Bombing | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

While flying over The Netherlands, the four engine aircraft was shot down by Flak. All ten crew members were able to bail out and were uninjured while the aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a field.

Probable cause:

Shot down by Flak.

Crash of a Boeing B-17G-15-BO Flying Fortress in De Leijen: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 6, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Operator:

Registration:

42-31373

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MSN:

6487

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En route, the aircraft was attacked by a German fighter. Out of control, the aircraft crashed in a field near De Leijen. Five crew were killed while five others were captured.

Probable cause:

Shot down by fighter.

Crash of a Boeing B-17G-10-BO Flying Fortress in Hijken

Date & Time: Mar 6, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

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Registration:

42-31299

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MSN:

6413

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En route, the aircraft was attacked by a German fighter. Crew bailed out and was later rescued and captured. The aircraft was destroyed while crashing in an open field located in Hijken, north of Beilen. Aircraft was christened 'Junior She’s My Gal II '.

Probable cause:

Shot down by fighter.

Crash Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax III in Friesener Warte: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 3, 1944 at 0045 LT

Type of aircraft:

Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax III

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Registration:

HX272

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The bomber left RAF Skipton-on-Swale in the evening as Nuremberg for target. While cruising by night southeast of Bamberg, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a German Air Force Messerschmitt Me.110 and crashed in a prairie located in Friesener Warte. Three crew were rescued while five others were killed.
Crew (433rd Squadron):
P/O N. Christian,
F/S W. F. Frost, †
P/O C. W. Panton, †
P/O D. MacLawrey, †
W/O2 L. V. Milward, †
W/O1 H. Cooper,
Sgt J. S. Thompson, †
W/O2 J. G. McLaughlan.

Probable cause:

Shot down by German fighter.

Crash of a Boeing B-17G-1-VE Flying Fortress in Oostrum: 10 killed

Date & Time: Feb 22, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Operator:

Registration:

42-39809

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

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Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

6552

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En route, the bomber aircraft went out of control and crashed in a field located in Oostrum. All ten occupants were killed. It is unclear whether the plane crash resulted from an accident or hostile action.

Crash of a Martin B-26B-15-MA Marauder in Oosterhout: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 22, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Martin B-26 Marauder

Operator:

Registration:

41-31644

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The crew was engaged in a bombing mission over the Gilze-Rijen airbase located near Tilburg. After completing this mission, the aircraft left the target area when it was hit by Flak. Four crew members were able to bail out while the captain was killed when the aircraft crashed in a field located in Oosterhout.
Crew killed:
Charles Vernon Thornton, pilot.

Probable cause:

Shot down by Flak.

Crash of a Boeing B-17G-20-BO Flying Fortress in Afferden

Date & Time: Feb 22, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Operator:

Registration:

42-31510

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MSN:

6624

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While overflying The Netherlands, the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing for unknown reason. Aircraft came to rest in a field located in Afferden, Limburg. While the aircraft was damaged beyond repair, all ten occupants escaped.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I in Ehra-Lessien: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 20, 1944 at 0300 LT

Type of aircraft:

Avro 683 Lancaster

Operator:

Registration:

HK538

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The crew was overflying Germany when it was attacked by a German fighter. Two crew members were able to bail out before the aircraft exploded in mid air and crashed in a field in Ehra-Lessien. All five other crewmen were killed.
Crew:
Hubert Wallis, pilot, †
Sergeant T. F. Preston, flight engineer,
L. E. Tozer, navigator,
Sergeant Albert Alfred Pardoe, air gunner, †
Sergeant Kenneth Sims, air gunner, †
Sergeant David John Brewer, air gunner, †
Eric Bremner, air gunner. †

Probable cause:

Shot down by fighter.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster II off Schellinkhout: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 15, 1944 at 2319 LT

Type of aircraft:

Avro 683 Lancaster

Operator:

Registration:

LL689

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

RAF Witchford - RAF Witchford

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The aircraft left RAF Witchford on a bombing mission over Berlin. While flying by night over The Netherlands, the aircraft was shot down by a German fighter, went out of control and crashed into the Marker Lake, off Schellinkhout. Two crew members were rescued while all five others were killed.

Probable cause:

Shot down.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.61 Halifax III in Diepenveen: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 15, 1944 at 2300 LT

Type of aircraft:

Handley Page H.P.61 Halifax III

Operator:

Registration:

LV861

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RAF Graveley - RAF Graveley

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The bomber left RAF Graveley at 1736LT on a bombing mission over Germany. On the return flight, while cruising over The Netherlands, the aircraft was shot down by a German fighter. With an engine on fire, captain reduced his altitude and attempted to make an emergency landing when the aircraft exploded and crashed in a field in Diepenveen, a village located north of Deventer. Four crew members were killed while three others were injured.
The four crew who lost their lives are:
Colin Frazer Blundell, pilot,
Leslie Albert Hazell, mechanic,
Sergeant Raymond Valentine Montigue Daniels, air gunner,
Jeffrey Eugene Pogonowski, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down.