Country
code

East Yorkshire

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford II at RAF Driffield

Date & Time: Aug 10, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
BM821
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Driffield - Driffield
MSN:
PAC.0445
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Driffield on a gunnery training sortie. Immediately after takeoff, at a height of 12 feet, the starboard engine failed. The airplane lost height, crash landed and came to rest. All three crew members were injured.
Crew:
Sgt H. Walmasley,
Sgt A. Payne,
Sgt G. Wildig.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right engine just after liftoff.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II in Pocklington: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jul 24, 1942 at 0453 LT
Operator:
Registration:
W7769
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Pocklington - Pocklington
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Pocklington at 0037LT on an operation to Duisburg. At the end of the night, the crew was returning to base and initiated the approach. While circling the airfield for the second time in readiness for landing, an engine cut and the Halifax crashed into New Street, in Pocklington village. In those last few seconds, the bomber sheered a corner off a private house and then smashed into a school, bursting into flames. All eight crew members were killed. There were no injuries on the ground.
Crew:
P/O Robert Baker Albright, pilot,
P/O George Frederick Strong, pilot,
Sgt Maxwell Warnock Apperson, flight engineer,
F/Sgt William Charles Thurlow, navigator,
Sgt William Colloton, wireless operator,
F/Sgt Robert William Hexter, wireless operator,
Sgt Thomas Reid Owens, air gunner,
Sgt Albert James Western, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Engine failure on approach.

Crash of a Blackburn B-26 Botha I off Brough: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 21, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L6355
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Brough - Brough
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, was performing a demo flight at the Blackburn Aircraft facilities based at Brough Airfield. While completing a low pass, the twin engine airplane clipped the roof of a hangar, stalled and crashed into the Humber River. The pilot was killed.
Crew:
P/O James Francis Haley, pilot.
Probable cause:
Crew error.

Crash of a Vickers 406 Wellington II off Spurn Head

Date & Time: Jun 21, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
Z8537
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Lindholme - Lindholme
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Lindholme at 2326LT on June 20 on an operation to Emden. While returning to base the following night and while approaching the British coast, the airplane ran out of fuel and was ditched some 19 km off Spurn Head, East Yorkshire. All six crew members were later rescued.
Crew:
F/O Gerard Roman Izydor Kunowski, pilot,
Sgt Jan Drobny, pilot,
F/O Antoni Władysław Kiewnarski, observer,
Sgt Jan Rogala-Sobieszczański, wireless operator,
Sgt Mieczysław Józef Klisiewicz, air gunner,
Sgt Mieczysław Kazimierz Galas, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Engine failure due to fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I near Saint Cuthbert: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 6, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
K7091
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
8044
YOM:
1937
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot was completing a night solo training flight when the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances near St Cuthbert. The pilot was killed.
Crew:
Sgt Angus McBean, pilot.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II at RAF Pocklington

Date & Time: Apr 23, 1942 at 1144 LT
Operator:
Registration:
R9427
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Croft - Pocklington
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane was ferried from RAF Croft to RAF Pocklington. While trying to land in strong cross wind conditions, the airplane crashed and was damaged beyond repair. There were no injuries among the crew.
Crew:
P/O Harold Ernest Bedford, pilot +4.

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

Date & Time: Apr 13, 1942 at 0530 LT
Operator:
Registration:
AT196
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Scampton - Scampton
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Scampton at 2132LT on April 12 on an operation to Essen. While returning to base the following morning, and while cruising at an altitude of 5,300 feet, both engines failed due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot ordered his crew to bail out before leaving the aircraft himself. Tragically, the remainder of the crew failed to get out in time and all three were killed when the airplane crashed in a field located at Chamberlain Charity Farm, Fitling. The pilot was injured.
Crew:
Sgt James Trevor James, pilot,
Sgt William John Marshall, observer, †
Sgt Harold Taylor, wireless operator, †
Sgt John Thompson Smith, air gunner. †
Probable cause:
Double engine failure due to fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I near RAF Driffield: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 9, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L8674
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Church Fenton - Church Fenton
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot departed RAF Church Fenton on a night training solo flight. While flying at an altitude of 5,500 feet, he lost control of the airplane that entered a dive and crashed in the vicinity of RAF Driffield. The pilot was killed.
Crew:
Sgt Harry James Beck, pilot.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I off Skipsea: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 4, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L6795
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Catfoss - Catfoss
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While flying in formation, the airplane collided with a second RAF Blenheim registered L1125 and crashed into the sea about a mile north of RAF Skipsea. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt William Thomas Braun, pilot,
Sgt Frederick Ernest Sydney Warren, navigator,
P/O John Dunbar Mair, observer.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I off Skipsea: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 4, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L1125
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Catfoss - Catfoss
MSN:
8408
YOM:
1938
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While flying in formation, the airplane collided with a second RAF Blenheim registered L6795 and crashed into the sea about a mile north of RAF Skipsea. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt George Arthur Edmonds, pilot,
Sgt Vernon Gregory Hanrahan, navigator,
Sgt George Edward Peart, observer.