Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I in Maasbracht: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 29, 1942 at 0110 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L7567
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Scampton - Scampton
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew left RAF Scampton at 2111LT on August 28 on a bombing mission to Nuremberg, Germany. While overflying The Netherlands by night, the aircraft was attacked by the pilot of a German fighter. The aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a field located in Maasbracht, some 10 km southwest of Roermond. Five crew members were killed while two others were injured.
Crew (49th Squadron):
F/O John Lowrie, pilot, †
W/O J. Allen,
Sgt Reginald Patrick Dobson, †
Sgt G. H. M. Gordon,
Sgt Eric Albert Berrett, wireless operator, †
F/Sgt Norman Rae Mitchell, wireless operator and air gunner, †
Sgt William Dudley Peirce. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II near Mending: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 29, 1942 at 0010 LT
Operator:
Registration:
BB214
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Elsham Wolds - Elsham Wolds
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew left RAF Elsham Wolds at the end of the day on a bombing mission to Saarbrücken, Germany. While overflying Germany by night, the aircraft was attacked by the pilot of a German fighter. The captain reduced his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing in a field but the aircraft eventually stalled and crashed into the Laacher Lake, north of Mending. Four crew members were killed while three others were injured. The aircraft sunk and was lost.
Crew (103rd Squadron):
Sgt H. G. Dryhurst, pilot,
Sgt J. W. Platt, flight engineer, †
Sgt A. A. Roberts, navigator,
P/O V. M. M. Morrison, bomb aimer, †
F/S J. J. Carey, wireless operator, †
Sgt B. F. Hughes, air gunner,
Sgt J. L. MacLachlan, air gunner. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II in Buurserveen: 7 killed

Date & Time: Aug 27, 1942 at 2354 LT
Operator:
Registration:
W1270
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Elsham Wolds - Elsham Wolds
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew left RAF Elsham Wolds at 2054LT on a bombing mission to Essen, Germany. While overflying The Netherlands by night at an altitude of 3,500 meters, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot (Cpt Wolfgang Thimmig Stab III/NJG1) of a German fighter and crashed in flames in a field located in Buurserveen, about 4 km south of Haaksbergen, near the German border. All seven occupants were killed.
Crew (103rd Squadron):
F/Lt J. R. Frith,
Sgt W. Duncombe,
P/O E. A. R. Briant,
Sgt G. H. Wilson,
F/S B. S. Blundall,
Sgt J. D. Craig,
P/O P. G. Hopkins.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress in Mareeba

Date & Time: Aug 26, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
41-2621
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Mareeba - Mareeba
MSN:
2432
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew left Mareeba Airport at 0400LT on a bombing mission to Milne Bay, PNG. After a successful mission, the crew was returning to his base in Queensland. During the attack over Milne Bay, the aircraft christened 'The Daylight Ltd' was hit by enemy fire and the brakes and flaps were unusable. On touchdown at Mareeba, the right main gear collapsed. The aircraft veered off runway to the right and collided with a tree. While all three crew members were injured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Crew (19th BG):
Cpt Kenneth Casper, pilot,
Sgt Arthur L. Richardson, radio operator,
Sgt Penwarden.
Probable cause:
Attacked by enemy fire.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling I in Gorinchem

Date & Time: Aug 16, 1942 at 0658 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N3705
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Oakington - Oakington
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew left RAF Oakington at 0125LT on a bombing mission to The Netherlands. By night, the crew encountered undefined problems and the captain attempted to make an emergency landing. The aircraft eventually crash landed in a field located near Gorinchem. While the aircraft was damaged beyond repair, all seven crew members were unhurt and taken POW.
Crew (7th Squadron):
Sgt S. C. Orrell,
F/O F. Thompson,
Sgt A. Buckley,
Sgt J. A. B. Bond,
Sgt C. A. Bowers,
Sgt A. R. Bolman,
Sgt T. R. Gough.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester I in RAF Talbenny

Date & Time: Aug 16, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L7475
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Talbenny - Talbenny
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Just after lift off, while in initial climb, the aircraft stalled and crashed near the runway end. All seven crew members were injured while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
One of the engine caught fire just after take off.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder near Buna: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 13, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
40-1492
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1492
YOM:
1940
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was in charge to attack a convoy when he was hit by enemy fire. The captain was able to leave the area and attempted to make an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in shallow water off Cape Nelson, in the region of Buna. A crew member was killed while all six other occupants were injured. Crew (22nd BG).
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress in Rabaul: 8 killed

Date & Time: Aug 9, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
41-2660
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Port Moresby - Port Moresby
MSN:
2471
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The crew was involved in a bombing mission over Rabaul. While approaching its target, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a Japanese fighter and crashed in a huge explosion. All eight crew members were killed.
Crew (19th BG).
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress near Kabanga: 9 killed

Date & Time: Aug 9, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
41-2643
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Port Moresby - Port Moresby
MSN:
2454
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The aircraft left 7 Mile Aerodrome in Port Moresby on a bombing mission to Rabaul. While approaching the target, the aircraft was attacked by Japanese fighters. The crew attempted to leave the area but the aircraft eventually crashed in a plantation located in Kabanga, east of Rabaul. All nine crew members were killed.
Crew (19th BG):
1st Lt Hugh S. Grundmann, pilot,
1st Lt LeRoy F. Foltz, copilot,
2nd Lt Donald L. Bonham,
2nd Lt Frank M. Burton Jr.,
Pfc William A. Takala,
James T. McHugh, Jr.,
Harry T. Isles,
Kenneth E. Dake,
Robert E. McClure.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress on Malapla Island

Date & Time: Aug 9, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
41-2452
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Port Moresby - Port Moresby
MSN:
2263
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew left 7 Mile Aerodrome in Port Moresby on a bombing mission to Rabaul. Once the target was reached, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and was attacked by enemy fire as well. The captain decided to return to Port Moresby but after 3,5 flying hours, the radio compass failed. The crew attempted to make an emergency landing on a beach located on Malapla Island. While the aircraft was damaged beyond repair, all ten occupants were rescued.
Crew (19th BG):
Cpt Harry J. Hawthorne, pilot,
2nd Lt Paul J. Scarboro, copilot,
2nd Lt Warren E. Bryant, navigator,
2nd Lt Robert J. Haase, bombardier,
S/Sgt Milton P. Kelm, flight engineer,
Pfc Arnold G. Osborne, radio operator,
Cpl Walter T. Buchanan, air gunner,
Michael R. Andrade, air gunner,
S/Sgt Selm, air gunner,
Cpl Paul K. Harmon, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Radio compass failure.