Flight | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The crew departed RAF Church Fenton on a training exercise. While flying in clouds, the pilot lost control of the airplane that entered a dive and crashed in Malton. Both occupants were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Cyril Arthur Edwards, pilot,
Sgt Arthur Charles Howard, pilot.

Crash of a Douglas A-20A Havoc II at RAF Upwood: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 2, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston

Operator:

Registration:

AE472

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Upwood - Upwood

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The crew was completing a local training flight at RAF Upwood. While circling at low altitude in the vicinity of the airbase, the pilot lost control of the airplane and bailed. The pilot escaped unhurt while the airplane crashed in a field, killing the observer who remained on board.
Crew:
Sgt J. A. Gunn, pilot,
Sgt Maurice Frederick Boynton, observer. †

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Castletown: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 2, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L9394

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Skitten - Skitten

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The crew was completing a local test flight out from RAF Skitten when the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in Castletown, about 16 km northwest of the airbase. The airplane was destroyed and all three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt William Edward Dale, pilot,
Cpl Leslie White McKinlay, observer,
Sgt Edward Glenelg Allen, wireless operator.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I in Chapel-en-le-Frith

Date & Time: Sep 2, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Airspeed AS.10 Oxford

Operator:

Registration:

V3210

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Cranwell - Cranwell

MSN:

2877

YOM:

1940

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The pilot departed RAF Cranwell on a solo training exercise. After he completed the flight above the clouds, he started the descent back to the base. Flying in clouds, the airplane crashed into a hill located near Chapel-en-le-Frith. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot was injured.
Crew:
LAC Brian C. Forsdick, pilot.

Probable cause:

It was reported that the pilot failed to follow the instruction not to fly above the clouds.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson V on Hidra Island: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 2, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-414 Hudson

Operator:

Registration:

AM599

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Thornaby - Thornaby

MSN:

414-2681

YOM:

1941

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The airplane departed RAF Thornaby on a maritime patrol flight along the Norwegian coast. While flying in limited visibility due to poor weather conditions, the airplane impacted the slope of a wooded hill on the Hidra Island located south of Flekkefjord. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (608th Squadron):
F/Sgt William Colin Eugene Broomhead, pilot,
Sgt Basel Lawson Thomas, pilot,
Sgt John Miller Christie, wireless operator,
Sgt George Law, wireless operator.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Junkers JU.88C-4 off Winterton-on-Sea: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 1, 1941 at 2355 LT

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.88

Operator:

Registration:

R4+CM

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Gilze-Rijen - Gilze-Rijen

MSN:

592

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The airplane departed Gilze-Rijen AFB on an operation to England. Approaching the coast of Norfolk, it was shot down by a Beaufighter and crashed in North Sea some 50 km off Winterton-on-Sea. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Fw Walter Kleine, pilot,
Fw Hans Engmann, radio operator,
Fw Helmut Fiedler, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a British fighter.

Crash of a Vickers 406 Wellington II near RAF Pocklington

Date & Time: Sep 1, 1941 at 2150 LT

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 406 Wellington II

Operator:

Registration:

W5535

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Pocklington - Pocklington

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The crew was completing a local training exercise at RAF Pocklington. While circling in the vicinity of the airbase, the left engine caught fire. The airplane crashed in a field near the airfield and was destroyed by a post crash fire. All three crew members escaped with minor injuries.
Crew:
Sgt Turner,
Sgt H. S. McNeil,
Sgt A. N. McLennan.

Probable cause:

The left engine caught fire in flight.

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

Date & Time: Sep 1, 1941 at 0200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden

Operator:

Registration:

AE187

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Scampton – Scampton

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The airplane departed RAF Scampton at 2015LT on August 31 on an operation to Cologne. While returning to base the following night, it was shot down by a Me.110 and crashed near Ysselsteyn. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Adrian John Somerville-Woodiwis, pilot,
F/Sgt Ralph Cuthbert Plaistowe, pilot,
Sgt James Hughes, wireless operator,
Sgt Robert Buist Scott, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Douglas A-20A Havoc II off Schouwen-Duiveland Island: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 1, 1941 at 0123 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston

Operator:

Registration:

AW404

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Manston - Manston

Location:

Schouwen-Duiveland Island

Zeeland

Country:

Netherlands

Region:

Europe

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The airplane departed RAF Manston at 2315LT on August 31 to attack the airbase of Gilze-Rijen in the Netherlands. Approaching the Dutch coast, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed into the sea. Two crew were killed and the pilot was injured and became PoW.
Crew:
P/O William Edward Thomas, pilot,
Sgt Royston Sidney Bryer, observer,
F/Sgt William David McAdam, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a the German Flak.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I in Asten: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 1, 1941 at 0018 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

AD912

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Scampton – Scampton

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Scampton at 2015LT on August 31 on an operation to Cologne. While returning to base the following night and passing over the Netherlands, it was shot down by a Me.110 and crashed in Asten. The pilot was killed and three other occupants were injured and became PoW.
Crew:
S/L Eric Peter Willcox, pilot, †
Sgt Harry Cecil Gabbitas,
Sgt Jack Lawrence,
F/Lt Douglas Bruce Organ.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

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