Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax I at RAF Tain

Date & Time: Feb 6, 1942 at 1515 LT
Operator:
Registration:
L9570
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Tain - Tain
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in a local training flight at RAF Tain when it suffered un undercarriage failure upon landing and was damaged beyond repair. There were no injuries among the crew.
Probable cause:
The undercarriage collapsed upon landing.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I at RAF Hinton-in-the-Hedges: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 6, 1942 at 1505 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L6809
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Hinton-in-the-Hedges - Hinton-in-the-Hedges
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot was engaged in a solo training flight at RAF Hinton-in-the-Hedges. One minute after takeoff, the airplane went out of control and crashed two miles northeast of the airfield. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot was killed.
Crew:
Sgt William Everard Smith, pilot.

Crash of a Bristol 152 Beaufort I at RAF Chivenor: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 6, 1942 at 0605 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L4499
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Chivenor - Chivenor
MSN:
8360
YOM:
1940
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from RAF Chivenor, while on a local training exercise, the airplane suffered an engine failure and crashed near the airfield. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Robert Frank Spencer-Schrader, pilot instructor.
P/O Anthony Hugh Denison Reffell, pilot,
F/Sgt william Leonard Hheavisides, wireless operator.
Probable cause:
Engine failure after takeoff.

Crash of a Vickers 424 Wellington IV in Exeter: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 6, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
Z1282
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Hemswell - Hemswell
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Hemswell at 1719LT on an operation to Brest. It was attacked by a night-fighter while returning to base, and very badly damaged Shrapnel from one of the shells set fire to a flare which exploded inside the aircraft, blowing the astrodome from its mountings and destroying some of the fuselage fabric. The pilot tried to make an emergency landing at Exeter, but was baulked by another aircraft. Unable to maintain control, the Wellington crashed between Pinhoe and Clyst Honiton on the west side of the aerodrome. Four crew members were killed and two others were injured.
Crew:
F/Sgt Czesław Bialy, †
Cpl Stefan Niczewski, †
Sgt Zygmunt Sadurski, †
P/O Wojciech Veit, †
F/O H. Kracinski,
F/O J. Chomka.
Probable cause:
Crashed on approach after being attacked by enemy fire.

Crash of a Junkers JU.88D-5 in Vitebsk: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 5, 1942 at 1502 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Vitebsk - Vitebsk
MSN:
1706
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in a local training flight at Vitebsk Airport, carrying one instructor and one student pilot. It crashed upon takeoff, killing both occupants.
Crew:
Uffz Horst Dohmhardt, pilot,
Prf Erich Schmidt, instructor.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC at RAF Moreton-in-Marsh: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 4, 1942 at 2055 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L7893
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Moreton-in-Marsh - Moreton-in-Marsh
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in a local training flight at RAF Moreton-in-Marsh. After liftoff, it encountered difficulties to gain height, collided with trees and crashed in a wooded area, bursting into flames. Three crew members were killed and three others were seriously injured. Two days later, one of the survivor died from injuries sustained.
Crew (21st ATU):
P/O Joseph Henry Kirk, pilot, †
P/O Harry Waugh, pilot, †
Sgt Wilfred Joseph Howson, wireless operator and air gunner, †
Sgt Robert Marshall, wireless operator and air gunner, †
Sgt Alan James Brock,
Sgt T. Bethell.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.84 Dragon I in Wenlock

Date & Time: Feb 4, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-URG
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Wenlock – Cairns
MSN:
6046
YOM:
1933
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from Wenlock Airport, while in initial climb, the left engine caught fire. The pilot Stewart G. Hack initiated a turn to the left to return for an emergency landing. On approach, the airplane stalled and crashed in a field, bursting into flames. All five occupants escaped uninjured and the airplane was destroyed by a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
The left engine caught fire after takeoff.

Crash of a Kochyerigin PS-43 in Moscow: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 3, 1942 at 0900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L3030
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Moscow - Leningrad
MSN:
530
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Aircraft flight hours:
190
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Moscow-Myachkovo Airport at 0855LT on a mail flight to Leningrad, carrying three crew members and one passenger. After takeoff, the airplane climbed to a height of 100 metres over a forest then the pilot initiated a turn to the left, apparently to return to the airport. While approaching the airfield at an altitude of 200 metres, the airplane entered a right turn then nosed down and crashed 200 metres west of the airport, five minutes after takeoff. The airplane was destroyed and all four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined. However, it is believed that the pilot encountered an unexpected situation after takeoff and decided to return for an emergency landing. On final, the airplane apparently stalled due to an insufficient approach speed.

Crash of a Lockheed A-29-LO Hudson in Long Beach

Date & Time: Feb 3, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
41-23576
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
414-6393
YOM:
1941
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was supposed to deliver the airplane to the RCAF in Canada (RCAF registration BW714). For unknown reasons, the airplane crashed upon takeoff at Long Beach Airport. Both crew members escaped with minor injuries.
Crew:
Herbert H. Hartsten Jr.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Toungup

Date & Time: Feb 2, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
Z7680
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Yangon - Toungup
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing at Toungup Airfield, a tyre burst. The pilot lost control of the airplane that veered off runway to the left, struck some barrels and came to rest, bursting into flames. Two crew members escaped uninjured while a third was seriously wounded.
Crew:
Lt N. M. Russel, pilot,
Sgt Tom Barry,
F/Sgt Allan Albert Tillott.
Probable cause:
A tyre burst after touchdown.