
North Rhine-Westphalia
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Leeming at 1652LT on an operation to Düsseldorf. It was shot down by a Me.110 and crashed in Viersen, killing the entire crew.
Crew:
P/O John Norman Chisholm, pilot,
P/O Anthony David Scott-Martin, pilot,
Sgt Philip George Clark, observer,
W/O William Jowett, wireless operator,
Sgt Samuel George Thompson, wireless operator.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC in Heeze: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 27, 1941 at 2030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 416 Wellington IC
Operator:
Registration:
Z1097
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Feltwell - Feltwell
Location:
Heeze
North Brabant
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Feltwell at 1700LT on an operation to Düsseldorf. It was shot down by a Me.110 and crashed near Heeze. Five crew members were killed and a sixth became PoW.
Crew:
W/O Thomas Purdy, pilot, †
Sgt Maxwell Joseph Cronin, pilot, †
Sgt Robert Frederick Aldous, wireless operator, †
Sgt Walter James Poulton, air gunner, †
F/O Ronald Cave Scarlett, †
Sgt Stanley Barraclough.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC in Wegberg: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 27, 1941 at 2015 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 416 Wellington IC
Operator:
Registration:
Z1115
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Oakington - Oakington
Location:
Wegberg
North Rhine-Westphalia
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Oakington at 1700LT on an operation to Düsseldorf. It was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in Wegberg, killing the entire crew.
Crew:
Sgt James Deane Anderson, pilot,
P/O Gerald Kurt Kenneth Keston Pelmore, pilot,
Sgt Owen Ernest Rance, observer,
Sgt Stanley Johnson, wireless operator,
Sgt Peter Cedric Williams, wireless operator,
Sgt David Smith Edmond, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V in Sint-Jacobiparochie: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 27, 1941 at 1957 LT
Type of aircraft:
Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley
Operator:
Registration:
Z9306
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Leeming - Leeming
MSN:
2370
YOM:
1941
Location:
Sint-Jacobiparochie
Friesland
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Leeming at 1653LT on an operation to Düsseldorf. Passing over the Netherlands at night, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in Sint-Jacobiparochie. Four crew members were killed and a fifth became PoW.
Crew:
P/O Charles Acton Chaplin Havelock, pilot, †
F/Sgt Donald Eric Ozment, pilot, †
Sgt Ronald Shuttleworth, observer, †
Sgt Eric Fieldsend, wireless operator, †
Sgt Donald Morton Godard, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.
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