Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The airplane departed RAF Topcliffe at 1901LT on March 3 on an operation to Brest. While returning to base the following night, the crew was instructed to divert to RAF Tangmere. While circling on approach, the airplane crashed in a wooded area located in Eartham, northeast of the airfield. Three crew members were killed and two others were injured.
Crew:
P/O Geoffrey Moir Bussy, pilot, †
Sgt Harold Joseph Dowling, pilot, †
Sgt Willlam George Rawkins, observer, †
Sgt E. C. Pryor,
Sgt A. R. Keseon.

Probable cause:

It is believed that the pilot became disoriented when the airfield lights were suddenly extinguished.

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

Date & Time: Apr 4, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley

Operator:

Registration:

Z6556

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Dishforth – Dishforth

MSN:

2027

YOM:

1941

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The airplane departed RAF Dishforth at 1856LT on March 3 on an operation to Brest. It crashed in unknown circumstances in Trébeurden, killing the entire crew.
Crew:
F/Lt James Harrington, pilot,
Sgt John Kirkwood Purdon, pilot,
Sgt Cecil Calvert, wireless operator,
Sgt Daniel Gilfillan Farmer, wireless operator,
Sgt Thomas Halford Knighton, observer.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V at RAF Waddington: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 3, 1941 at 2240 LT

Type of aircraft:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley

Operator:

Registration:

P4947

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Topcliffe - Topcliffe

MSN:

1674

YOM:

1940

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Topcliffe at 1904LT on an operation to Brest. While returning in the evening, it iced up and crashed at 2240LT while making a second circuit to RAF Waddington. On approach at a height of 300 feet, the bomber stalled and crashed, bursting into flames. Four crew members were killed and a fifth was seriously injured.
Crew:
Sgt William Edgar Godfrey, pilot, †
Sgt Kenneth George William Kyle, pilot, †
Sgt Phillip Charles Livesey Wicks, observer, †
F/Sgt Alan Leigh Kennedy, wireless operator, †
Sgt C. Calvert.

Probable cause:

Icing.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V in Manston: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 3, 1941 at 2120 LT

Type of aircraft:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley

Operator:

Registration:

T4299

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Dishforth – Dishforth

MSN:

1952

YOM:

1940

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Dishforth at 1900LT on an operation to Brest. It was shot down at 2120LT by the pilot of a Hurricane registered V6960 and crash landed in Manston, Dorset. A crew was killed and four others were injured:
Crew:
P/O N. E. Sharp,
F/O R. C. Alabaster,
Sgt J. A. Gibson,
Sgt L. U. Allum,
Sgt William Norman Brindley, wireless operator. †

Probable cause:

Mistakenly shot down by a British fighter.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V near RAF Cottesmore

Date & Time: Mar 28, 1941 at 0215 LT

Type of aircraft:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley

Operator:

Registration:

Z6477

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Leeming - Leeming

MSN:

1989

YOM:

1940

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The airplane departed RAF Leeming at 1951LT on March 27 on an operation to Düsseldorf. It was abandoned at 0215LT north of Pickworth, Lincolnshire, and later crashed near RAF Cottesmore. All five crew members were rescued, among them one was injured.
Crew:
S/L H. A. R. Holford,
Sgt J. T. Taylor,
Sgt J. F. Bassett,
Sgt R. R. Hanson,
Sgt A. J. Jones.

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

Date & Time: Mar 27, 1941 at 2305 LT

Type of aircraft:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley

Operator:

Registration:

Z6470

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Dishforth – Dishforth

MSN:

1982

YOM:

1940

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The airplane departed RAF Dishforth at 1929LT on an operation to Düsseldorf. While passing over the Netherlands, it was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter and crashed in Helenaveen. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Alan Kingsley Mills, pilot,
P/O Kenneth Frank Seager, pilot,
S/Lt P. S. Hoad, observer,
Sgt Ernest Alfred Francis Grunsell, wireless operator,
Sgt Jack Mitchell, wireless operator.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V in Masham: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 19, 1941 at 0455 LT

Type of aircraft:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley

Operator:

Registration:

T4202

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Leeming - Leeming

MSN:

1875

YOM:

1940

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The airplane departed RAF Leeming at 2021LT on March 18 on an operation to Kiel. While returning to base the following night, flying at an altitude of 6,000 feet, the left engine failed and caught fire. The flames spread to the fuselage and the crew were ordered to bail out. Four occupants were found uninjured while the pilot was overcome by smoke and his body was found in the wreckage.
Crew:
Sgt Neville Watson, pilot,
P/O W. Spiers,
Sgt D. C. L. Mole,
Sgt A. J. Owen,
Sgt J. Bole.

Probable cause:

Engine fire in flight.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V into the North Sea: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 13, 1941 at 2353 LT

Type of aircraft:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley

Operator:

Registration:

N1493

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Topcliffe - Topcliffe

MSN:

1633

YOM:

1939

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The airplane departed RAF Topcliffe at 1937LT on an operation to Hamburg. The crew called for assistance at 2353LT then the airplane was lost without trace. Maybe it crashed somewhere in the North Sea. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt David William Arkwright,
Sgt Norman Frank Johnson,
Sgt Donald Arthur Smithies,
Sgt Samuel Wiesley Snoddon,
Sgt Daniel Pryce Williams.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V at RAF Bircham Newton: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 13, 1941 at 0100 LT

Type of aircraft:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley

Operator:

Registration:

T4140

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Topcliffe - Topcliffe

MSN:

1833

YOM:

1940

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The airplane departed RAF Topcliffe at 1945LT on March 12 on an operation to Berlin. It returned from the Dutch coast on one engine and while trying to land at RAF Bircham Newton, it overshot the airfield and crashed in a wooded area. Two crew members were killed and three others were injured.
Crew:
P/O Frederick George Malim, pilot,
P/O Eaton Geoffrey Cubitt,
Sgt J. E. Madgett,
Sgt N. W. Davies,
Sgt R. D. Davidson.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V in Noord Deurningen: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 13, 1941 at 0005 LT

Type of aircraft:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley

Operator:

Registration:

T4326

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Topcliffe - Topcliffe

MSN:

1959

YOM:

1940

Location:

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Crew on board:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Topcliffe at 1940LT on March 12 on an operation to Berlin. While returning to base, it was shot down by the pilot of a German Me.110 and crashed in Noord Deurningen. Four crew members were killed and a fifth became PoW.
Crew:
F/Lt Frank Hugh Long, pilot, †
S/L Archibald Martin Watts-Read, pilot, †
Sgt William Edward van Klaveren, navigator,
Sgt Ernest Hugh Goodall, wireless operator, †
Sgt Vincent Hallas, wireless operator. †

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

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