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Lower Saxony

Crash of a Vickers 408 Wellington IA off Wilhelmshaven: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N2904
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Feltwell - Feltwell
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
While on a reconnaissance mission, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter. The bomber went out of control and crashed into the sea off Wilhelmshaven. All six crew members were killed.
Crew (on behalf of 37th Squadron):
S/L Ian Victor Hue-Williams, pilot,
F/Lt Thomas Gaufrey Wearmouth Appleby, copilot,
F/O Arthur Richard Vaughan Williams, navigator,
Sgt Alister Raymond Norris, observer,
LAC John Arundel Barstow, wireless operator and air gunner,
LAC Ernest Lowe, air gunner.
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
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N2889
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Feltwell - Feltwell
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
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. One crew was injured and rescued while all four other crew members were killed.
Crew (on behalf of 37th Squadron):
F/O Oliver John Trevor Lewis, pilot, †
Sgt Maurice William Barrington-Taylor, navigator, †
P/O Roderick Menzie Ross, navigator, †
AC1 Peter Thomas Jones, wireless operator and air gunner, †
AC1 George Warne Geddes, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Vickers 408 Wellington IA off Wilhelmshaven: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N2941
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Honington - Honington
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
While performing a reconnaissance flight off the German coast, the aircraft was shot down by enemy fire, went out of control and crashed into the sea off Wilhelmshaven with its port engine on fire. All six crew members were killed.
Crew (9th Squadron):
F/O Douglas Bellamy Allison, pilot,
F/O Donald Charles Ephraim Bailey, copilot,
Sgt John Archibald Brister, observer,
Sgt Joseph Buglasi Adamson Turnbull, bombardier,
Cpl Reginald Thomas Black, wireless operator and air gunner,
LAC Albert George Goodenough, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Vickers 408 Wellington IA off Wilhelmshaven: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N2939
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Honington - Honington
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Honington at 0855LT on a reconnaissance mission over Germany. While approaching Wilhelmshaven harbor, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a German Messerschmitt Me.110 fighter and crashed into the sea. All six crew members were killed.
Crew (9th Squadron):
F/O John Thomas Irvine Challes, pilot,
P/O Alistair Hugh Richmond Bourne, copilot,
Sgt Frank Michael Mason, observer,
Sgt Thomas Henry English, wireless operator and air gunner,
LAC Gurth Ernest Cox, air gunner,
AC1 Alexander Telfer, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Vickers 408 Wellington IA off Wilhelmshaven: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N2872
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Honington - Honington
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Honington at 0900LT on a reconnaissance mission over Germany. While approaching Wilhelmshaven harbor, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter and crashed into the sea. All six crew members were killed.
Crew (9th Squadron):
S/L Archibald John Guthrie, pilot,
F/O John Edgar Atkinson, copilot,
Sgt Harold Walter Tyrrell, observer,
LAC Thomas Leo Marlin, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Bertie Joseph Pickess, wireless operator and air gunner,
LAC Josias Melville Fletcher Key, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Vickers 408 Wellington IA off Wangerooge Island: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 14, 1939 at 1430 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N2911
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Newmarket - Newmarket
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
While performing a reconnaissance mission off the German coast, the aircraft was attacked by a German fighter. The crew elected to evacuate the area when the bomber collided with another RAF Vickers 408 Wellington IA registered N2870. Carrying a crew of six as well, this aircraft was also completing involved in a reconnaissance mission over the same area. Following the collision, both aircraft plunged into the sea off Wangerooge Island. No trace of both aircraft nor 12 occupants were found.
Crew (99th Squadron):
Sgt Elvies Bowen Morgan,
Sgt Frederick George Goodwin,
LAC David Graham Hodge,
AC2 Frank James Johnson,
Sgt Thomas Edwin Jones,
Sgt William H. Downey.

Crash of a Vickers 408 Wellington IA off Wangerooge Island: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 14, 1939 at 1430 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N2870
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Newmarket - Newmarket
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
While performing a reconnaissance mission off the German coast, the aircraft was attacked by a German fighter. The crew elected to evacuate the area when the bomber collided with another RAF Vickers 408 Wellington IA registered N2911. Carrying a crew of six as well, this aircraft was also completing involved in a reconnaissance mission over the same area. Following the collision, both aircraft plunged into the sea off Wangerooge Island. No trace of both aircraft nor 12 occupants were found.
Crew (99th Squadron):
P/O Norman Leonard Lewis,
Sgt Harvey Hulme,
Sgt William James Atkins,
AC1 Rolf Heywood,
Cpl Thomas Hunter,
AC1 Charles Watson.
Probable cause:
Shot down.

Crash of a Vickers 408 Wellington IA off Wangerooge Island: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 14, 1939 at 1425 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N2986
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Newmarket - Newmarket
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
While on a reconnaissance mission, the airplane was shot down by anti-aircraft gunfire from enemy ships operating in the vicinity of Wangerooge Island. One of the vessels involved was the cruiser named 'Nürnberg'. The aircraft crashed into the sea off Wangerooge Island, killing all six crew members.
Crew (99th Squadron):
Sgt R. H. J. Brace,
Sgt C. D. Caldwell,
Sgt R. Allon,
AC2 H. Houldsworth,
Cpl E. Corry,
Cpl T. D. Dodds.
Probable cause:
Shot down by ground fire .

Crash of a Vickers 408 Wellington IA off Wangerooge Island: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 14, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N2956
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Newmarket - Newmarket
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
While on a reconnaissance flight off the German coast, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a German Messerschmitt Me.109 and crashed off Wangerooge Island, while attempting an emergency landing in the mainland. All six crew members were killed.
Crew (99th Squadron):
F/O J. A. H. Cooper,
F/O J. P. Trewby,
Sgt G. E. F. Martin,
AC1 F. G. Hooker,
Cpl H. D. Whitehouse,
LAC R. T. Carr.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Vickers 408 Wellington IA off Wangerooge Island: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 14, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N2886
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Newmarket - Newmarket
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
While on a reconnaissance mission off the German coast, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter and crashed into the sea off Wangerooge Island. All six occupants were killed.
Crew (99th Squadron):
F/S J. E. K. Healey,
Sgt W. F. Antell,
Sgt B. T. Boram,
AC2 W. H. Pountain,
LAC H. E. Beaumont,
LAC R. Forsyth.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.