Crash of a Vickers 424 Wellington IV near Béthune

Date & Time: Nov 8, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 424 Wellington IV
Operator:
Registration:
Z1271
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Hemswell - Hemswell
Location:
Béthune
Pas-de-Calais
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Hemswell at 1843LT on November 7 an operation to Mannheim. While returning to base, the crew encountered icing conditions and the airplane crash landed in an open field located in the region of Béthune. All six crew members became PoW.
Crew:
Sgt Gustaw Chrzanowski,
Sgt Piotr Meiczsyław Nowakowski,
P/O Wladysław Radwanski,
F/O Mieczysław Aleksander Taras,
Sgt Henryk Kudelko,
Sgt Bolesław Stanisław Iwanowicz.
Probable cause:
Icing.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling I in Béthune: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 8, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Short S.29 Stirling
Operator:
Registration:
N6034
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Oakington - Oakington
Location:
Béthune
Pas-de-Calais
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Oakington at 0453LT on an operation to Mazingarbe. It was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in Béthune. Five crew members were killed and two others became PoW.
Crew:
P/O John Bailie, observer, †
Sgt Robei Harold Lomas-Smith, wireless operator, †
P/O Reginald David Morley, pilot, †
Sgt William Ross, flight engineer, †
F/Sgt William George Williams, wireless operator, †
Sgt Leslie Newton Chappell,
Sgt George Stewart Edwards.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Fouquières-lès-Béthune: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 11, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
N6208
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Wattisham - Wattisham
MSN:
9307
YOM:
1939
Location:
Béthune
Pas-de-Calais
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Wattisham to bomb bridges over the Albert Canal near Maastricht. In unknown circumstances, the aircraft crashed in Fouquières-lès-Béthune, southwest of Béthune, bursting into flames. A crewman was killed and two others were injured.
Crew:
Sgt G. C. Bennett, pilot,
Sgt Arthur Colling, observer,
AC1 E. Hannah, wireless operator and air gunner.
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