Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II near Canterbury: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 14, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
W1154
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Linton-on-Ouse - Linton-on-Ouse
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Linton-on-Ouse at 2355LT on an operation to Duisburg. After bombing the target area, the port outer engine failed. The crew decided to return to base but was eventually forced to abandon the airplane that became difficult to control. Five crewmen parachuted to safety while two others were killed when the airplane crashed in a wooded area near Canterbury.
Crew:
W/O Raymond Francis Casey, pilot, †
Sgt John Cyril Williams, flight engineer, †
Sgt Jackson,
Sgt Janes,
Sgt MacDonald,
P/O Alexander,
Sgt Elliott.
Probable cause:
Failure of the port outer engine.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7B Boston I near RAF West Malling: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 21, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
BJ470
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
West Malling - West Malling
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 flight at RAF West Malling when the airplane crashed for unknown reasons near the airbase. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Victor George Lambert, pilot,
Sgt Edward Alexander Brace, wireless operator.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7B Boston III at RAF West Malling

Date & Time: Jun 21, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
W8296
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
West Malling - West Malling
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot was completing a local solo training flight at RAF West Malling. On final approach, the airplane impacted trees and crashed 500 metres short of runway. The pilot was injured.
Crew:
Sgt J. L. Thompson, pilot.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7B Boston III in Maidstone: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 2, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
W8257
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
West Malling - West Malling
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF West Malling at 2335LT on June 1st on a maritime patrol flight. Shortly after midnight, it collided with a Royal Air Force Hurricane registered Z3842. Both airplane went out of control and crashed in Maidstone. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Anthony Francis McManemy, pilot,
Sgt Gordon Richard Fennell, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
In-flight collision with a RAF Hurricane.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC off Dungeness

Date & Time: May 18, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
DV806
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Feltwell - Feltwell
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Feltwell at 2245LT on May 17 on an operation to Boulogne. While returning to base the following night and approaching the British coast, the left engine failed. The pilot ditched the airplane some 200 yards off Dungeness. The airplane was lost and all five crew members were uninjured.
Crew:
S/L John Stuart Laird, pilot,
Sgt Blackberrie,
Sgt D. A. Inman,
P/O John Patrick Leeson,
Sgt R. H. Moss.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine in flight.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7 Boston III at RAF West Malling: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 3, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
W8340
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
West Malling - West Malling
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane crashed while taking off from RAF West Malling. Three crew members were killed, a fourth later died from injuries sustained and a fifth was injured.
Crew:
P/O H. H. Whitfield, †
Sgt G. E. Fallis, †
F/Lt H. W. Biggs, †
Sgt R. E. Williams, †
F/O J. A. Elliott.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L1237
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
West Malling - West Malling
MSN:
8520
YOM:
1938
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane suffered an engine failure on landing. Unable to stop on the runway, it overran, lost its undercarriage and came to rest. All three crew members were injured.
Crew:
Sgt A. J Knight, pilot,
Sgt F. E Harrison, observer,
AC1 G. Muir.
Probable cause:
Engine failure on landing.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester I off RAF Manston: 7 killed

Date & Time: Apr 8, 1942 at 2330 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
R5837
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Scampton - Scampton
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Scampton at 2101LT to drop leaflets in the region of Paris. Outbound, it was hit by the German Flak in the starboard engine. The crew elected to return to England but eventually ditched the airplane at 2330LT off RAF Manston. The captain survived and was later rescued while all other seven crew members failed to reach the dinghy.
Crew:
P/O M. A. Sproule, pilot,
F/O Douglas James Renvoize, flight engineer, †
Sgt Edward Augustine Fitchett, observer, †
F/O Donald Goodman, bomb aimer, †
P/O Harold Dickinson, wireless operator, †
Sgt John Neary, air gunner, †
Sgt Dennis Gerrard Porter, air gunner, †
P/O Robert James Dyer, air gunner. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7B Boston III off Dover: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 1, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
W8387
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Great Massingham - Great Massingham
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Great Massingham at 1209LT on an operation to Boulogne. Over the target area, it was hit by the German Flak and the crew decided to return to base. Approaching the British coast, the airplane was ditched in The Channel off Dover. Two crew members were killed and two others were rescued by a Royal Navy vessel.
Crew:
P/O Harry Neal, †
Cpl Donald Parr Thwaite, †
Sgt S. R. G. Adams,
Sgt P. Brady.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester I near Warden: 7 killed

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1942 at 0210 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
R5831
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Scampton – Scampton
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Scampton at 2040LT on March 25 on an operation to Essen. While returning to base the following night, it collided with the cable of a barrage balloon and crashed near Warden, on the Isle of Sheppey. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Evan Moffat Price, pilot,
F/Sgt Robert Charles Snowball, pilot,
W/O Peter Richard Thompson, observer,
F/Sgt Matthew Cameron Roberts, wireless operator,
Sgt Joshua Arnold Devalle, wireless operator,
Sgt Harry George Samuel Garnham, air gunner,
Sgt Samuel Block, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Collision with the cable of a barrage balloon.