Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I in Ausetvatnet: 7 killed

Date & Time: Apr 28, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L7572
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Lossiemouth - Lossiemouth
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew was involved in a bombing mission in the region of Trondheim, Norway. While approaching its target, the battleship christened 'Tirpitz', the aircraft was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in flames. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew (97th Squadron):
F/Lt John Goodsir MacKid, pilot,
P/O Ronald Benjamin Underwood, pilot,
P/O Thomas Neville Tree, observer,
Sgt Eric McDermott, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt William Keay Falconer Marshall, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Frederick Bennett, air gunner,
Sgt Raymond Day, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I in Masham

Date & Time: Apr 22, 1942 at 0320 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L7584
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Waddington - Waddington
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was involved in a night training exercise from RAF Waddington. While cruising in low visibility, the pilot was unable to locate his real position when the aircraft hit a hill located near Masham. All seven crew members were injured while the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster in Evreux: 7 killed

Date & Time: Apr 17, 1942 at 1655 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L7536
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Waddington - Waddington
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew left RAF Waddington at 1512LT on a bombing mission to Augsburg, Germany. While overflying France, the aircraft was attacked by the pilot of a German fighter. With all four engines on fire, the aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in flames in a field located six km southwest of Evreux. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew (44th Squadron):
Sgt George Thomas Rhodes, pilot,
Sgt Lawrence Heaton Baxter, pilot,
Sgt Brian Ignatius Joseph Daly, navigator,
Sgt Cyril Leonard Merricks, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt John Alfred Wynton, wireless operator and air gunner,
F/Sgt George Alfred Edwards, air gunner,
F/Sgt Henry Verdun, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I in Ormes

Date & Time: Apr 17, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L7548
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Waddington - Waddington
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew left RAF Waddington at 1512LT on a bombing mission to Augsburg, Germany. While overflying France, the aircraft was attacked by the pilot of a German fighter. With the left wing on fire, the crew reduced his altitude and attempted to make an emergency landing in an open field located 14 km northwest of Évreux. The aircraft crash landed and came to rest in flames. While all seven crew members were unhurt, the aircraft was destroyed.
Crew (44th Squadron):
W/O H. V. Crum,
Sgt A. D. C. Dedman,
Sgt N. T. Birkett,
F/Sgt J. Saunderson,
Sgt B. A. Dowty,
Sgt J. Miller,
Sgt A. Cobb.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I in Augsburg: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 17, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L7573
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Woodhall Spa - Woodhall Spa
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew left RAF Woodhall Spa at 1455LT on a bombing mission to Augsburg, Germany. While approaching its target, the aircraft was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in flames in a field. Six crew members were killed while the seventh was injured and taken POW.
Crew (97th Squadron):
S/L J. S. Sherwood, pilot,
P/O Alfred Thomas Webb, pilot, †
F/O Donald Stuart Reddy Hepburn, observer, †
Sgt Roderic Samuel Page, wireless operator, †
Sgt Arthur Meaker Cox, air gunner, †
F/Sgt David Walter Harrington, air gunner, †
F/Sgt Vincent Wilding. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I in Bracebridge Heath: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 28, 1942 at 1320 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
R5501
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Bottesford - Bottesford
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Bottesford on a training exercise. While cruising in the vicinity of RAF Waddington, it collided with a RAF Miles Master registered DE973 carrying one pilot from RAF College Cranwell. Following the collision, both airplanes dove into the ground and crashed near Bracebridge Heath, north of the airbase. All five crew members in both aircrafts were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Norman Arthur Lingard, pilot,
Sgt Derek Anson Wood, pilot,
Sgt Ronald William Cox, observer,
Sgt Thomas Charles Massey, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I at RAF Coningsby

Date & Time: Mar 24, 1942 at 1445 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L7531
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Coningsby - Coningsby
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training exercise at RAF Coningsby. Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the airplane crashed almost immediately when part of the port wing leading edge lifted, causing the bomber to career out of control and finish up, wrecked, near the station bomb dump. Miraculously, the crew escaped serious injury, despite smashing into a crane before coming to a stop.
Crew:
S/L T. H. Boylan +6.
Probable cause:
A technical failure occurred on the port leading edge flap shortly after liftoff. The flap went into a wrong position for such procedure, causing the airplane to crash.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I off Lorient: 8 killed

Date & Time: Mar 24, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
R5493
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Waddington - Waddington
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Waddington at 1950LT on a mine laying operation off Lorient. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the sea. All eight crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Lyster Warren-Smith, pilot,
Sgt Richard Alfred Marston, pilot,
Sgt Clive Edward Wigram Clifford, navigator,
Sgt Alistair Fraser Murdock, navigator,
Sgt Edward Burgess Cluff, wireless operator,
Sgt John Boyd, wireless operator,
Sgt Willliam Harold Flower, air gunner,
Sgt John McNally Davidson, air gunner.
Probable cause:
shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster III at RAF Finningley

Date & Time: Mar 23, 1942 at 2307 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
R5486
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Woodhall Spa - Woodhall Spa
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Woodhall Spa at 1935LT on a night cross country exercise and bomb load test. En route, he encountered poor visibility and decided to divert to RAF Finningley. On approach, the airplane crashed, lost its undercarriage and came to rest, bursting into flames. One crew member was slightly injured.
Crew:
F/Sgt G. H. Hartley,
Sgt M. Griffiths +5.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I in Freiston

Date & Time: Mar 20, 1942 at 1500 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L7570
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Woodhall Spa - Woodhall Spa
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Woodhall Spa on a mine laying operation of the Frisian Islands. After takeoff in poor weather conditions, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain height. The right wing struck the roof of a house then the airplane stalled and crashed in a field located in Freiston, some 25 km southeast of the airbase. All seven crew members were injured.
Crew (97th Squadron):
F/O E. E. Rodley,
P/O Colquhoun,
Sgt Healey,
Sgt Merralls,
Sgt Cummings,
Sgt J. Crisp,
Sgt Ratcliffe.