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Shropshire

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Cressage: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 7, 1941 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
R3875
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Upwood - Upwood
Location:
Cressage
Shropshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a training sortie from RAF Upwood. While cruising at an altitude of 2,500 feet, the pilot lost control of the airplane that entered a spin and crashed in Cressage. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Matthew Francis Fox, pilot,
Sgt Bruce Adams Coukell, observer,
Sgt Elias Cyril Brearley, wireless operator.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I near Market Drayton

Date & Time: Jun 19, 1941 at 1210 LT
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden
Operator:
Registration:
AD747
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Market Drayton
Shropshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane was collected by the crew at Ternhill Airport for a ferry flight. In unknown circumstances, it crashed at 1210LT at Audley's Cross, some two miles east of Market Drayton. All three crew members were seriously injured.
Crew:
P/O V. F. Lauderdale,
Sgt E. Drakeford,
LAC Wall.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I near Market Drayton: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 19, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden
Operator:
Registration:
AD904
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Market Drayton
Shropshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew departed Ternhill Airport on a ferry flight and witnessed the crash of the Hampden registered AD747 near Market Drayton. While circling the scene, the pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed in an open field. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt C. F. Greig,
Sgt T. K. Boardman,
Sgt J. O. Walshe.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester at RAF Ternhill: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 26, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Avro 679 Manchester
Operator:
Registration:
L7295
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Hucknall - Ternhill
Location:
Ternhill AFB
Shropshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a test flight from Hucknall to Ternhill on behalf of the Avro Aircraft Company. On final approach to RAF Ternhill, the aircraft stalled and crashed few hundred yards short of runway. Three crew were injured while the TP R. Kirlew was killed.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IVF near Wellington: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 18, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L8675
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
High Ercall - High Ercall
Location:
Wellington
Shropshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While on approach to RAF High Ercall, the bomber crashed on the top of a hill located four miles north of Wellington. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Geoffrey Robert Butcher, pilot,
Sgt Irwin Harold Wiskar, radio operator.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Rednal: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 21, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
K6248
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Cranage - Cranage
Location:
Rednal AFB
Shropshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a night training exercise from RAF Cranage. While flying at low height, the aircraft his tree tops and crashed in a wooded area located in Hawkeswood Farm, near Rednal. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (2nd SAN):
F/O Eric Walwyn Padfield, pilot,
Sgt Frederic Ralph Percival Burgess, pilot,
Sgt W. Hewish,
Sgt James Frederick Minnet, pilot,
Sgt Peter Rowland Hill, radio operator.
Probable cause:
The pilot failed to see and/or negotiate a large oak tree whilst carrying out a dummy run for a precautionary landing practice and probably opened throttle too late for recovery.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V near RAF Ternhill: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 3, 1941 at 0156 LT
Type of aircraft:
Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley
Operator:
Registration:
Z6465
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Linton-on-Ouse - Lonton-on-Ouse
MSN:
1977
YOM:
1940
Location:
Ternhill AFB
Shropshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Linton-on-Ouse at 1805LT on March 2 on an operation to Brest. At 2350LT, the crew was called to abandon the sortie and to return to base. At 0156LT the following night, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances near RAF Ternhill, bursting into flames. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Stanley Victor Bunn, pilot,
Sgt Thomas James Thurling, pilot,
Sgt Harold Gordon, observer,
Sgt Herbert Frederick Jennings, wireless operator,
Sgt Kenneth Wright, wireless operator.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I in Adderley

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1940 at 1930 LT
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden
Operator:
Registration:
P2071
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Adderley
Shropshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in Adderley while completing a training mission. Both crew members were rescued.
Crew:
Sgt J. E. Sowden,
Sgt Davies.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV on Titterstone Clee Hill: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 14, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L4835
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
8850
YOM:
1939
Location:
Titterstone Clee Hill
Shropshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a cross-country exercise when weather conditions worsened. Flying at an altitude of 1,200 feet in clouds, the airplane impacted the slope of the Titterstone Clee Hill located five miles northeast of Ludlow. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Ian Munro Curror, pilot,
Sgt Alfred James Victot Secker, observer,
Sgt John Pinchard, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Eaton Constantine

Date & Time: Sep 25, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
L7071
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Location:
Eaton Constantine
Shropshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training flight on behalf of the 10th OTU. En route, the twin engine aircraft impacted the slope of a hill and crashed near Eaton Constantine. Both pilots were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Crew (10th OTU):
Sgt Hilton Jones, pilot,
Sgt B. Cleaver, observer.
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