Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster III in Ostönnen: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 17, 1943 at 0034 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 683 Lancaster
Operator:
Registration:
ED925
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Scampton - Scampton
Location:
Ostönnen
North Rhine-Westphalia
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The aircraft left RAF Scampton in the evening of May 16 to attack the Möhne Dam located east of Dortmund. While approaching the target, the aircraft was hit by the German Flak. The left wing and the left tank were hit by bullets and caught fire. Few seconds later, the left wing detached and the aircraft crashed. Five crew members were killed while two others were injured.
Crew (617th Squadron):
P/O A. F Burcher,
F/Sgt J. W. Fraser,
F/Lt J. V. Hopgood, †
Sgt C. Brennan, †
F/O K. Earnshaw, †
Sgt J. Minchin, †
P/O G. H. Gregory. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster in the Waddenzee: 7 killed

Date & Time: May 16, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Avro 683 Lancaster
Operator:
Registration:
ED934
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Scampton - Scampton
Location:
Waddenzee
All The Netherlands
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The aircraft left RAF Scampton in the evening of May 15 to attack the Sorpe Dam located southeast of Dortmund. While overflying The Netherlands by night at an altitude of 300 feet, the aircraft was shot down by the German Flak and crashed into the Waddenzee, off Texel. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew (617th Squadron):
P/O Vernon William Byers, pilot,
Sgt Alastair James Taylor, flight engineer,
P/O James Herbert Warner, navigator,
Sgt Arthur Neville Whitaker, air bomber,
Sgt John Wilkinson, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Charles McAllister Jarvie, air gunner,
F/Sgt James McDowell, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

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

Date & Time: May 16, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Avro 683 Lancaster
Operator:
Registration:
ED864
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Scampton - Scampton
Location:
Marbeck
North Rhine-Westphalia
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The aircraft left RAF Scampton in the evening of May 15 to attack the Möhne Dam located east of Dortmund. While overflying Germany by night, the crew lost his orientation and convinced he was flying to the wrong direction, the captain decided to reduce his altitude to follow a canal to the southeast. Flying at a too low altitude, the aircraft hit high tension cables and crashed in a huge explosion. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew (617th Squadron):
F/Lt William Astell, pilot,
Sgt John Kinnear, flight engineer,
P/O Floyd Alvin Wile, navigator,
F/O Donald Hopkinson, air bomber,
Sgt Abram Garshowitz, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Francis Anthony Garbas, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Richard Bolitho, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Crew error.

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

Date & Time: May 16, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Avro 683 Lancaster
Operator:
Registration:
ED927
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Scampton - Scampton
Location:
Haldern
North Rhine-Westphalia
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The aircraft left RAF Scampton in the evening of May 15 to attack the Sorpe Dam located southeast of Dortmund. While overflying Germany by night, the aircraft was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in Haldern, killing all seven crew members.
Crew (617th Squadron):
F/Lt Robert Norman George Barlow, pilot,
P/O Samuel Leslie Whillis, flight engineer,
F/O Philip Sydney Burgess, navigator,
P/O Alan Gillespie, air bomber,
F/O Charles Rowland Williams, wireless operator and air gunner,
F/O Harvey Sterling Glinz, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Jack Robert George Liddell, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Boeing B-17F-25-DL Flying Fortress in Kats: 10 killed

Date & Time: May 14, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
42-3115
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
8051
Location:
Kats
Zeeland
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
While overflying The Netherlands, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter and crashed in Kats, killing all 10 crew members.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I off Den Helder: 7 killed

Date & Time: May 14, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Avro 683 Lancaster
Operator:
Registration:
W4110
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Waddington - Waddington
Location:
Den Helder
North Holland
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
While approaching The Netherlands, the aircraft went out of control and crashed into the North Sea some 20 km off Den Helder. All seven crew members were killed.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II in Buurse: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 13, 1943 at 0200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II
Operator:
Registration:
DT801
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Graveley - Graveley
Location:
Buurse
Overijssel
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a bombing mission over Duisburg and left RAF Graveley at 0023LT. While overflying The Netherlands by night at an altitude of 3,300 metres, the aircraft was attacked by the pilot of a German fighter. The captain attempted to make an emergency landing in a field but on touchdown, the aircraft caught fire and came to rest upside down. Two crew members were killed while all others were injured.
Crew (35th Squadron):
F/Lt Douglas Julian Sale,
P/O R. C. Sawyer,
P/O G. E. Heard,
Sgt S. A. Moores,
Sgt D. N. Richards,
Sgt R. O. Elford,
Sgt C. W. Rowley.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling in Akkerwoude: 6 killed

Date & Time: May 1, 1943 at 0252 LT
Type of aircraft:
Short S.29 Stirling
Operator:
Registration:
R9263
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Oakington - Oakington
Location:
Akkerwoude
Friesland
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The bomber left RAF Oakington after midnight to attack the city of Bocholt in Germany. While flying over The Netherlands, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter and crashed in a field located in Akkerwoude. Six crew members were killed and one survived.
Crew (7th Squadron):
P/O E. C. Hallding, pilot, †
P/O Geoffrey Wragge, navigator, †
Sgt Arhur Eward Emms, air gunner, †
W/O Loois Nutik, wireless operator and air gunner, †
F/Sgt H. Sobel, air gunner, †
Sgt Norman Arthur Peachey, air bomber, †
Sgt F. A. Painter.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a North American B-25 Mitchell off Seram: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 28, 1943 at 0850 LT
Type of aircraft:
North American B-25 Mitchell
Operator:
Registration:
N5-135
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
82-5547
YOM:
1941
Location:
Seram
Maluku
Country:
Indonesia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was involved in a bombing mission against enemy warship cruising off the coast of Maluku. During the attack, the aircraft was shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the sea, killing all five crew members.
Crew (18th Squadron):
1st Lt A. F. Oudraad, pilot,
2nd Lt J. B. F. de Knecht, copilot,
Sgt Neville George William Morris, bombardier,
Sgt A. H. de Jongh, radio operator,
Sgt Geoffrey Albert O'Hea, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by anti-aircraft fire.

Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress in Port Moresby: 11 killed

Date & Time: Apr 12, 1943 at 0148 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
41-9209
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Port Moresby - Port Moresby
MSN:
2681
YOM:
1941
Location:
Port Moresby
National Capital District
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
During take off run from Port Moresby-7 Mile Airfield, a tyre and a rim came off from a main gear. The aircraft went out of control, veered off runway, rolled for 200 yards before coming to rest in flames and exploded. All 11 crew members were killed. Explosions were caused by three 500 lbs bombs stored in the cargo bay. A dead wallaby was later found on the runway but it was not proven if this was the cause of the accident or not. The aircraft was christened 'Blues in the Nite'.
Crew (43th BG):
Maj Kenneth D. McCullar, pilot,
2nd Lt Byron G. Andrews,
2nd Lt Blaine McCord Jr.,
2nd Lt John W. Schultz Jr.,
T/Sgt Elmer R. Hansen,
S/Sgt Philip A. Zumwalt,
Sgt Bert F. Bredemeier,
Cpl George A. Mowad,
Pvt David W. Stuckey,
S/Sgt Pierre R. O'Grady,
S/Sgt Michael J. Paz Jr.
Source:
Subscribe to Bombing