Crash of a Douglas DB-7 Havoc I in RAF Thurleigh: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 28, 1942 at 1905 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
BJ501
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Thurleigh - Thurleigh
Location:
Thurleigh AFB
Bedfordshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
On final approach to RAF Thurleigh, the pilot abandoned the landing procedure and attempted a go around. During initial climb, the twin engine aircraft went to a steep angle of climb, pitched up, stalled and crashed. The pilot, who was performing his first solo flight, was killed.
Crew (51st OTU):
Sgt Leonard James Casey.

Crash of a Douglas XF-3 Havoc in Little Mecatina River

Date & Time: Oct 10, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
39-741
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Little Mecatina River
Newfoundland & Labrador
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was piloted by Captain Secord when it crash landed in a bog in a remote portion of the Little Macatina River, in southwestern Labrador. The pilot made a forced landing due to fuel shortage. The aircraft was on a reconnaissance mission and landed due to low fuel. The crew were rescued three days later, but the aircraft was abandoned, most likely due to the remoteness of the crash site.
Source & photo:
http://www.planecrashgirl.ca/tag/airplane-archaeology/page/2/
Probable cause:
Fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Douglas BD-2 Havoc in Squantum NAS

Date & Time: Oct 1, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
7042
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Squantum - Squantum
MSN:
5112
Location:
Squantum NAS
Massachusetts
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from Squantum NAS, while climbing, a hydraulic failure prevented the undercarriage retraction. The crew decided to return and completed a safe landing. But after touchdown, the brakes system failed as well and the crew was unable to stop the aircraft on the remaining distance. The aircraft overran and came to rest into the sea. While all three occupants were unhurt, the aircraft was lost.
Probable cause:
Failure of the hydraulic system.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7A Havoc II off Clacton-on-Sea: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 6, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
AH444
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Hunsdon - Hunsdon
Location:
Clacton-on-Sea
Essex
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 was involved in a training mission when flying off Clacton-on-Sea, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea some 200 yards off shore. Both crew members were killed.
Crew (85th Squadron):
P/O Hugh M. McKiernan, pilot,
P/O Geoffrey M. Brearley, observer.

Crash of a Douglas A-20A Havoc in Grenier Field AFB

Date & Time: Jul 25, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
40-108
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Manchester - Manchester
Location:
Manchester
New Hampshire
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a circular training mission at Grenier Field AFB, Manchester. In flight, an engine failed and the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed at Intervale Country Club. Both occupants were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
Lt Dick Thompson,
Lt Albert Grandmaison.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7 Boston III in France

Date & Time: Jun 28, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
AL459
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Ford - Ford
Location:
France
All France
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was returning to the RAF Ford in West Sussex following the attack of a German airbase located near Évreux, France. Following an uneventful mission, the crew was returning to his base when he lost control of the aircraft that crashed in an open field located in the north part of France. While all three occupants were slightly injured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Crew (23th Squadron):
P/O R. R. Coventry,
Sgt R. R. Gunning,
Sgt W. N. Barlow.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7 Boston IIIA in Raversijde: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 27, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
Z2249
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Swanton Morley - Swanton Morley
Location:
Ostend
West Flanders
Country:
Belgium
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While overflying Belgium, the twin engine aircraft was hit by Flak. The captain decided to make an emergency landing and the aircraft belly landed and came to rest in flames in a prairie located in Raversijde, near Ostend. A crew member was killed while both other occupants were injured.
Crew (226th Squadron):
F/O W. A. Keech,
Sgt W. Phillips,
Sgt D. Handford. †
Source & photo: http://www.sbap.be/foreign/foreign01.htm
Probable cause:
Shot down by the Flak.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7B Boston III near RAF Great Sampford: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 1, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
W8333
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Debden - Debden
Location:
Great Sampford AFB
Essex
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Debden on a night training exercise. In unknown circumstances, it went out of control and crashed near RAF Great Sampford. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Charles Lewis Lewis-Hall, pilot,
Sgt Geoffrey Warren-Wright, pilot,
Sgt Melvyn Hamilton Brandon, observer,
F/Sgt Edward Albert Owen, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7B Boston IIIA at RAF Great Massingham: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 1, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
AL264
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Great Massingham - Great Massingham
Location:
Great Massingham AFB
Norfolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Great Massingham at 1209LT on an operation to Boulogne. Over the target area, it was hit by the German Flak and the crew decided to return to base. On final approach to the airbase, the port engine failed. The airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed near the airfield. The pilot was killed, the air gunner was injured and the observer bailed out and was unhurt.
Crew:
P/O Arthur Eric Lockwood, pilot, †
Sgt Moth, observer,
Sgt Gilbert George May Battison, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7B Boston III off Dover: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 1, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
W8387
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Great Massingham - Great Massingham
Location:
Dover
Kent
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Great Massingham at 1209LT on an operation to Boulogne. Over the target area, it was hit by the German Flak and the crew decided to return to base. Approaching the British coast, the airplane was ditched in The Channel off Dover. Two crew members were killed and two others were rescued by a Royal Navy vessel.
Crew:
P/O Harry Neal, †
Cpl Donald Parr Thwaite, †
Sgt S. R. G. Adams,
Sgt P. Brady.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.
Subscribe to Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston