Crash of a Douglas DB-7 Boston I in Crowborough: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 22, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
BB912
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Middle Wallop - Middle Wallop
Location:
Crowborough
East Sussex
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Middle Wallop on a navigation training exercise. While flying at low height, the crew lost control of the airplane that crashed in a field in Crowborough. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Harry Wilson, pilot,
F/Sgt James Terrence Blackwell, wireless operator.

Crash of a Douglas A-20 Havoc I in Wimbish: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 13, 1941 at 1625 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
BJ500
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Debden - Ford
Location:
Debden AFB
Essex
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while climbing, the aircraft stalled from the tail, entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a field located in Wimbish, 3 km from the airfield, bursting into flames. All three occupants were killed. The crew was performing a flight to RAF Ford to pick up and ferry another Havoc back to RAF Debden.
F/Lt Geoffrey Allard, pilot,
P/O William Henry Hodgson,
P/O Francis Richard Walker-Smith, pilot.
Probable cause:
During initial climb, a gun inspection panel became loose and flew back, wrapping itself around the fin.

Crash of a Douglas A-20 Havoc I at RAF Debden

Date & Time: Mar 10, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
BJ476
Flight Phase:
Taxiing
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Debden - Debden
Location:
Debden AFB
Essex
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The nose gear collapsed while the aircraft was taxiing at RAF Debden. There were no injuries among the crew and the aircraft was not repaired.
Probable cause:
The nose gear collapsed while taxiing.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7 Boston II in Shavington: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 21, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
AX915
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Middle Wallop - Middle Wallop
Location:
Shavington
Cheshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot departed RAF Middle Wallop on a solo training sortie. The airplane collided with the cable of a barrage balloon and crashed in Shavington. The pilot was killed.
Crew:
P/O Reginald Claude Hyett, pilot.
Probable cause:
Collision with the cable of a barrage balloon.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7 Boston at RAF Ford

Date & Time: Nov 23, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
AW397
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Ford AFB
West Sussex
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane crashed for unknown reasons upon landing at RAF Ford. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7 Boston at RAF Benson

Date & Time: Nov 3, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
AX849
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Benson AFB
Oxfordshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing at RAF Benson in poor weather conditions, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7 Boston in Léchelle: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 13, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
U-250
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Bourges - Bourges
MSN:
35
YOM:
1940
Location:
Léchelle
Seine-et-Marne
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Bourges to attack German troops located in the sector of Montmirail when it was shot down by the pilot of a Me.109. The captain reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing when the airplane impacted the ground and crashed in a field in Léchelle. Two crew members were killed and a third was seriously injured.
Crew:
Sgt/C Fernand Louis Frédéric Estève, pilot, †
S/Lt Paul André Defaye, observer, †
Sgt/C Vincent, radio operator.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7 Boston in Tagnon: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 10, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
U-256
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
41
YOM:
1940
Location:
Tagnon
Ardennes
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane was shot down by enemy fire and crashed in flames in Tagnon. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Pierre Henri Edgar Dupont, pilot,
S/Lt Jacques Pierre Jean Gilet, observer,
Cpl Albert Victor Arnulphy, radio operator.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7 Boston in Roye: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 7, 1940 at 1845 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
U-248
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Bleville - Bleville
MSN:
33
YOM:
1940
Location:
Roye
Somme
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Bleville to attack German columns located in Roye. Approaching the target, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in Saint-Mard, 2 km ouest of Roye. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt/C Guy Roger Decamps, pilot,
S/Lt André Marie Xavier Belin, observer,
Sgt Georges Gustave Antoine Le Goff, radio operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7 Boston in Mercin-et-Vaux: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 6, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
U-241
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Pithiviers - Pithiviers
MSN:
26
YOM:
1940
Location:
Mercin-et-Vaux
Aisne
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in Mercin-et-Vaux. Two crew members were killed and a third was uninjured.
Crew:
Cpt Provoost, pilot,
Adj François Joseph Léon Montrozier, observer, †
Sgt/C Dominique Antoine Folacci, radio operator. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.
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