Zone

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II off Beer Head

Date & Time: Apr 15, 1942 at 0530 LT
Operator:
Registration:
W1045
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Leeming - Leeming
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Leeming at 2211LT on April 14 on an operation to Dortmund. While returning to base the following morning, it ran out of fuel and was ditched into the North Sea some 5 km southeast of Beer Head. All seven crew members were subsequently rescued from their dinghy.
Crew:
W/O D. J. O'Driscoll,
P/O Dempsey,
Sgt Oakford,
Sgt Saunders,
F/Sgt McLaughlin,
Sgt Harrison,
Sgt Wiles.
Probable cause:
Fuel exhaustion.