Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I off Petten: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
W4835
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Woodhall Spa - Woodhall Spa
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
While approaching the Dutch coast, the aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea, 10 km southwest off Petten. All seven crew members were killed.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster III in Hawnby Hill: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 30, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ED481
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Waddington - Waddington
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew left RAF Waddington on a bombing mission to Hamburg. Following an uneventful mission, the crew was returning to his base when his was instructed by ground to divert to RAF Leeming. Later, the aircraft run out of fuel and crashed at Hawnby Hill, near Northallerton. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
W/O Frank Goheen Nelson, pilot,
Sgt Allan McKeen, flight engineer,
Sgt George Francis Done, navigator,
Sgt Alan Arthur Frederick Williams, navigator,
Sgt Henry Summers Jones, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Arthur William Butcher, air gunner,
Sgt Walter George Murton, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III near Edale

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
X3348
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Croft - Croft
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft left RAF Croft at 1651LT on a bombing mission to Lorient. While returning to his base by night, the crew encountered poor visibility. The bomber hit the slope of Mt Kinder Scout located northwest of Edale and was destroyed by impact forces. All six crew members were injured.
Crew (427th Squadron):
F/Lt Carroll Alfred Taylor, pilot,
Sgt Lyndon George Southwood, copilot,
P/O Donald Mortimer, bomb aimer,
P/O George Albert Martin, navigator,
Sgt Anthony David Deane, wireless operator,
Sgt William Lumsden, air gunner.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura II into The Channel: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 22, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AJ188
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Feltwell - Feltwell
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft left RAF Feltwell at 1220LT to attack the airport of Cherbourg-Maupertus with five other similar aircraft. After an uneventful mission, the aircraft was returning to its base when it crashed in unknown circumstances into The Channel, killing all four crew members.
Crew (464th Squadron):
Sgt N. E. Powell, pilot,
Sgt P. A. Nodes, navigator,
Sgt J, Dunne, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt S. J. Newton, air gunner.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II near Todmorden: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
DT581
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Snaith - Snaith
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew had taken off from their base at Snaith near Selby to drop two mines (an A.108 and B.200 type) into the sea in the 'Nectarines' area of the North Sea, this was around the Frisian Islands. The crew had been briefed to fly from base to the Mablethorpe on the Lincolnshire coast before setting course direct for the Frisian Is. and then returning via the same route. On returning they over-shot their base and continued westwards. The aircraft eventually struck a drystone wall on the edge of Hoar Side Moor and slid to a halt where it burned out.
Crew (51st Squadron):
P/O Richard Donovan Getliffe, pilot,
P/O Edward Burt Chatfield, pilot,
Sgt Alexander Campbell, flight engineer,
Sgt Allan Campbell, air bomber, †
Sgt George Hugh Whyte, wireless operator and air gunner, †
Sgt John James Merritt, air gunner,
Sgt Reginald Ernest Smart, air gunner.
Source and photo:
http://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/pages/pennines/penninesdt581.htm

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder near Salamaua: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 7, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
40-1421
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Port Moresby - Port Moresby
MSN:
1421
YOM:
1940
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The aircraft christened 'Yeah' left Port Moresby-Seven Mile Airfield to attack Japanese ships off Lae. Over the target, the aircraft was attacked by Japanese Mitsubishi Zero. With the left engine on fire, the pilot was able to leave the combat area but was eventually forced to ditch the aircraft 40 miles south of Salamaua. Three crew members were rescued while four others were killed.
Crew (22nd BG):
1st Lt Leonard T. Nicholson, pilot,
1st Lt Jack L. Childers, copilot,
1st Lt Norman E. Oefreese, navigator, †
Sgt Jack C. Moseley, bombardier, †
S/Sgt William M. Brown, flight engineer, †
S/Sgt Joseph P. Papp, radio operator, †
Cpl Thomas A. Moffitt, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by Japanese fighters.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder in Kukuobata

Date & Time: Jan 3, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
40-1422
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Port Moresby - Port Moresby
MSN:
1422
YOM:
1940
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft christened 'So Sorry' left Port Moresby-Seven Mile Airfield to attack Lae. Over the target, the aircraft was hit by enemy fire that hit the elevator cables. The pilot was able to leave the area but was forced to attempt an emergency landing in Kukuobata, near Dobodura. While the aircraft was damaged beyond repair, all eight occupants were rescued, among them three were injured.
Crew (22nd BG):
Gerald J. Crosson, pilot,
McCaskey,
Johnson 5.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IIIA off Dili: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 27, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A16-210
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
414-6431
YOM:
1942
Flight number:
Bat177
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The mission of the crew was to bomb stores. En route, the twin engine aircraft was attacked by the pilot of a Japanese Zero fighter. Bullets hit the tail and some instruments. The aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea 5 miles off shore. All five occupants were killed.
Crew (2nd Squadron):
F/O M. W. Johns,
P/O J. F. Nixon,
Sgt J. D. Horseman,
Sgt D. L. Tyler,
Sgt N. Ross.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IIIA off Cape Lore: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 24, 1942 at 1700 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A16-166
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
414-6095
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on a shipping raid near Nova Ancora when it was attacked by enemy fire and shot down by Japanese fighters. With an engine on fire, the aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea 1,5 mile off Cape Lore. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (13th Squadron):
F/O G. P. Thomson,
Sgt R. M. Clark,
Sgt J. M. Dunbar,
Sgt K. G. Chote,
Sgt R. S. West.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Martin B-26A-1 Marauder off Tunis: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
FK366
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Berka - Berka
MSN:
7430
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew left RAF Berka III in Benghazi on a mine laying mission in the Gulf of Tunis. En route, the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances into the Gulf of Tunis and was lost. Five crew members were killed while the captain was rescued and taken PoW.
Crew (39th Squadron):
P/O John Trueman Willis, pilot,
F/Sgt Samuel Hart Porteous, copilot, †
F/O Eric William Barr, observer, †
F/O Peter Benson Martell, wireless operator and air gunner, †
Sgt Herbert Frank Ford, wireless operator and air gunner, †
Sgt Frank Barratt, air gunner. †