Country
code

Shetland (Zetland)

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina on Yell Island: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 19, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
Z2148
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Castle Archdale - Castle Archdale
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The floatplane departed RAF Castle Archdale on a mission over the North Sea, off the Norwegian coast, to attack the German battleship 'Tirpitz'. En route, the pilot became disoriented due to marginal weather conditions then the airplane crashed on the south part of the Yell Island. Seven crew members were killed and three others were rescued.
Crew:
F/Lt Harry Goolden,
P/O Lyle George Schell, observer.
Sgt Sinclair Irvine, flight engineer,
Sgt Alan Oscar Pitcher, flight engineer,
Sgt Albert Roland Breakspear, wireless operator,
Sgt Eugen Henowy, wireless operator,
Sgt Leslie Albert Rowe, wireless operator.
Probable cause:
The pilot became disoriented.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV on Bressay Island

Date & Time: Nov 1, 1941 at 1505 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
Z6339
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
In unclear circumstances, the airplane collided with a second RAF Blenheim registered T1946. From a height of about 300 feet, both airplanes dove into the ground and crashed on Bressay Island. All three crew members on board T1946 were killed while both crewmen on board Z6339 were injured.
Crew:
P/O Inglis,
Cpl H. E. Holmes.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV on Bressay Island: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 1, 1941 at 1505 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
T1946
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Aberdeen - Aberdeen
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
In unclear circumstances, the airplane collided with a second RAF Blenheim registered Z6339. From a height of about 300 feet, both airplanes dove into the ground and crashed on Bressay Island. All three crew members on board T1946 were killed while both crewmen on board Z6339 were injured.
Crew:
F/Sgt Robert Frederick Leighton, pilot,
AC2 Thomas Clapperton,
AC1 Thomas Alexander Gray.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Lerwick: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 19, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
Z5753
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Aberdeen - Aberdeen
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Aberdeen-Dyce Airport on a convoy mission. While returning to base in darkness, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. Unable to locate the airfield, he diverted to Wick when the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea off Lerwick. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Irvine Alfred Maxwell Barber,
F/Sgt Ernest Gillam,
Sgt Joseph Shaw.

Crash of a Heinkel He.111H-2 on Fair Isle: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
T5+EU
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Oldenburg - Oldenburg
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Oldenburg on an operation to Shetland Islands. Over Fair Isle, it was shot down by the pilot of a Hurricane and crashed. Two crew members were killed and three others were injured and became PoW.
Crew:
Lt Karl Heinz Thurz, pilot,
Fw Josef Wohlfahrt, wireless operator,
Uffz Bernard Luking, air gunner,
Wd/Insp Leo Gburek, †
Gefr Georg Nentwig. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by a British fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 152 Beaufort off Sumburgh

Date & Time: Jun 13, 1940 at 0450 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L4489
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Sumburgh - Sumburgh
MSN:
8350
YOM:
1940
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Sumburgh Airport at 2315LT on June 12 on a bombing mission over Trondheim. Over the target area, it was hot by ground fire. The crew was able to evacuate the zone and to return to his base. On final approach to Sumburgh, the twin engine airplane crashed into the sea. All four crew members suffered minor injuries.
Crew:
Sgt F. D. Flinn, pilot,
Sgt S. W. Shirley, observer,
LAC A. J. Thomas, wireless operator and air gunner,
AC1 A. O'Malley.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I off Lerwick: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 5, 1940 at 1430 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7255
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Leuchars - Leuchars
MSN:
414-1651
YOM:
1939
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Leuchars on a maritime patrol flight over the North Sea. It is possible that it was mistakenly shot down by friendly fire before crashing into the sea some 13 km north of Lerwick. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Raymond Cyril Dodd,
F/O James Dunn,
P/O John L. Piercey,
Cpl Robert Purves.

Crash of a Supermarine Walrus I off Fair Isle: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 24, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L2316
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Hatston - Hatston
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The float plane departed RAF Hatston on an anti-submarine mission. It crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea off Fair Isle, between Shetland and Orkneys. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Cyril Leonard Smeathers, pilot,
Msm Paul Lorraine Furber, observer,
Nav Charles Edwin Adams, air gunner.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I off Lerwick: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 8, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N9678
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Wick - Wick
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew departed Wick at 1055LT on maritime patrol flight. It crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea some 30 miles west of Lerwick. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (269th Squadron):
P/O Peter Duncan Aldous, pilot,
Sgt Gilbert Hunter Scott, pilot,
Cpl George A. Verlaque, wireless operator and air gunner,
LAC Norman McReynolds.