Kent

Flight Type:

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Site:

Vickers 416 Wellington IC

Schedule:

Stradishall - Stradishall

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The airplane departed RAF Stradishall at 1924LT on September 20 on an operation to Berlin. For unknown reasons, the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing at Manston Airport where it crashed on approach after it collided with trees. Five crew members were killed and a sixth was injured.
Crew:
P/O Cyril William Abrey, pilot, †
Sgt Laurence Douglas Kissack, pilot, †
P/O John Benjamin Ruston, observer, †
Sgt John Aitken, wireless operator, †
Sgt Ivan John Green, wireless operator, †
P/O L. W. White.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC in Manston

Date & Time: Sep 21, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

R1712

Flight Phase:

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Site:

Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston

Schedule:

Stradishall - Stradishall

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The airplane departed RAF Stradishall at 1931LT on September 20 on an operation to Berlin. Approaching Münster, it was severely damaged by the German Flak but was able to leave the combat area and to return to Manston. It crashed upon landing and was damaged beyond repair. A crew member was injured.
Crew:
P/O Barnard,
Sgt Avent,
Sgt Emmerson,
Sgt Harvey,
Sgt Kitney,
Sgt Nash.

Probable cause:

Severely damaged by the German Flak.

Crash of a Douglas A-20A Havoc in West Malling: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 11, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

BJ486

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Vickers 406 Wellington II

Schedule:

West Malling - West Malling

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The crew was completing a local training exercise at West Malling Airfield. On final approach, the crew initiated a go around procedure when the airplane stalled and crashed. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O E. G. Curtice,
Sgt A. Smalley.

Crash of a Vickers 406 Wellington II off Saint Margaret's at Cliff

Date & Time: Sep 3, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

W5563

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Saint Margaret's at Cliffe

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Lindholme - Lindholme

Location:

Kent

Country:

United Kingdom

Region:

Europe

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The airplane departed RAF Lindholme at 2013LT on September 2 on an operation to Frankfurt. While outbound, over Oudenaarde, Belgium, it was hit by the German Flak which causedc a fire in the starboard engine. The pilot turned about, but the port engine subsequently failed and the bomber was ditched 7 miles off the South Foreland near ST Margaret's at Cliff. All six crew members were rescued by HSL147.
Crew:
Sgt Molata,
F/O Drzechowski,
F/O Jarkewski,
Sgt Kratowchil,
Sgt Reng,
Sgt Czech.

Probable cause:

Damaged by the German Flak.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF Manston: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 7, 1941 at 1755 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

R3816

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Site:

Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden

Schedule:

Manston - Manston

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The crew was engaged in a local test flight out from RAF Manston on this aircraft that have been repaired. Upon takeoff from a grassy runway, it appears that the airplane became airborne sooner than normal due to a bump in the surface of the airfield. Shortly after liftoff, it entered a right turn then stalled and crashed. Two crew members were killed and a third was injured.
Crew:
P/O Harold Andrew Thomas Lind, pilot,
Sgt Norman William Paples, observer,
Sgt Eric Douglas Kennedy, wireless operator.

Probable cause:

The report, which fails to list details of the crew, carries on to describe the accident which befell the Blenheim. It appears that it became airborne sooner than normal due to a bump in the surface of the airfield ( Manston was, of course, a grass airfield in those days) and, almost immediately, it commenced a right-hand turn at a low speed, and the undercarriage was lowered as if the pilot was attempting to land again. Unfortunately the Blenheim stalled and crashed. Examination of the wreckage at the scene of the accident showed that the main controls were in order, but after removal of the aircraft for more detailed examination it was found that the starboard elevator was jammed 'solid' in the neutral position. Unbroken dope showed that this tab had not moved from the neutral position in which it had been left after the inspection on 26.7.41. The port tab was fully down in the tail heavy position but this was considered to be due to impact. All three hinges on the starboard tab were rusted tightly on the sleeves which form the bearing journals and which are pinned on to the elevator framework tubing. In the centre bearing which is nearest to the tab actuating lever the bearing journal locating rivet had sheared, possibly during an effort to alter the tab settings. There was no sign of lubrication on any of the hinges. The report concludes by running through the likely sequence of events that lead to the accident, beginning with the Blenheim being left outside for so long, which allowed the parts to rust solid, continuing with the suggestion that the pilot had relied on the tab position indicator being in neutral and hadn't tested the circuit, and ending with his decision to land so that the trim problems could be investigated. The ultimate cause of the crash was, of course, the low-speed stall.

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

Date & Time: Jul 31, 1941 at 0400 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

P4399

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Schedule:

North Luffenham - North Luffenham

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The airplane departed RAF North Luffenham at 2306LT on July 30 on an operation to Cologne. While returning to base the following morning, the crew encountered very bad weather conditions. While flying in a violent storm, the airplane went out of control and crashed at Deast Hill near Dartford. Three crew members were killed and a fourth was injured.
Crew:
Sgt V. E. Baker, pilot,
F/Sgt Roy John West Geater, observer, †
Sgt Wilfred Leonard Butler, wireless operator, †
Sgt William Chambers, wireless operator. †

Probable cause:

Loss of control while flying in a violent storm.

Crash of a Junkers JU.88A-5 off Sheerness: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 28, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.88

Operator:

Registration:

7T+ML

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

6396

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The airplane was shot down by a Hurricane and crashed into the sea off Sheerness. Two crew members were killed and two others were rescued and became PoW.
Crew:
1st Lt Rudolf Diehl, pilot, †
Stfw Friedrich Werner, mechanic, †
Fw Egon Gräubel, radio operator,
Uffz Josef Ferngruber, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a British fighter.

Crash of a Douglas A-20A Havoc in Manston: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 26, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

AW402

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Manston - Ford

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During the night, the airplane was involved in an operation to Ostend then returned to RAF Manston. After being refueled, it was taking off to return to its base at RAF Ford. It crashed upon takeoff for unknown reasons, coming to rest in flames. All three crew members were seriously injured and the pilot died from injuries sustained on August 10.
Crew:
F/Sgt J. B. Raffels,
Sgt R. W. Richardson,
Sgt C. L. M. Forsyth.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF Manston

Date & Time: Jul 21, 1941 at 1520 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

Z7501

Flight Phase:

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