Country
code

South Yorkshire

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I at RAF Finningley: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 21, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
V4036
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Finningley - Finningley
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training exercise at RAF Finningley. Shortly after takeoff in limited visibility (about 150 yards), the airplane went out of control and crashed onto a hangar. Two crew members were killed and a third was injured.
Crew:
S/L Arthur John Frank Churchill, †
P/O Richard Francis Keighley, †
F/Sgt E. Groves.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.85 Leopard Moth in Askern

Date & Time: Aug 11, 1941
Operator:
Registration:
X9383
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
7093
YOM:
1935
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route to Manchester-Ringway Airport, the pilot was forced to make an emergency landing in Askern. While taking off, the airplane impacted trees and crashed. The pilot was uninjured and the airplane was not repaired.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I at RAF Lindholme: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 19, 1941 at 1100 LT
Operator:
Registration:
AD897
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Lindholme - Finningley
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from RAF Lindholme, while climbing, the airplane went out of control, got inverted and crashed near the airbase. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Edward Ronald Bousfield, pilot,
AC1 Herbert Leslie Reed, observer,
Sgt James Edward Stanley Burke, wireless operator,
F/Sgt James Hopkin Tittley, wireless operator.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I at RAF Finningley: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jun 18, 1941 at 1805 LT
Operator:
Registration:
P4389
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Finningley - Lindholme
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from RAF Finningley (Doncaster), while in initial climb, the airplane entered a dive and crashed in an open field near the airbase. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Lawrence Rex Hinde, pilot,
Sgt Alexander Campbell, wireless operator,
Cpl Morris Ernest Balkin,
LAC Harry Barton,
AC2 Percy Charles Kemp.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC at RAF Finningley: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jun 13, 1941 at 0150 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
R1708
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Finningley - Finningley
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Following an operation, the bomber was returning to its base at RAF Finningley (Doncaster). On final approach, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed southeast of the airbase, killing the entire crew.
Crew:
F/Sgt Walter Robert Laidlow Collyer, pilot,
Sgt Gordon Eric Blake, radio operator,
Sgt John Ernest Jackson, observer,
Sgt James Francis Markham, observer,
F/Sgt Terence Alfred Grosvernor, wireless operator,
Sgt James Marron Taylor, wireless operator.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I in Hatfield: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 30, 1941 at 1120 LT
Operator:
Registration:
AD867
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Lindholme - Finningley
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Lindholme on a transfer to RAF Finningley. While completing a turn, it stalled and crashed in a pasture located near Hatfield. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O John Charles Cunningham, pilot,
Sg Wilfred Hall, wireless operator.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I in Sheffield: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 19, 1941 at 1625 LT
Operator:
Registration:
P1248
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Finningley - Finningley
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Finningley (Doncaster) on a training exercise. While cruising over Sheffield in poor visibility, the airplane collided with a barrage balloon cable. The aircraft lost part of it's port wing and was a result entered an uncontrollable dive from which the pilot was the only one able to bale out before the aircraft crashed near Concord Park, Shiregreen, Sheffield. The instructor was killed and the survivor sustained injuries on landing.
Crew:
F/O Jeffrey Bohun Ranson, instructor, †
P/O Ralf Athelsie Pole Allsebrook, pilot.
Probable cause:
Collision with a barrage balloon cable.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I at RAF Lindholme

Date & Time: Apr 1, 1941
Operator:
Registration:
P4409
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Lindholme - Lindholme
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot was engaged in a local solo training flight at RAF Lindholme. While taking off, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway, lost its undercarriage and came to rest. The pilot was slightly injured and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
Sgt John Ratcliffe, pilot.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Bolderstone

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N9912
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Finningley - Finningley
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a night training exercise from RAF Finningley. While cruising at low altitude, the twin engine aircraft hit Mt Whitwell Moor located near Bolderstone, in the region of Stocksbridge. All four occupants were injured while the aircraft was wrecked.
Crew (25th OTU):
P/O Bernard Maurice Fournier, pilot,
Sgt Duncan Henry Barrett, copilot,
Sgt Ernest Richard Palmer, wireless Operator and air gunner,
Sgt Dennis Watson, wireless Operator and air gunner.

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

Date & Time: Mar 21, 1941 at 0032 LT
Operator:
Registration:
AD742
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Lindholme - Lindholme
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Lindholme at 1820LT on March 20 on a mine laying operation off Lorient. While returning to base the following night, it crashed on approach at Armthorpe. A crew was injured and three others escaped unhurt.
Crew:
Sgt A. B. Brookes,
P/O T. N. C. Burrough,
P/O P. B. Hodgson,
Sgt D. Russell.