Hampshire | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The airplane departed RAF West Raynham at 0153LT on an operation over Saint-Malo. While returning to its base, it collided with a balloon barrage cable and crashed one mile southeast of Eastleigh. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt John Hawes Balmer, pilot,
Sgt William John Cheshire Corker, observer,
Sgt Thomas George James Cranston, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

In-flight collision with a balloon barrage cable.

Crash of a Junkers JU.88A-1 in Kings Somborne: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 21, 1940 at 1415 LT

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.88

Operator:

Registration:

B3+?H

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Évreux - Évreux

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The airplane departed Évreux to attack the Supermarine Aviation factory in Woolston. It was shot down by a British fighter and crashed in Kings Somborne. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Oblt Birkenstock,
Obgfr Freude,
Uffz Schulze,
Gfr Becker.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a British fighter.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V in Eastleigh: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 15, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley

Operator:

Registration:

P5044

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Driffield - Driffield

MSN:

1756

YOM:

1940

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The airplane departed RAF Dishforth to bomb an oil storage depot located in Bec d'Ambès, about 22 km north of Bordeaux. While returning to its base, the airplane collided with the cables of a barrage balloon and crashed in Langley. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Robert Butler MacGregor, pilot,
F/O William Alan Stenhouse, pilot,
Sgt Claude Lionel Geoffrey Hood, observer,
Sgt John Burrow, wireless operator,
Sgt Harold Davies, wireless operator.

Probable cause:

In-flight collision with the cables of a barrage balloon.

Crash of a Junkers JU.88A-1 off Portsmouth: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 12, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.88

Operator:

Registration:

9K+BS

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

4078

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The airplane was engaged on a raid over the Portsmouth Naval Station when it was shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the sea. All four crew members were killed.

Crash of a Supermarine Walrus off Southampton: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 9, 1940 at 1030 LT

Type of aircraft:

Supermarine Walrus

Operator:

Registration:

L2225

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Lee-on-Solent - Lee-on-Solent

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The pilot was completing a solo training flight out from RNAS Lee-on-Solent. Upon landing on the Solent, the float plane overturned and crashed. The pilot Midshipman Peter Lewis Atkinson was killed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the pilot failed to retract the landing gear after takeoff from RNAS Lee-on-Solent.

Crash of a Supermarine Walrus in Southampton: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 12, 1939

Type of aircraft:

Supermarine Walrus

Operator:

Registration:

K8556

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

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While on a training flight over the coast of Hampshire, the float plane collided with the cable of a barrage balloon and crashed in the Bitterne Village, east of Southampton. All four crew members were killed while there were no casualties on the ground.
Crew:
Lt Richard Herriot Mackay Herriot-Hill,
F/O Michael Fortnum,
LAC Michael M’Loughlin,
Louis Moorhead, mechanic.

Probable cause:

Loss of control following an in-flight collision with the cable of a barrage balloon.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford near Gosport: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 20, 1939

Type of aircraft:

Airspeed AS.10 Oxford

Operator:

Registration:

G-AFFM

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Heston - Heston

MSN:

YOM:

1938

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The crew was performing a training flight out from Heston. While cruising over the area of Gosport, the twin engine aircraft collided with the moorings of a barrage balloon, went out of control and crashed in a huge explosion. Both pilots were killed.
Crew:
Arthur George Nicholson, pilot,
Arthur Edward Eady, radio operator.

Probable cause:

Loss of control following an in-flight collision with a barrage balloon.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I in Petersfield

Date & Time: Nov 11, 1939

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L8862

Flight Phase:

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Survivors:

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Schedule:

Boscombe Down - Boscombe Down

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The crew departed RAF Boscombe Down on a local test flight. En route, he encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed near Petersfield and was damaged beyond repair. Both crew members were injured.
Crew:
F/Lt C. W. K. Nicholls,
S/Ldr A. E. Groom.
Sources:

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I off Hayling Island

Date & Time: Oct 2, 1939 at 2030 LT

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

K6234

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Thorney Island - Thorney Island

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The airplane was dispatched in a striking force mission when it suffered an engine failure. While returning to RAF Thorney Island, it crashed into the sea off Hayling Island. All four crew members were rescued, among them one was injured.
Crew:
P/O M. V. Hunter, pilot,
Sgt Richard Arthur Bate, copilot,
AC1 Samuel Meek McCraken,
AC1 Hills.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of a Short S.19 Singapore III of RAF Calshot

Date & Time: Jul 15, 1939 at 0945 LT

Type of aircraft:

Short S.19 Singapore III

Operator:

Registration:

K8566

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

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During the takeoff roll from RAF Calshot (off the Calshot Pier), the float plane collided with a steamer cruising from Southampton to Hyde. The right wing was shattered and the airplane came to rest in water but did no capsize. All six crew members evacuated safely and no one on board the steamer was injured.