Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax I in Normandy: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 10, 1941 at 2240 LT
Operator:
Registration:
L9489
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Linton-on-Ouse - Linton-on-Ouse
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Linton-on-Ouse at 1908LT on an operation to Le Havre. While returning to base in the evening, it was mistakenly shot down by an Allied night fighter and crashed in Normandy. Four crew members were killed and two others were injured.
Crew:
S/L P. A. Gilchrist, pilot,
Sgt Reginald Lucas, pilot, †
P/O Edward Rolfe Arnold, observer, †
Sgt Stanley Broadhurst, wireless operator, †
P/O Albert Edward Cooper, air gunner, †
Sgt A. G. Aedy.
Probable cause:
Mistakenly shot down by friendly fire.

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

Date & Time: Oct 14, 1940 at 2000 LT
Operator:
Registration:
P4993
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Leeming - Leeming
MSN:
1715
YOM:
1940
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Leeming at 1731LT on an operation to Le Havre. While returning in the evening, it collided with a balloon barrage cable and crashed near Weybridge. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Kenneth Cooney, pilot,
Sgt Dennis Raymond Wright, pilot,
Sgt James John Caswell, observer,
Sgt Edward Davies, wireless operator,
Sgt Bart Llewellyn Henry, wireless operator.
Probable cause:
Collision with a balloon barrage cable.

Crash of a Dornier DO.17Z-2 near RAF Kenley

Date & Time: Aug 18, 1940 at 1322 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F1+DT
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Pontoise - Pontoise
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Pontoise-Cormeilles-en-Vexin Airport to attack the RAF Kenley, Surrey. Approaching the target at low height, it was shot down by the British Flak and crashed near the airfield. Four crew members bailed out and the captain completed an emergency landing in a field.
Crew:
Oblt Rudolf Lamberty,
Hptm Gustav Peter,
Obfw Valentin Geier,
Fw Hugo Eberhard +1.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the British Flak.

Crash of a Dornier DO.17Z-2 near RAF Kenley: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 18, 1940 at 1320 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F1+HT
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Pontoise - Pontoise
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Pontoise-Cormeilles-en-Vexin Airport to attack the RAF Kenley, Surrey. Approaching the target at low height, it was shot down by the British Flak and crashed near the airfield. All five occupants were killed.
Crew:
Fw Johannes Petersen, pilot,
Oblt Hans-Siegfried Ahrends, observer,
Uffz Karl Greulich, radio operator,
Fw Hans Dietz, air gunner,
Oberst Otto Sommer.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the British Flak.

Crash of a Vickers 408 Wellington IA in Brooklands: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 8, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N3017
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Brooklands – Honington
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The aircraft was returning to RAF Honington having undergone modification to the tank armor plating at Vickers Armstrong, Weybridge. It departed RAF Brooklands-Weybridge at 1435LT but while climbing, it went out of control and crashed in a field five minutes later, bursting into flames. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (9th Squadron):
F/O William John MacRae, pilot,
F/Lt Edward Reginald Berrill, copilot,
Sgt Cornelius Thomas Murphy, observer,
Cpl Roy Jackson, wireless operator and air gunner,
AC1 Leonard Leopold James Mackenzie, flight engineer.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IF in Croydon: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 18, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L6689
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
North Weald – Croydon
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While on a night approach to Croydon, the crew encountered poor visibility when the airplane crashed. Both crewmen were killed.
Crew:
F/O Edward Neville Prescott,
LAC Albert Roberts.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60M Moth in Horne: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 8, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-AAVR
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Redhill - Redhill
MSN:
1482
YOM:
1930
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Redhill on a local training flight, carrying one instructor and one student pilot. En route, the aircraft collided with a Royal Air Force Hawker Hart registered K5800. Both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a field located in Horne. Both pilots on board G-AAVR as well as the RAF pilot were killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60G Moth in Redhill

Date & Time: Jun 20, 1938
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-ACCY
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Redhill - Redhill
MSN:
1245
YOM:
1930
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane was completing a local pleasure flight out from Redhill Airport. On final approach, it impacted trees and crashed, bursting into flames. Both occupants were injured.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.84 Dragon I in Croydon: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 25, 1938 at 2130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-ACHX
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Croydon - Croydon
MSN:
6036
YOM:
1933
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew departed Croydon on a local night training flight. Two hours and a half later, while on approach, the right engine failed. The airplane lost height, impacted trees and crashed less than a mile from the airport, in Purley. Both occupants were injured and the pilot died five days later from injuries sustained.
Crew:
F/O Colin Calder Byar, pilot, †
Ernest Ratcliffe, wireless operator.
Probable cause:
An examination of the wreckage disclosed the fact that both petrol taps had been turned off, but that there had been ample fuel aboard at the time of the accident. The taps on the D.H. Dragon cannot be turned off by accident, nor can they be reached quickly, and the machine had been flying for two-and-a-half hours.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.84 Dragon 2 in Croydon

Date & Time: Feb 26, 1938 at 1330 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
VH-UZX
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Croydon - Croydon
MSN:
6084
YOM:
1934
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a last local test flight, proceeding with some controls before the aircraft would be delivered to Australia. On final approach to Croydon Airport, the twin engine aircraft was too low and collided with a power line. It crash landed in a field, impacted a fence and came to rest against an embankment bordering a railroad track located 800 yards short of runway, at Beddington. All three crew members were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Crew:
Philip Bailey, pilot,
Thomas Valette,
John Furnival.
Probable cause:
Too low approach.