Country
code

Manche

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-70-DL near Cherbourg: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 6, 1944
Operator:
Registration:
42-100803
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Ramsbury - Ramsbury
MSN:
19266
YOM:
1943
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was taking part to the D-Day over Normandy. After all paratroopers bailed out, the aircraft was shot down by the German Flak, dove into the ground and crashed in a field near Cherbourg. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Lt Donald W. Handegaard 3.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-75-DL near Carentan: 22 killed

Date & Time: Jun 6, 1944
Operator:
Registration:
42-101025
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
19488
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
22
Circumstances:
The crew was taking part to the D-Day over Normandy and left the RAF Merryfield in the evening of June 5. While flying in the region of Carentan, the aircraft was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in a field. All 22 occupants were killed.
Crew (441st TCG):
2nd Lt Eugene Hennig, pilot,
2nd Lt Albert Dorrance, copilot,
T/Sgt Dave Kramer, flight engineer,
Cpl James Davison, radio operator.
Paratroopers (101st Division):
Pfc Chavez San Juan,
Cpl Thomas Harris,
Pvt Claude Hope,
S/Sgt George Hurt,
Pvt William Jacobs,
Sgt Robert Kennel,
T/5 Dale Knight,
T/4 Joseph Liorida,
1st Sgt Fred Moeller,
Pvt Onger Ellsworth,
Pfc James Sheen,
Pvt Clifford Smith,
Pfc Doyce Spruell,
Pvt Robert Vail,
Pvt Zale Wells,
Sgt Louis Wesctcoat,
Pvt Sterling Hammond,
1st Lt Ian Nicholson Ian.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Douglas A-20J-10-DO Havoc in Beauvoir: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 12, 1944
Operator:
Registration:
43-10129
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
En route, the twin engine aircraft was hit by Flak and caught fire. Out of control, the aircraft dove into the ground and crashed. Two crew members survived (bail out ?) while both others were killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by Flak.

Crash of a North American B-25 Mitchell in Cherbourg: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 26, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
FR146
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While on a bombing mission in the region of Cherbourg, the twin engine aircraft was hit by the German Flak. The pilot reduced his altitude and attempted to make an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in an open field. Two crew members were killed while two others were injured.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a North American B-25 Mitchell in Cherbourg: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 28, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
FR174
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While taking part to a bombing mission over Cherbourg, the aircraft was hit by the German Flak and crashed in an open field. All four crew were killed.
Crew (320th Squadron):
Cap A. J. van Dieren Bijvoet, pilot,
C. van der Knaap, pilot and navigator,
Pierre Fortunus van Woesik, wireless operator
A. G. van Apeldoorn, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling I in La Reboudinière: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 28, 1943 at 2200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
R9349
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Ridgewell - Ridgewell
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Ridgewell at 1807LT on an operation to Saint-Nazaire. After passing over Rennes, while returning home, it was shot down by the German Flak, exploded in midair and crashed in La Reboudinière, some 7,5 km southwest of Saint-James. Five crew members were killed and two others became PoW.
Crew:
P/O Vernon Enright Spain, pilot, †
Sgt John McGhie, flight engineer,
Sgt Robert George Frederick Bryant, navigator, †
F/O Edward Lear, navigator, †
Sgt Ronald Vivian Steven Rooke, wireless operator, †
Sgt Leonard Joseph Humphrey, air gunner, †
Sgt John Henry Jackson, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Martin B-26B-1 Marauder in Les Pieux: 7 killed

Date & Time: Nov 12, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
41-17777
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Attlebridge on a transfer mission to North Africa, taking part to the Operation Torch. Passing over France, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in Les Pieux, southwest of Cherbourg. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt William Alfred Bloom Jr., pilot,
1st Lt Ray W. Henslee, pilot,
1st Lt James R. Howell,
Sgt Arnold Frederick Bettge,
T/Sgt Carroll F. Salter.
Passengers:
Lt Col Alvord Rutherford,
1st Lt Arthur K. Perry Jr.,
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Martin B-26B-1 Marauder in Les Pieux: 6 killed

Date & Time: Nov 12, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
41-17774
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Attlebridge on a transfer mission to North Africa, taking part to the Operation Torch. Passing over France, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in Les Pieux, southwest of Cherbourg. Six crew members were killed and one became PoW.
Crew:
Cpt Frank M. Tuttle, pilot, †
Sgt John Joseph Gubala, †
Sgt Albert Thomas Bender, †
1st Lt William P. Hollingsworth, †
1st Lt Elmer Augustus Ricketts Jr.,
S/Sgt Vernon B. Lindberg, †
2nd Lt Harold C. Bigger Jr. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I off Blainville-sur-Mer: 9 killed

Date & Time: Oct 24, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
W4121
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Langar - Langar
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Langar at 1241LT on an operation to Milan. While cruising along the French coast, it crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea off Blainville-sur-Mer and about 30 km southeast of Jersey. All nine crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Lawrence Ritelli Wright, pilot,
Sgt William Bell, flight engineer,
Sgt Albert John Victor Hunt,
F/Sgt Sydney Douglas Gowshall Roberts,
F/Sgt John Francis McCallum,
Sgt Lionel Horace Bell, wireless operator,
Sgt William Clifford Colwill, air gunner,
F/Sgt Dennis Kilvington Potter, air gunner,
Sgt Walter George Woodhouse, air gunner.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7 Boston IIIA off Cherbourg: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 25, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
AL286
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Great Massingham - Great Massingham
Country:
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 0810LT on an operation to Cherbourg. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed into the sea some 5 km off Cherbourg. Two crew members were killed and two others became PoW.
Crew:
F/O Kenneth Niles Symons, pilot,
Sgt Ronald Edward Neathway, observer, †
Sgt Edgar Dixon, wireless operator,
Sgt Stanley George Richardson, air gunner. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.