Royal Air Force - RAF | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The airplane departed RAF Oakington at 1912LT on an operation to Ostend. While returning to base and flying low, it impacted trees and crashed in Preston Deanery, in the east outskirt of Northampton. Five crew members were killed and a sixth was injured.
Crew:
Sgt William Robert Dil, pilot, †
P/O David Ivor Evans, pilot, †
P/O William Rand Lugar, observer, †
F/Sgt David Gifford Chattell, wireless operator, †
Sgt Frank Denis Rogers, wireless operator, †
Sgt Rawbathan.

Probable cause:

At the time of the accident, the wireless equipment was unserviceable and the pilot had descended in an attempt to establish his position.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC in Ambt Delden: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 20, 1941 at 2246 LT

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 416 Wellington IC

Operator:

Registration:

X9609

Flight Phase:

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Schedule:

Elsham Wolds - Elsham Wolds

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The airplane departed RAF Elsham Wolds at 1910LT on an operation to Berlin. Passing over the Netherlands, it was shot down by a Me.110 and crashed in Ambt Delden. Two crew members were killed and four others became PoW.
Crew:
S/L John Anthony Ingram, pilot,
F/O Thomas Wardhaugh, pilot, †
Sgt Charles Alfred Frederick Thomas, †
Sgt Norman Clyde,
Sgt William David King,
Sgt John Gordon Wright.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

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

Date & Time: Sep 20, 1941 at 2218 LT

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 416 Wellington IC

Operator:

Registration:

X9665

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Elsham Wolds - Elsham Wolds

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The airplane departed RAF Elsham Wolds at 1936LT on an operation to Berlin. Just after passing the German border, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in Gildehaus. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Ian Murchie, pilot,
Sgt German Francis Findlay, pilot,
Sgt Desmond Blake, observer,
Sgt David Preston Hawkes, wireless operator,
P/O Andrew Gordon Milne, air gunner,
Sgt James Bulman Bell, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I at RAF North Luffenham: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 20, 1941 at 2205 LT

Type of aircraft:

Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden

Operator:

Registration:

X3030

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

North Luffenham - North Luffenham

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The airplane departed RAF North Luffenham on an operation to Frankfurt. While returning to base in the evening, it collided with power cables and crashed on final approach to the airfield. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Eric Bramwell Parker, pilot,
Sgt Harold Douglas Weaver, observer,
Sgt Joseph Tankard, wireless operator,
Sgt Robert Francis Abernethy, wireless operator.

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

Date & Time: Sep 20, 1941 at 2123 LT

Type of aircraft:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley

Operator:

Registration:

Z6865

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

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Schedule:

Linton-on-Ouse - Linton-on-Ouse

MSN:

2206

YOM:

1941

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The airplane departed RAF Linton-on-Ouse at 1926LT on an operation to Ostend. As the bomber crossed the East Anglia coast near Orford Ness, trouble was experienced with the starboard exactor unit. This was followed by a total engine failure and the crew bailed out, leaving the airplane to crash at 2123LT at Breckles Heath, about 6 miles northeast of Thetford. All five crew members were uninjured.
Crew:
P/O L. J. Pestridge,
P/O Trickett,
Sgt Taylor,
Sgt Wallace,
Sgt Howarth.

Probable cause:

Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Zandvoort: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 20, 1941 at 1418 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

R3843

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Norwich - Norwich

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The airplane departed RAF Horsham St Faith at 1237LT on an anti-shipping operation. It was shot down by the German Marine Flak and crashed into the sea off Zandvoort. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt John Murray Nickelson, pilot,
Sgt Walter Meadows, observer,
Sgt John Edward Pearson, wireless operator.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Marine Flak.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Hoek van Holland: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 20, 1941 at 1405 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

Z7310

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Wattisham - Wattisham

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The airplane departed RAF Wattisham on an anti-shipping operation. Approaching the Dutch coast, it was hit by the German Flak. The starboard engine caught fire and the airplane crashed into the sea some 16 km off Hoek van Holland. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Lt Mayer Henry Richard Namias, pilot,
Sgt Kenneth Fredrick Hood, observer,
Sgt John Joseph Robson, wireless operator.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Hoek van Holland: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 20, 1941 at 1400 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

V6422

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Wattisham - Wattisham

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The airplane departed RAF Wattisham on an anti-shipping operation. While attacking a convoy off Hoek van Holland, it crashed into the sea after being caught in the blast of its own bombs. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt James Cecil Valentine Colmer, pilot,
Sgt Gordon Kenneth Bartlett, observer,
Sgt Leslie Trevor, wireless operator.