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Hertfordshire

Crash of a Junkers JU.88C-4 in Ashwell: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 22, 1941 at 0119 LT
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.88
Operator:
Registration:
R4+BL
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Gilze-Rijen - Gilze-Rijen
MSN:
0842
Location:
Ashwell
Hertfordshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane collided with a Wellington registered R1334 and that was approaching RAF Bassinbourn with a crew of eight on board. Both airplanes went out of control and crashed in Ashwell. All 11 crew members were killed.
Crew:
Lt Heinz Völker, pilot,
Uffz Herbert Indenbirken, radio operator,
Fw Andreas Würstl, mechanic.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC in Ashwell: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jul 22, 1941 at 0119 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 416 Wellington IC
Operator:
Registration:
R1334
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Bassingbourn - Bassingbourn
Location:
Ashwell
Hertfordshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The airplane was returning to base when, on approach, it collided with a JU.88 registered R4+BL and carrying a crew of three. Both airplanes went out of control and crashed in Ashwell. All 11 crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Walter Anthony Hannah, pilot,
Sgt Reginald Ernest Hibbert, wireless operator,
Sgt Frederick Slade Houston, pilot,
Sgt Claude Mortimer Spratt Lewis, observer,
Sgt Percival Theodore Manning, wireless operator,
Sgt Robert Andrew McAllister,
F/Sgt Joseph Stewart, wireless operator,
Sgt Bruce Cathcart Thompson.

Crash of a Douglas A-20 Havoc I in Bishop's Stortford

Date & Time: May 13, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
BJ495
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Hunsdon - Hunsdon
Location:
Bishop's Stortford
Hertfordshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was returning to RAF Hunsdon following a patrol mission. While flying in IMC conditions, the airplane suffered an instrument failure. Both crew members bailed out and were rescued. The airplane dove into the ground and crashed in Bishop's Stortford.
Probable cause:
Instrument failure in flight.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC in Wendy

Date & Time: May 7, 1941 at 0208 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 416 Wellington IC
Operator:
Registration:
R3227
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Bassingbourn - Bassingbourn
Location:
Wendy
Hertfordshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Bassingbourn on an operation to Germany when it was intercepted and hit by a German fighter. It crash landed in a field located in Wendy, near Royston. All six crew members evacuated safely.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Junkers JU.88A-5 in Much Hadham: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.88
Operator:
Registration:
4D+DM
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Gilze-Rijen - Gilze-Rijen
MSN:
317
Location:
Much Hadham
Hertfordshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Gilze-Rijen AFB on an operation to England. It was shot down by the British Flak and crashed in Much Hadham. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Hptm Erich Hass, pilot,
Fw Josef Kessels, radio operator,
Fw Günther Suhr, bomb aimer,
Anton Doppelfeld.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the British Flak.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I in Radlett

Date & Time: Sep 2, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden
Operator:
Registration:
P4374
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Radlett
Hertfordshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Written off after the undercarriage collapsed on landing at the Handley Page Aerodrome at Radlett. The pilot evacuated safely.
Crew:
P/O C. P. D. Price.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Welwyn

Date & Time: Jul 16, 1940 at 0900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L9251
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
West Raynham - West Raynham
Location:
Welwyn
Hertfordshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing for unknown reasons. The airplane crash landed in an open field located near Welwyn. All three crew members were injured.
Crew:
P/O A. B. Jones,
Sgt T. J. Richards,
Sgt F. B. Rowley.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I in Harpenden

Date & Time: Oct 13, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L1147
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
8430
YOM:
1938
Location:
Harpenden
Hertfordshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew departed Metz on a reconnaissance mission over Münster and Bremen. Following a successful mission, the crew returned to England but encountered poor weather conditions over the North Sea. The pilot got lost and because of fuel shortage, he attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in a field in Harpenden. All three crew members were uninjured.
Crew:
F/O C. T. Norman, pilot,
Sgt Edwards,
AC1 T. J. Jervis.
Probable cause:
Emergency landing due to fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60X Moth in Broxbourne

Date & Time: Jul 6, 1937
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Registration:
G-EBVK
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Broxbourne - Broxbourne
MSN:
467
YOM:
1928
Location:
Broxbourne
Hertfordshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to Broxbourne Aerodrome, the single engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in the garden of a house opposite to the airfield. Both occupants were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.54 Harrow I in Radlett

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1937
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.54 Harrow
Operator:
Registration:
K6940
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Feltwell - Radlett
Location:
Radlett
Hertfordshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Feltwell on a ferry flight to Radlett where the crew was supposed to take delivery of other Handley Page H.P.54 Harrow. On final approach to Radlett Airport, the airplane was too low and collided with a train (the 1025 L.M.S. express from St. Pancras to Manchester which was travelling at 60 mph). It lost its undercarriage and crashed in a field in Napsbury. All six crew members were injured, two seriously.
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