Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II near Harrogate

Date & Time: Jul 14, 1942 at 0520 LT
Operator:
Registration:
W7761
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Linton-on-Ouse - Linton-on-Ouse
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Linton-on-Ouse at 0012LT on an operation to Duisburg. Over the target area, the crew was unable to release the load of bombs because the bomb release mechanism jammed. While returning to base, the crew attempted to jettison the bomb load over the North Sea but again, this was not possible. Eventually, the crew abandoned the airplane that crashed in Beckwith, in the suburb of Harrogate. All six crew members parachuted to safety.
Crew:
Sgt Harry Burns MacDonald, pilot,
Sgt James Ellis Jones, flight engineer,
P/O John Baker, navigator,
Sgt Edward Whitter, wireless operator,
Sgt Jack Reginald Ely, air gunner,
P/O Gerald Frederick Freedman, air gunner.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I at RAF Holme-on-Spalding-Moor

Date & Time: Jun 3, 1942 at 0900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AT621
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Holme-on-Spalding-Moor - Holme-on-Spalding-Moor
MSN:
3805
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot was completing a solo training flight at RAF Holme-on-Spalding-Moor. After touchdown, he lost control of the airplane that veered off runway and crashed into a ditch. The pilot escaped uninjured.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.95 Hertfordshire near Great Ouseburn: 11 killed

Date & Time: Apr 30, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
R2764
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
East Fortune - Hendon
MSN:
95003
YOM:
1940
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Captain / Total flying hours:
3755
Circumstances:
The object of the flight was to take four Russian Military Officers on a tour of inspection. The aircraft had earlier in the day flown from Hendon to Kirton-of-Tealing and thence to East Fortune. It was refueled at Tealing and was not serviced in any way at East Fortune. At 1625LT the captain took off from RAF East Fortune to fly back to Hendon. When approximately 3 ½ miles north of Great Ouseburn, York’s and flying at a height of about 2,000 feet, a defect developed in the starboard engine which caused n°7 cylinder to become detached from the crankcase. A fire broke out almost immediately in the neighborhood of the starboard engine nacelle and was of sufficient intensity to cause the starboard wing to break off at a point just outboard of the engine bearers and also to cause the starboard engine to break away. The fuselage, port wing, port engine and port undercarriage unit fell to the ground and burst into flames. All 10 occupants were killed.
Crew:
P/O I. Ramsey, pilot,
Sgt J. B. Smith, observer,
F/Sgt A. J. Stripp, radio operator,
Lac J. Lewis, fitter.
Passengers:
S/L K. W. Edwards,
F/Lt F. W. Wilton,
Col Pugatchev,
Maj Asyamov,
Maj P. Baranov,
Maj B. Shvetsov.
Probable cause:
The cause of the accident was failure of the starboard engine. The reason for this cannot be stated with certainty but the evidence suggests that n°6 piston failed first and that this was followed by a rapid internal break up resulting in the knocking off of n°7 cylinder. This was followed by fire in the engine nacelle which quickly became very intense – probably as a result of the explosion of a wing fuel tank. The starboard wing then broke off and the engine fell out. The fuselage and tailplane were struck by some part of the detached wing or by the engine.
- There was no evidence that the servicing of this aircraft had been inadequate.
- There was no evidence to suggest sabotage.
- The pilot was experienced and fully qualified to carry out this flight.
- Apart from this accident and one in October 1940 (Hertfordshire R.2510), the D.H.95 seems to have a good record.
Final Report:

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III at RAF Snaith: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 24, 1942 at 2200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
X3305
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Snaith - Snaith
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Snaith at 2200LT on an operation to Rostock. Almost immediately after takeoff, while in initial climb, the airplane went out of control and crashed in a field, about a mile past the runway end. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Herbert John Thorogood, pilot,
P/O Norman Curtis Lerwill, pilot,
P/O Alan Frederick James, observer,
Sgt George Herbert Jordan, wireless operator,
Sgt Thomas William Chaston, wireless operator,
F/Sgt Norman Kenneth MacLeod, air gunner.
Probable cause:
It was not possible to determine the exact cause of the accident due to the high degree of destruction of the airplane due to the bomb load explosion.

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

Date & Time: Apr 11, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
V5527
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Catfoss - Catfoss
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training mission at RAF Catfoss when the airplane crashed for unknown reasons while on approach. A crew was killed and a second was injured.
Crew:
Sgt W. B. Cooper, pilot,
Sgt Harry Shaw, observer. †

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I at RAF Catfoss

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
K7087
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Catfoss - Catfoss
MSN:
8040
YOM:
1937
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
For unknown reasons, the airplane ground looped after landing, lost its undercarriage and was damaged beyond repair. There were no injuries.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I in York: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 22, 1942 at 0218 LT
Operator:
Registration:
AE394
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Skellingthorpe - Skellingthorpe
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Took off from Skellingthorpe at 18:40 to attack a railway junction to the west of Koblenz, Germany. For an unknown reason the navigator lost consciousness on the flight but it is thought that he was able to return to his post later. On the return trip the aircraft ran low on fuel due to a navigational error and after crossing the Yorkshire Coast on one engine the aircraft began to ice up. After flying on one engine for some time and with a lack of control of the aircraft the pilot ordered the crew to bail out when the second engine cut out over the York area. The pilot saw one of his crew get clear, assumed that all three crew had all made good their escape and then got himself clear of the aircraft. Sadly the lower escape hatches were jammed shut probably due to the ice formations on the aircraft and the other two airmen were unable to get out of the aircraft before it crashed at 02:18 near to the centre of York on a road named Haleys Terrace. The other airman who the pilot saw get clear of the aircraft was also killed when his parachute failed to deploy properly. The two buried in the same grave are probably the two killed when they were unable to get clear of the aircraft.
Crew:
W/O Ivor Philip Mapp, pilot,
Sgt Hector Francis Thompson, navigator, †
Sgt Francis Reginald Law, wireless operator, †
Sgt Philip Sidney Ballard, air gunner. †
Source: Aircraft Accidents in Yorkshire.

Crash of a Vickers 424 Wellington IV off Bridlington: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
Z1330
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Grimsby - Grimsby
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Grimsby at 1740LT on an operation to Bremen. Believed to have crashed into the sea off Bridlington. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Daniel Joseph Clifford,
F/Sgt Robert Bell Glover,
F/Sgt James Benona Harvey Hill,
Sgt Ronald John Kennedy,
Sgt Robert Charles Mellings,
P/O Astley Cleveland Pickett.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I at RAF Catfoss

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L1183
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Catfoss - Catfoss
MSN:
8466
YOM:
1938
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot departed RAF Catfoss on a local solo training flight. Just after liftoff, the airplane went out of control and crashed. The pilot escaped uninjured.
Crew:
P/O R. Rose, pilot.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V on Mt Simon's Seat

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1941 at 2130 LT
Operator:
Registration:
Z9277
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Croft - Croft
MSN:
2341
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Croft at 1553LT on an operation to Brest. While returning to base in the evening, the crew were unable to obtain any response to their w/t calls asking for a bearing. Subsequently, the pilot broke through the cloud in order to establish his position and in doing so he crashed at 2130LT into high ground at Simon's Seat. All six crew members were rescued.
Crew:
Sgt D. R. Cox,
P/O J. F. Beadle,
P/O R. Franklin,
Sgt R. H. Gale,
Sgt R. Kendall,
Sgt White.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.