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 Vickers 440 Wellington X in Cherbourg: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 23, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HE527
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Hixon - Hixon
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Hixon on a mission to Paris. Passing over Cherbourg, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed. Three crew members were killed and three others became PoW.
Crew:
F/Sgt James Hennessy, pilot, †
P/O Gerald Thomas Freemantle, observer,
Sgt Reginald James Franklin, radio operator,
Sgt John Anderson, bomb aimer, †
Sgt Rowland John Paul Chandler, air gunner, †
Sgt William Gilroy, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Boeing B-17F-65-BO Flying Fortress in Saint-Nicolas-des-Bois

Date & Time: May 29, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
42-29689
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Horsham - Horsham
MSN:
4803
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Horsham on an operation to the naval depot in Rennes. Over the Bay saint-Michel, it collided with a German fighter and was later shot down by the German Flak. The crew abandoned the airplane between 20,000 and 9,000 feet and parachuted to safety. The airplane crashed in a field and exploded. All crew became PoW.
Crew:
1st Lt Cody Usry Watson, pilot,
2nd Lt Reynold P. Lasher, copilot,
T/Sgt Paul E. De Haven, flight engineer,
T/Sgt Francis Patrick Eugen Moran, radio operator,
2nd Lt Robert A. Titus, navigator,
2nd Lt Rex L. Orme, bombardier,
S/Sgt Joseph D. Coss, air gunner,
S/Sgt Harry D. Rants, air gunner,
S/Sgt John Gerard Brown, air gunner,
S/Sgt Donald Chester Hemminger, 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.