Crash of a Boeing B-17B Flying Fortress in Río Hato

Date & Time: Oct 8, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
38-221
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
2014
YOM:
1938
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane ground looped on takeoff from Río Hato Airport and was damaged beyond repair. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Lockheed L-14-WF62 Super Electra in Rockhampton

Date & Time: Oct 7, 1942 at 0900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-CXK
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Brisbane - Rockhampton - Townsville
MSN:
1443
YOM:
1938
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Brisbane-Archerfield Airport at 0610LT on a flight to Townsville with an intermediate stop in Rockhampton. On board were six passengers (RAAF officers) and four crew members. Upon landing at Rockhampton Airfield, the undercarriage collapsed. The airplane slid for few dozen metres then came to rest, bursting into flames. All 10 occupants evacuated the cabin but suffered serious burns. The airplane was totally destroyed by fire. This airplane was later designated as C-111 and re-registered 44-83235.
Crew:
1st Lt James O. Cobb, pilot +3.
Probable cause:
Undercarriage collapsed on landing, probably due to sabotage.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford near RAF Newmarket

Date & Time: Oct 7, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L4625
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Spitalgate - Spitalgate
MSN:
92
YOM:
1938
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While on a supply mission, the crew lost his orientation and was unable to localize his position due to weather deterioration. Few minutes later, both engines failed due to fuel exhaustion. All four crew members decided to abandon the aircraft and bailed out. The airplane dove into the ground and crashed near RAF Newmarket. All four crew members parachuted to safety.
Probable cause:
Pilot disorientation and fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Cessna AT-17 Bobcat at Columbus AFB

Date & Time: Oct 6, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
42-400
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane crashed on landing and was damaged beyond repair. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress at Holloman AFB

Date & Time: Oct 6, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
41-2541
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
2352
YOM:
1941
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane suffered an unknown technical failure and crashed on landing at Holloman AFB, bursting into flames. There were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Unknown technical failure.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester I at RAF Dunholme Lodge

Date & Time: Oct 6, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L7473
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from RAF Dunholme Lodge, while in initial climb, the airplane suffered an engine failure, stalled and crashed near the runway end. There were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Engine failure short after rotation.

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III in Manston: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 5, 1942 at 2140 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
BJ646
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Warboys - Warboys
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Warboys at 1905LT on an operation to Aachen. Approaching the French coast, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity. The airplane was struck by lightning, causing the left engine to stop. The crew decided to return to base but shortly later, the airplane was attacked by German fighters. Five crew members bailed out, one of them was killed. Alone on board, the pilot return to England and completed an emergency landing at Manston Airport where the airplane crash landed and was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
F/Lt Douglas Ronald Greenup, pilot,
F/Sgt Charles Wendell Austin, air gunner, †
P/O William Douglas,
P/O Frederick Purvis,
P/O Thomas Elphage Trotman,
W/O Victor Percival Youdell.
Probable cause:
Struck by lightning and attacked by German fighters.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I at RAF Langar

Date & Time: Oct 5, 1942 at 2015 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
W4102
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Syerston - Syerston
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Syerston at 1915LT on an operation to Aachen. It returned early and crashed at 2015LT while trying to land at RAF Langar. A fire broke out, and later their was an explosion, which completely wrecked the Lancaster. All seven crew members escaped unhurt.
Crew:
Sgt G. P. Lace, pilot,
Sgt F. E. Burgess,
P/O W. M. Burnside,
Sgt J. R. Bradshaw,
Sgt L. H. Chester,
Sgt H. T. Adams,
Sgt J. T. Hunt.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling I at RAF Chedburg

Date & Time: Oct 5, 1942 at 1944 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
W7626
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Chedburg - Chedburg
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Chedburg at 1944LT on an operation to Aachen. It crashed almost immediately after liftoff after the pilot had been temporarily blinded by a flash of lightning. The airplane was destroyed and all four crew members escaped unhurt.
Crew:
Sgt K. H. Cartland, pilot,
Sgt S. Robson,
Sgt Sandham,
Sgt R. Potter.
Probable cause:
Loss of control at takeoff after the pilot had been temporarily blinded by a flash of lightning.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester I at RAF Scampton

Date & Time: Oct 5, 1942 at 1445 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L7386
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Scampton - Scampton
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training flight on behalf of the 57th Squadron. Following an uneventful mission, the pilot was returning to base when, on final approach, an engine caught fire. The airplane became unstable then stalled and crashed in an open field located few hundred metres short of runway. Upon impact, the undercarriage were sheared off and the airplane slid for few dozen metres before coming to rest. All four crew members escaped unhurt while the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
P/O M. E. Walsh, pilot +3.
Probable cause:
Engine fire on approach.