Lower Saxony

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MSN:

2790

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Shortly after takeoff, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea in the Ems estuary, some 400 metres offshore. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Uffz Georg Lindauer,
Lt Hans Matthes,
Uffz Ernst Hahsedentaufel,
Ogefr Włoczyk.

Probable cause:

It is believed that the accident was the consequence of a wrong manipulation on part of the pilot-in-command.

Crash of a Heinkel He.111H in Osnabrück

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Heinkel He.111

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An engine failed in flight, forcing the pilot to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed and was damaged beyond repair. All four crew members evacuated safely.

Probable cause:

Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Wangerooge: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 27, 1939

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

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Registration:

L8779

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Schedule:

Wattisham - Wattisham

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The crew departed RAF Wattisham on a reconnaissance mission over Wilhelmshaven. While approaching the German coast, the airplane was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter and crashed into the sea some 10 km off Wangerooge Island. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Keith Laxton, pilot,
LAC Truscott Victor Lewis,
Sgt William Anderson.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Vickers 408 Wellington IA off Wilhelmshaven: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1939 at 1410 LT

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Registration:

N2962

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Mildenhall - Mildenhall

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Took off from RAF Mildenhall at 0927LT. Shot down from 10,000 feet by a Messerschmitt Me.110 executing a beam attack at 1410LT. This was the first Wellington to be shot down during the operation and it was seen to dive vertically into the sea following a sharp explosion forward of the astrodome. All five crewmen were killed.
Crew (149th Squadron):
F/O J. H. C. Speirs,
P/O F. N. Lines,
Sgt R. R. Hammond,
LAC J. H. Sinton,
AC2 W. J. Ellis.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Vickers 408 Wellington IA off Borkum Island: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1939 at 1230 LT

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Registration:

N2888

Flight Phase:

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Survivors:

Yes

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Schedule:

Feltwell - Feltwell

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While on a patrol mission, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a German Messerschmitt Me.110. The bomber went out of control and crashed into the sea off Borkum Island. While the captain was seriously injured, all four other crew members were killed.
Crew (on behalf of 37th Squadron):
F/O Peter Arabin Wimberley, pilot,
Sgt Leslie Alfred Sheppard, observer, †
P/O Michael Radcliffe, navigator, †
AC1 Alexander Maxwell Hill, wireless operator and air gunner, †
LAC Alfred William Walter Lane, air gunner. †

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Vickers 408 Wellington IA off Wilhelmshaven: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1939 at 1230 LT

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Registration:

N2940

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Honington - Honington

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The airplane departed RAF Honington at 0855LT on a reconnaissance flight. Approaching the German coast, the aircraft was probably shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the sea off Wilhelmshaven. No trace of the aircraft nor the five crew members was found.
Crew (9th Squadron):
P/O Eric Francis Lines, pilot,
F/S Alfred Kitto Fearnside, copilot,
AC1 Edward Malcolm George Polhill, wireless operator and air gunner,
LAC Alex Morrison Dickie, air gunner,
AC2 Clifford Walker, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Vickers 408 Wellington IA on Borkum Island: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1939

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Registration:

N2936

Flight Phase:

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Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Feltwell - Feltwell

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The airplane departed RAF Feltwell at 0944LT on a reconnaissance mission off the German coast, the aircraft was attacked by the pilot of a German fighter. The pilot attempted an emergency landing on a sandy beach located on Borkum Island where the aircraft crash landed. Three crewmen were injured and two others were killed.
Crew (37th Squadron):
Sgt Herbert Ruse, pilot,
Sgt Thomas William Holley, observer, †
Sgt Tom K. May, navigator,
Cpl Frederick James Taylor, wireless operator and air gunner, †
LAC. Harry A. Jones, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Vickers 408 Wellington IA off Schillig: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1939

Type of aircraft:

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Registration:

N2935

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