Vickers 417 Wellington III | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

While on a training sortie, the bomber caught fire in flight and the starboard engine eventually fell away from its mountings. Still burning, the airplane crash landed between May Day Farm and High Lodge near Brandon. Four crew members were injured.
Crew:
S/L W. I. C. Inness,
Sgt B. Patrick,
P/O R. Peel,
Sgt G. D. Poff,
Sgt D. S. D. Welch.

Probable cause:

In-flight fire and loss of the starboard engine.

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III of Herne Bay: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 27, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 417 Wellington III

Operator:

Registration:

X3287

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Honington - Honington

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The airplane departed RAF Honington at 1713LT on an operation to Düsseldorf. While returning to base the following evening and while crossing the Dutch coast, the starboard engine caught fire. The airplane was abandoned by the crew and crashed into the sea off Herne Bay, Kent. Two crew members drowned and four others were injured and rescued.
Crew:
Sgt Gerald Gordon Armstrong, pilot, †
Sgt W. T. Ramey, pilot,
Sgt Peter William Bilsborough, air gunner, †
Sgt J. J. Amphlett,
Sgt K. W. Stevens,
Sgt J. Rutherford.

Probable cause:

Engine fire in flight.

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III near Swaffham: 7 killed

Date & Time: Nov 11, 1941 at 1203 LT

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 417 Wellington III

Operator:

Registration:

X3394

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

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The airplane crashed at Carol House Farm near Swaffham while completing fuel consumption tests and cross country flying practice. The airplane was destroyed and all seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Leonard Herbert Pitt, pilot,
Sgt Gordon David Hankinson Dutton, pilot,
Sgt Brian Ernest Dew, observer,
Sgt Reginald Cooper Knott, wireless operator,
F/Lt Harold Sidney Mellows,
Sgt Robert Owen Newbury, wireless operator,
Sgt John Leslie Louvain Arthur, air gunner.

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III at RAF East Wretham

Date & Time: Nov 9, 1941 at 2210 LT

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 417 Wellington III

Operator:

Registration:

X3352

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Honington - Honington

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The airplane departed RAF Honington at 1731LT on an operation to Hamburg. Hit by Flak in the port engine while north of the city. With only one engine, the pilot was able to fly back to England and diverted to RAF East Wretham where the airplane crashed in a wood while trying to land. All six crew members were injured.
Crew:
Sgt W. E. Pendleton,
Sgt J. Cartwright,
Sgt A. N. Jenkins,
Sgt H. G. Cawdron,
Sgt W. C. Sadler,
Sgt D. S. Nicholas.

Probable cause:

Hit by Flak and engine failure.

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III in the Waddenzee: 6 killed

Date & Time: Nov 9, 1941 at 2209 LT

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 417 Wellington III

Operator:

Registration:

X3280

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Honington - Honington

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The airplane departed RAF Honington at 1730LT on an operation to Hamburg. In the evening, it crashed in unknown circumstances in the Waddenzee, killing the entire crew.
Crew:
Sgt George Herbert Dartnall, wireless operator,
Sgt Robert Bamber Fielding,
Sgt Reginald Burchell How,
Sgt Kenneth Quick,
F/Sgt William Smithson,
P/O Hugh Vincent Wilgar-Robinson.

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III at RAF Honington

Date & Time: Oct 1, 1941 at 0224 LT

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 417 Wellington III

Operator:

Registration:

X3347

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Honington - Honington

Location:

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The airplane departed RAF Honington at 1945LT on September 30 on an operation to Hamburg. While returning to base the following night, it crashed on approach to the airbase. All six crew members were injured.
Crew:
P/O H. P. Harrison-Yates,
Sgt J. J. W. Hurley,
Sgt S. F. Hall,
Sgt A. S. Barron,
Sgt L. M. Ramsey,
Sgt A. Taylor.

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III in Janneby

Date & Time: Sep 30, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 417 Wellington III

Operator:

Registration:

W5445

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

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Schedule:

Feltwell - Feltwell

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The airplane departed RAF Feltwell at 1915LT on an operation to Hamburg. It was shot down by enemy fire and crashed in Janneby. All six crew members became PoW.
Crew:
Sgt Clifford Dudley Clark,
Sgt William Charles Hayman,
Sgt George Harrison Johnson,
Sgt Albert Arthur Norman,
Sgt George Ernest Sapcote,
Sgt L. Jones.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III in Rushford: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 26, 1941 at 2345 LT

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 417 Wellington III

Operator:

Registration:

X3222

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

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Schedule:

Honington - Honington

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The airplane departed RAF Honington at 2002LT on an operation to Emden. While returning to base in the late evening, it crashed in a field in Rushford, east of Thatford. Three crew members were killed and three others were injured.
Crew:
Sgt Harry William White, pilot, †
P/O John Baldwin Thompson, observer, †
Sgt Raymond George Lifford, wireless operator, †
Sgt S. Gingle,
Sgt J. A. Chisholm,
Sgt J. A. Lovis.