Crash of a North American B-25 Mitchell in Cherbourg: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 26, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
FR146
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While on a bombing mission in the region of Cherbourg, the twin engine aircraft was hit by the German Flak. The pilot reduced his altitude and attempted to make an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in an open field. Two crew members were killed while two others were injured.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I in RAF Waddington

Date & Time: Nov 22, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L7574
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Waddington - Waddington
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from RAF Waddington, while in initial climb, the aircraft stalled and crashed onto a building located near the runway end. While the aircraft was destroyed, all seven crew members were injured.
Crew (467th Squadron):
Sgt C. C. Schomberg,
Sgt H. Steele,
F/Sgt L. R. Seton,
Sgt C. Gifford,
F/Sgt B. W. Fitzgerald,
Sgt H. A. Brown,
P/O L. J. Calderwood.
Probable cause:
Loss of control shortly after rotation caused by an engine failure.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland III into the Atlantic Ocean: 11 killed

Date & Time: Nov 20, 1943 at 1745 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
W6031
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Enniskillen - Enniskillen
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The crew left RAF Enniskillen at 1145LT on a bombing mission over the Atlantic Ocean. Following the attack of the German U-Boat registered U-648, the crew gained altitude and left the combat area. Approximately one hour later, the crew sent several mayday messages and informed ground that he was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The captain ditched the aircraft some 900 km west off Vigo, Spain, around 1745LT. SAR operations were deployed but no trace of the aircraft nor the 11 crew was ever found.
Crew:
F/Sgt Bruce Goulden Burton,
F/Sgt Robert Aird Park,
Sgt Norman Percival Cook,
Sgt Ronald Montague Fisher,
Sgt Noel Neil Lewis,
Sgt Walter McKay,
F/O Charles Gordon Gorrie,
F/O Wilfred Sydney Johnston,
F/O Robert Harry Strauss,
F/O Jan David Butler Ulrichsen,
F/Sgt Norman Barrett.

Crash of a North American B-25 Mitchell in Cherbourg: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 28, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
FR174
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While taking part to a bombing mission over Cherbourg, the aircraft was hit by the German Flak and crashed in an open field. All four crew were killed.
Crew (320th Squadron):
Cap A. J. van Dieren Bijvoet, pilot,
C. van der Knaap, pilot and navigator,
Pierre Fortunus van Woesik, wireless operator
A. G. van Apeldoorn, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a North American B-25 Mitchell off Lanvéoc-Poulmic NAS: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 25, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
FR166
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Lasham - Lasham
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew left RAF Lasham in Hampshire to attack the Lanvéoc-Poulmic NAS located south of Brest, on behalf of the 320th Squadron. While approaching the target, the twin engine aircraft was shot down by the German Flak. The pilot was able to ditch the aircraft few hundred yards off shore and three crew members were rescued by local fishermen. Unfortunately, the fourth occupant, Sergeant Cornelis Jacobus Bank was killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a North American B-25 Mitchell in Lanvéoc-Poulmic NAS: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 25, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
FR178
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Lasham - Lasham
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew left RAF Lasham to attack the Lanvéoc-Poulmic NAS located south of Brest, France. Approaching the target, the twin engine aircraft was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in flames in a field. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (320th Squadron):
F/O Eduard Bakker,
Sgt Marinus Bolk,
F/O Herman Gerard van Haaften,
2nd Lt Richard Willem Hubertus van Pelt.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a North American B-25 Mitchell in Batchelor

Date & Time: Oct 18, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
N5-145
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
82-5433
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft christened 'The Flying Dutchman' from 18 Squadron of the Netherlands East Indies Air Force (NEI-AF/ KNIL) was damaged after running off the runway in a downwind landing at Batchelor airfield in the Northern Territory. There were no casualties.
Source: http://www.ozatwar.com/ozcrashes/nt138.htm

Crash of a Boeing B-17F-95-BO Flying Fortress in Buurse: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 10, 1943 at 1527 LT
Operator:
Registration:
42-30265
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Framlingham - Framlingham
MSN:
5379
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The aircraft left RAF Framlingham (Parham) in the morning on a bombing mission to Münster, Germany. While overflying The Netherlands, the aircraft was firstly hit by Flak and then shot down by the pilot of a German fighter. The captain reduced his altitude and was able to perform an emergency landing in a field. A crew member (S/Sgt Lester S. Look Jr.) was killed while 8 others were taken PoW. The last one evaded. Crew from the 571st BS.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Boeing B-17F-50-DL Flying Fortress in Bellingwolde: 10 killed

Date & Time: Oct 8, 1943 at 1508 LT
Operator:
Registration:
42-3386
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
8322
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The aircraft left its base in UK in 1153LT on a bombing mission to Bremen. While flying over The Netherlands, the aircraft collided with a German fighter and crashed in a field, killing all ten crew members.
Crew (351st BS):
S/Sgt William A. Avery Jr.,
2nd Lt Edward J. Fox,
1st Lt Raymond J. Gormley,
2nd Lt William J. Heath,
S/Sgt Donald R. Hilton,
T/Sgt Jay B. McPhee,
2nd Lt Peter T. Motta,
S/Sgt Charles Presley,
S/Sgt Clay E. Rife,
T/Sgt Dale A. Von Seggern.
Probable cause:
In flight collision with a German fighter.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II in Blackden Edge: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 5, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
HR727
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Snaith - Snaith
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew, stationed at Snaith in Yorkshire were taking part in a raid against the German city of Frankfurt. The outward leg proceeded normally until shortly after they had released their bomb load over the target area. The aircraft was illuminated by a searchlight and engaged by flak and a night fighter sustaining hits to the port inner engine setting it alight and the No.2 fuel tank. The pilot took evasive action by corkscrewing the aircraft from 19,000 feet to 9,000 feet successfully evading further contact. As well as the fuel loss from the damage to one of the tanks, the loss of the port inner engine meant that some functions were also lost. Most could be carried out entirely manually but the engines generator provided power to the aircraft's batteries that powered the mid-upper turret, beam approach radio equipment and the R1154 / T1155 radio. These would work only as long as the charge remained in the batteries. The aircraft passed its turning points as far as Reading, shortly after the radio failed as the batteries had been drained. The weather at this point had deteriorated with low cloud and rain, effectively removing any chance of seeing landmarks such as rivers which would aid in locating Snaith, or another airfield. Eventually the pilot began to descend through the cloud to be able to find landmarks but while still in cloud, and virtually out of fuel, the aircraft flew into the ground on Blackden Edge. The aircraft broke up over a fairly wide area, most of the crew who died were killed in the crash but the Sergeant Lane survived the crash but was severely injured and died before help, summoned by Sgt Mack, arrived the following day.
Crew (51st Squadron):
Sgt Ernest Hatfield Fenning, pilot, †
W/O Jean Gilbert Felix Fortin, navigator, †
Sgt Eric George Lane, flight engineer, †
Sgt Victor Garland, bomb aimer,
Sgt Frank Allan Squibbs, wireless operator, †
Sgt Boris Karl Short, air gunner, †
Sgt James B. Mack, air gunner.
Source:
http://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/pages/peakdistrict/peakdistricthr727.htm
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak and a German nigh fighter as well.