Essex

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

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Schedule:

Debden - Debden

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After touchdown at RAF Debden, the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran and crashed into the perimeter fence, bursting into flames. All three crew members escaped uninjured while the airplane was destroyed by fire.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7B Boston III at RAF Debden

Date & Time: Mar 9, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston

Operator:

Registration:

W8314

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

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Debden - Debden

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The crew was completing a local training exercise at RAF Debden. Upon takeoff, the left engine failed. The airplane stalled and crashed in a plowed field. Both crew members were injured.
Crew:
P/O R. H. H. Pawsey,
P/O J. K. Reynolds.

Probable cause:

Failure of the left engine after takeoff.

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III off Clacton-on-Sea: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 15, 1942 at 1532 LT

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 417 Wellington III

Operator:

Registration:

X3398

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Vickers 416 Wellington IC

Schedule:

Honington - Honington

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The airplane departed RAF Honington at 1532LT on a training exercise. In unknown circumstances, it crashed into the sea some 300 yards off Clacton-on-Sea. Five crew members were killed and two others were rescued.
Crew:
Sgt John Wilson Dalgliesh, pilot, †
Sgt Frederick Ernest Coulson, observer, †
Sgt William Hutchinson, wireless operator, †
Sgt Hedley Brown, air gunner, †
Cpt G. R. Buck, †
Sgt W. E. McCartney,
Sgt E. Onions.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC in Thaxted

Date & Time: Feb 11, 1942 at 1955 LT

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Registration:

Z8904

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Alconbury - Alconbury

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The airplane departed RAF Alconbury at 1840LT on an operation to Mannheim. Following engine trouble, the crew decided to return to base and eventually abandoned the airplane that crashed at Parks Farm in Thaxted. A crew was injured.
Crew:
P/O L. J. Ackland,
Sgt P. Hall,
P/O R. F. Davies,
F/Sgt C. T. T. Brady,
Sgt H. Gallagher,
P/O R. M. Greig.

Probable cause:

Engine trouble.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V off Harwich: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 28, 1942 at 1905 LT

Type of aircraft:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley

Operator:

Registration:

Z9305

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Vickers 416 Wellington IC

Schedule:

Croft

MSN:

2369

YOM:

1941

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The airplane departed RAF Croft at 1720LT on an operation to Rotterdam. It was shot down by AA fire from trawlers and crashed into the sea off Harwich. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Douglas Reid Campbell,
Sgt Denis Curnick,
Sgt Ronald Welburn Dobson, wireless operator,
Sgt Alan Neal Williams,
P/O David Llewelyn Williams.

Probable cause:

Shot down by AA fire from trawlers.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC in Sible Hedingham

Date & Time: Sep 29, 1941 at 0320 LT

Type of aircraft:

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Registration:

R1177

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Schedule:

Feltwell - Feltwell

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The airplane departed RAF Feltwell at 1920LT on September 28 on an operation to Frankfurt. While returning to base the following night, it was abandoned by the crew, dove into the ground and crashed in Sible Hedingham. All six crew members were uninjured.
Crew:
Sgt S. J. G. Isherwood,
Sgt Climie,
P/O E. M. Sangster,
Sgt B. W. Shelnutt,
Sgt H. A. D. Stanley,
Sgt H. Bell.

Crash of a Junkers JU.88C-2 off Clacton-on-Sea

Date & Time: Sep 17, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.88

Operator:

Registration:

R4+NH

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

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Schedule:

Gilze-Rijen - Gilze-Rijen

MSN:

0839

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The airplane departed Gilze-Rijen AFB on an operation to England. While approaching the British coast, the bomber was shot down by a British fighter and crashed into the sea off Clacton-on-Sea. All three crew members bailed out, were rescued and became PoW.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a British fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Clacton-on-Sea

Date & Time: Sep 16, 1941 at 1145 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

Z7363

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Vickers 406 Wellington II

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The pilot was completing a solo training flight. The accident occurred when the pilot tried to adjust his compass while flying low and, inadvertently, he flew into the sea. The pilot was rescued.
Crew:
P/O P. G. Brown, pilot.

Probable cause:

Pilot error.

Crash of a Vickers 406 Wellington II in Stapleford: 6 killed

Date & Time: Sep 3, 1941 at 0320 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

W5434

Flight Phase: