Norfolk

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Vickers 417 Wellington III

Schedule:

Honingt

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The airplane departed RAF Honington at 1934LT on March 12 on an operation to Kiel. It is believed that it was hit by the German Flak, damaging the starboard engine. On return, the crew tried to land at RAF Bodney but the airplane crashed short of runway. All six crew members were rescued.
Crew:
Sgt Webb,
Sgt Vickers,
P/O V. W. Saul,
Sgt A. Swiderski,
Sgt J. Rutherford,
Sgt F. C. Evans.

Probable cause:

Failure of the right engine after being hit by enemy fire.

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III in Harleston: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 9, 1942 at 2122 LT

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Registration:

X3643

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Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Honington - Honington

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The airplane departed RAF Honington at 2008LT on an operation to Essen. The crew experienced severe engine troubles and decided to return to base. While doing so control was lost and the airplane crashed near Haleston, killing the entire crew.
Crew:
Sgt James Cartwright, pilot,
Sgt John Andrew Rogers, pilot,
W/O Terence De Valera Digna, observer,
Sgt Thomas Hunter Errington, wireless operator,
Sgt David Stanley Nicholas, air gunner,
Sgt Albert Edward Singerton Barking, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Engine problems.

Crash of a Junkers JU.88A-4 off Mundesley: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 4, 1942 at 1620 LT

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.88

Operator:

Registration:

4D+DA

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Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Eindhoven - Eindhoven

MSN:

1384

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The airplane departed Eindhoven Airport on an operation to England. Approaching the coast of Norfolk, it was shot down by the British Flak and crashed into the sea off Mundesley. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Uffz Wilhelm Dick, pilot,
Fw Oskar Haug, observer,
Uffz Richard Prohaska, radio operator,
Fw Hans Troekes, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the British Flak.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling I at RAF Marham: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 3, 1942 at 2255 LT

Type of aircraft:

Short S.29 Stirling

Operator:

Registration:

N3712

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Marham - Marham

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The airplane departed RAF Marham at 1840LT on an operation to Billancourt. As it was landing at 2255LT, a bomb which had hung up fell from the airplane and exploded. The airplane was destroyed and all seven crew members were injured. Later, two of the survivors died from injuries sustained.
Crew:
F/O D. W. Allen,
Sgt Laidlaw,
Sgt Herring,
P/O Gales,
Sgt William Ronald Gregory, wireless operator, †
Sgt Kenneth Bertram Harvey, wireless operator, †
Sgt McBride.

Probable cause:

A bomb fell off upon landing and exploded.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling I at RAF Marham

Date & Time: Feb 27, 1942 at 1230 LT

Type of aircraft:

Short S.29 Stirling

Operator:

Registration:

N3715

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Site:

Vickers 416 Wellington IC

Schedule:

Marham - Marham

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The crew was completing a local training exercise at RAF Marham. Upon landing, the undercarriage collapsed and the airplane came to rest. All seven crew members escaped uninjured while the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
Sgt Tompkins,
Sgt Savage,
Sgt Scammell,
Sgt Carroll,
Sgt Barnes,
Sgt Brooks,
Sgt Howes.

Probable cause:

Failure of the undercarriage caused by a broken pylon at the lower bolt attachment.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC at RAF East Wretham

Date & Time: Feb 24, 1942 at 2210 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

L7841

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

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Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston

Schedule:

East Wretham - East Wretham

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The crew was performing a local training exercise at RAF East Wretham. During the takeoff roll, the left engine failed. The captain abandoned the takeoff procedure and initiated an emergency braking manoeuvre. Unfortunately, the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran, hit obstacles, lost its undercarriage and came to rest. All five occupants escaped uninjured and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
P/O Josef Čapka, pilot,
Sgt Ferdinand Kepka, pilot,
Sgt Josef Laichler,
Sgt Jan Neradil,
Sgt Gustav Michalec, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Failure of the left engine during the takeoff roll.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7B Boston III in Flitcham: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1942 at 1100 LT

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Registration:

W8319

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Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Great Massingham - Great Massingham

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The crew departed RAF Great Massingham at 1050LT for a formation flying exercise. After takeoff, he lagged behind the rest of the flight and at an altitude of 800 feet, the airplane was seen to turn back to towards the airfield. Moments later, the Boston banked steeply and crashed at 1100LT and crashed into a wood located southeast of Flitcham. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Silas Harry Bridge, pilot,
Sgt Thomas Frederick Peter Poole, observer,
Sgt Crawford Christie Wilson, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV near Swaffham: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 16, 1942 at 2123 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

V6454

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Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden

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Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Bodney - Bodney

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The crew departed RAF Bodney on a training exercise. While flying at cruising speed at night, the airplane impacted the ground and crashed north of Swaffham. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Kenneth Hulbert Bottrill, pilot,
Sgt John Milroy Ambler, observer,
Sgt John Morton Roberts, wireless operator.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain following a probable incorrect altimeter setting.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I at RAF Horsham St Faith: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 12, 1942

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Registration:

AE141

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