Country
code

Hertfordshire

Crash of a Douglas A-20A Havoc II at RAF Hunsdon: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 21, 1941
Operator:
Registration:
AH432
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Hunsdon - Hunsdon
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Hunsdon at 1545LT on a local training exercise. While flying in the vicinity of the airbase at low height, the airplane collided with trees and crashed, bursting into flames. Two crew members were killed and a third was injured.
Crew:
P/O Maurice Charles Woodgate, pilot, †
Sgt Smith, observer,
Sgt Arthur Edward Norrish, wireless operator. †

Crash of a Douglas A-20A Havoc I at RAF Hunsdon: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 22, 1941
Operator:
Registration:
AX912
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Hunsdon - Hunsdon
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training exercise at RAF Hunsdon. While on approach, the airplane suffered an engine failure, stalled and crashed. A pilot was killed while the second occupant was seriously injured. The only survivor die five days later from injuries sustained.
Crew:
P/O Joseph Alfonse Deneys, pilot,
Sgt John Reginald Jackson, pilot.
Probable cause:
Engine failure on approach.

Crash of a Vickers 408 Wellington IA at RAF Steeple Morden

Date & Time: Aug 21, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L7780
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The bomber crashed upon landing at RAF Steeple Morden and was damaged beyond repair. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Junkers JU.88C-4 in Ashwell: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 22, 1941 at 0119 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
R4+BL
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Gilze-Rijen - Gilze-Rijen
MSN:
0842
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane collided with a Wellington registered R1334 and that was approaching RAF Bassinbourn with a crew of eight on board. Both airplanes went out of control and crashed in Ashwell. All 11 crew members were killed.
Crew:
Lt Heinz Völker, pilot,
Uffz Herbert Indenbirken, radio operator,
Fw Andreas Würstl, mechanic.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC in Ashwell: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jul 22, 1941 at 0119 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
R1334
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Bassingbourn - Bassingbourn
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The airplane was returning to base when, on approach, it collided with a JU.88 registered R4+BL and carrying a crew of three. Both airplanes went out of control and crashed in Ashwell. All 11 crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Walter Anthony Hannah, pilot,
Sgt Reginald Ernest Hibbert, wireless operator,
Sgt Frederick Slade Houston, pilot,
Sgt Claude Mortimer Spratt Lewis, observer,
Sgt Percival Theodore Manning, wireless operator,
Sgt Robert Andrew McAllister,
F/Sgt Joseph Stewart, wireless operator,
Sgt Bruce Cathcart Thompson.

Crash of a Douglas A-20 Havoc I in Bishop's Stortford

Date & Time: May 13, 1941
Operator:
Registration:
BJ495
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Hunsdon - Hunsdon
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was returning to RAF Hunsdon following a patrol mission. While flying in IMC conditions, the airplane suffered an instrument failure. Both crew members bailed out and were rescued. The airplane dove into the ground and crashed in Bishop's Stortford.
Probable cause:
Instrument failure in flight.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC in Wendy

Date & Time: May 7, 1941 at 0208 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
R3227
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bassingbourn - Bassingbourn
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Bassingbourn on an operation to Germany when it was intercepted and hit by a German fighter. It crash landed in a field located in Wendy, near Royston. All six crew members evacuated safely.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Junkers JU.88A-5 in Much Hadham: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
4D+DM
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Gilze-Rijen - Gilze-Rijen
MSN:
317
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Gilze-Rijen AFB on an operation to England. It was shot down by the British Flak and crashed in Much Hadham. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Hptm Erich Hass, pilot,
Fw Josef Kessels, radio operator,
Fw Günther Suhr, bomb aimer,
Anton Doppelfeld.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the British Flak.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I in Radlett

Date & Time: Sep 2, 1940
Operator:
Registration:
P4374
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Written off after the undercarriage collapsed on landing at the Handley Page Aerodrome at Radlett. The pilot evacuated safely.
Crew:
P/O C. P. D. Price.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Welwyn

Date & Time: Jul 16, 1940 at 0900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L9251
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
West Raynham - West Raynham
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing for unknown reasons. The airplane crash landed in an open field located near Welwyn. All three crew members were injured.
Crew:
P/O A. B. Jones,
Sgt T. J. Richards,
Sgt F. B. Rowley.