Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley

Operator:

Registration:

P4950

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Dishforth - Dishforth

MSN:

1677

YOM:

1940

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The bomber departed RAF Dishforth at 1604LT on December 28 on an operation to Lorient. The following night, it crashed in unknown circumstances in Lanvollon. A crew evaded and four others became PoW.
Crew:
F/Lt John Bertie Thomas Loudon,
W/O Edward Winston Wilmore,
Sgt Leslie Alan Beckett,
Sgt Andrew James McMillan,
Sgt A. J. Mott.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V at RAF Abingdon

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1940 at 0335 LT

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

P5111

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Topcliffe - Topcliffe

MSN:

1819

YOM:

1940

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Topcliffe at 1628LT on December 27 on an operation to Bordeaux. While returning to base the following night, the crew diverted to RAF Abingdon when the bomber crashed on a building that was used for instructional purposes. All five crew members were uninjured.
Crew:
F/L C. L. Gomm,
Sgt Taylor,
Sgt Nickson,
Sgt Jones,
Sgt Flanders.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V at RAF Topcliffe

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1940 at 0227 LT

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

T4293

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Topcliffe - Topcliffe

MSN:

1946

YOM:

1940

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Topcliffe at 1629LT on December 27 to bomb an aircraft factory based at Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport. While returning to base the following night, the crew encountered technical difficulties upon landing when the airplane went out of control, veered off runway and collided with another Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley parked on the ramp. All five occupants were injured and both aircraft were destroyed.
Crew (77th Squadron):
Sgt Harold Joseph Dowling, pilot,
P/O Leonard Edward Pearson, pilot,
Sgt John Stafford Bools, observer,
Sgt Gill, wireless operator,
Sgt Alfred John Hurlston, air gunner.

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

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1940 at 0200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

T4335

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Topcliffe - Topcliffe

MSN:

1968

YOM:

1940

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Topcliffe at 1627LT on December 27 on an operation to Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport. While returning to base the following night, it crashed into a small copse near RAF St Athan. All five crew members evacuated safely.
Crew:
S/L B. V. Robinson,
Sgt E. B. Cahusac,
Sgt E. E. Welden,
Sgt J. C. Kesson,
Sgt K. Howard.

Probable cause:

At the time of the accident, the bomber was well east of its intended track. This was attributed to w/t failure and a very strong easterly wind.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V at RAF Linton-on-Ouse: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1940 at 1930 LT

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

P5098

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Linton-on-Ouse - Linton-on-Ouse

MSN:

1806

YOM:

1940

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Linton-on-Ouse at 1725LT on an operation to Boulogne, France. One hour into the flight, the crew encountered technical problems with some instruments and decided to return to base. After touchdown, the aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and collided with a parked Westland Lysander. An explosion occurred and both aircraft were destroyed. A crew member was killed while all four others were injured.
Crew (58th Squadron):
F/O Cresswell Montagu Clementi, pilot,
Sgt Walter Thomas W. Large, pilot,
Sgt James Wilfred Henry Brown, observer,
Sgt Herbert Frederick Jennings, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Irwin Geoffrey Johnson, wireless operator and air gunner. †
Source and photo: http://www.yorkshire-aircraft.co.uk/aircraft/yorkshire/york40/p5098.html

Probable cause:

Instruments failure.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V off Torbay: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

T4159

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Linton-on-Ouse - Linton-on-Ouse

MSN:

1852

YOM:

1940

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Linton-on-Ouse at 1710LT on an operation to Mannheim. It is believed that it crashed in the sea off Torbay. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found.
Crew:
Sgt Stronach Vivian Smith,
Sgt Keith Leonard Watson,
Sgt Alistair Gowling-Scopes,
Sgt James Rowlands,
Sgt John William Chamberlain.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V at RAF Leeming: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1940 at 1907 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

P4994

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Leeming - Leeming

MSN:

1716

YOM:

1940

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from RAF Leeming, while in initial climb, the bomber stalled and crashed on a farm located near the airfield, bursting into flames. The captain was killed while all four other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Crew (10th Squadron):
P/O Peter Beckford Gough, pilot
P/O Ross Leslie Flewelling, pilot, †
Sgt John Thomas Evans, wireless operator,
Sgt Ronald Leslie Somerville, wireless operator,
Sgt Edward Peter Hogan, wireless operator.

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

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

P4961

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Leeming - Leeming

MSN:

1688

YOM:

1940

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Leeming to bomb an aircraft components factory in Berlin. While returning to base the following night, at an altitude of 5,000 feet, the right engine failed and the crew abandoned the aircraft that entered a dive and crashed near RAF Honington. All five crew members were uninjured.
Crew:
P/O Bridson,
Sgt Griffin,
Sgt Burton,
Sgt Marshall,
Sgt Lucas.

Probable cause:

Failure of the right engine in flight.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V in Arden Great Moor: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 16, 1940 at 1835 LT

Type of aircraft: