Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster in III in Oostmalle: 7 killed

Date & Time: May 12, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ND700
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
YOM:
1944
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
While flying northeast of Antwerp, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter and crashed in a field located in Oostmalle, east of Malle. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew (103rd Squadron):
W/C Hubert Reginald Goodman, pilot,
F/S Gilbert Harry Agar, navigator,
Sgt Clifford Leslie Finighan, wireless operator and air gunner,
P/O Philip Dennis Vickers, flight engineer,
F/O William Lorme Vanderdasson, bomber,
F/S Richard White,air gunner,
F/O Roy McLeod, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster III in Aardenburg: 7 killed

Date & Time: May 12, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ND919
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Mepal - Mepal
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The aircraft left RAF Mepal at 2256LT on a bombing mission to Leuven, Belgium. En route, while cruising by night, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in flames in a field located 2 km from Aardenburg. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew (75th Squadron):
F/Sgt Harold Max Hewett, pilot,
F/Lt D. Warren, pilot,
Sgt F. C. Riley,
P/O A. E. Irving,
P/O D. I. Gage,
F/S D. Clough,
Sgt H. Dewhurst.

Crash of a Avro 683 Lancaster III in Steckborn: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 28, 1944 at 0215 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ND759
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Graveley - Graveley
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The aircraft left RAF Graveley at 2121LT on April 27, on a bombing mission to Friedrichshafen. While flying over the south of Germany at an altitude of 4,880 meters, the aircraft was hit by Flak. The captain reduced his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing when the aircraft eventually crashed in the Konstanz Lake, off Steckborn. The navigator was killed while all six other crew members were unhurt.
Crew (35th Squadron):
P/O Robert Peter, pilot,
Sgt Alfred Brereton, flight engineer,
F/S Geoffrey Foulkes, navigator, †
F/S Noel Davis, bomb aimer,
F/S Murray Bartle, wireless operator,
Sgt David Balmer, mid-upper gunner,
Sgt Irvine Graham, rear gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by German Flak.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster II in Sint-Katelijne-Waver: 7 killed

Date & Time: Apr 25, 1944 at 0238 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
DS734
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Witchford - Witchford
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The aircraft left RAF Witchford at 2151LT on April 24, on a bombing mission to Karlsruhe. On the return trip, while overflying Belgium by night, the bomber was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter and crashed in flames in a field located in Sint-Katelijne-Waver, northeast of Mechelen. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew (115th Squadron):
P/O Robert R. Cagienard,
F/S Frederic A. Foster,
P/O Joseph M. M. Macleod,
Sgt William Shorten,
P/O Albert C. Letchner,
Sgt Frank D. King,
Sgt Charles P. Kelly.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I in Nieuwolda: 7 killed

Date & Time: Apr 23, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LL892
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Waddington - Waddington
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew left RAF Waddington in the evening on a bombing mission to Braunschweig. While overflying The Netherlands by night, the crew encountered unknown problems and the captain reduced his altitude in attempting an emergency landing. While flying at low height and while in flames, the bomber eventually went out of control and crashed in a huge explosion in a field located in Nieuwolda, east of Groningen. All seven crew members were killed and the aircraft was totally destroyed on impact.
Crew (463rd Squadron):
P/O Charles Schomberg, pilot,
F/L Hubert Petts, navigator,
F/P Leonard Calderwood, mid up gunner,
F/S James Harden, bomb aimer,
F/S Donald McDonald, tail gunner,
F/S Wilfred Millar, wireless operator,
Sgt Harry Steels, engineer.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster III in Maizy: 7 killed

Date & Time: Apr 22, 1944 at 2332 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ND592
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Oakington - Oakington
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The aircraft left RAF Oakington at 2124LT to attack the railway network at Laon, France. After dropping the bombs by night, the aircraft was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in a field located in Maizy. All seven crew members were killed. Claim by Uffz Konrad Beyer 1/NJG4 at an altitude of 2,800 meters.
Crew (7th Squadron):
P/O Percy Aslett, pilot,
F/S James Wilfred Bott, flight engineer,
P/O Hugh Boyd Cooper, navigator,
F/S Thomas Horton, air bomber,
F/S Laurence Alfred Scott, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Francis William Ingham, air gunner,
P/O Leon Francis George Noakes, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I in RAF Waddingto

Date & Time: Apr 15, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L7540
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
For unknown reason, the landing procedure was wrong. After touchdown, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining runway, overrun and came to rest. While all occupants escaped uninjured, the aircraft was wrecked.

Crash of a Avro 683 Lancaster I in Duizel: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 11, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LL784
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Coningsby - Coningsby
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged on a bombing mission over Aachen, Germany, and left RAF Coningsby at 2043LT. Following the raid over Aachen, still flying in the combat area, the aircraft was hit by enemy fire. Crew was able to leave the zone and tried to return to England when aircraft exploded and crashed in a field located near Duizel, some 15 km southwest of Eindhoven. Five crew members were killed while two others escaped and were later taken POW.
Crew (619th Squadron):
S/L John William Eunson Duncan McGilvray, pilot, †
Sgt Ivor Ronald Frank Haberfield, engineer, †
Sgt Raymond Hillier, air gunner, †
W/O Alexander Armstrong Munro, air gunner, †
P/O John Leonard Pritchard, air gunner, †
Ernest Drake,
Alfred Baker.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I in Aachen: 7 killed

Date & Time: Mar 27, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L7527
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Mildenhall - Mildenhall
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
While flying over the region of Aachen, the four engine bomber went out of control and crashed in unknown circumstances. All seven occupants were killed.
Crew (15th Squadron):
P/O Thomas Gordan Marsh,
Sgt William Henry Dean,
Sgt Ernest Arthur Bland,
Sgt Maurice Charles Spice,
Sgt Victor Kingsbury Lewis,
Sgt Alfred Rowe Newell,
Sgt Burton Orval Brophey.
Probable cause:
Exploded in mid air for unknown reason.

Crash of a Avro 683 Lancaster II in Epse: 7 killed

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1944 at 0037 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LL694
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Witchford - Witchford
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Following a bombing mission over Germany, the aircraft was returning to its base in Witchford, Cambridgeshire. While overflying The Netherlands by night at an altitude of 6,000 meters, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter and crashed in a field located in Epse, some 4 km southeast of Deventer. All seven crew members were killed. Claim by Oblt Martin Drewes Stab III/NJG1.
Crew:
P/O T. E. Vipond,
Sgt A. Diggle,
F/S J. L. Duffy,
F/O E. J. Deemer,
Sgt J. E. Hammond,
Sgt A. J. Hull,
Sgt R. L. Coulter.
Probable cause:
Shot down by fighter.