Crash of a Boeing B-17G-VE Flying Fortress at RAF Binbrook

Date & Time: Jul 25, 1989 at 1330 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
F-BEEA
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cinematography
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Binbrook - Binbrook
MSN:
8552
YOM:
1944
Location:
Binbrook AFB
Lincolnshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
11179
Captain / Total hours on type:
2131.00
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, after about 100 yards, a slight swing to the left developed, which the commander (who was the handling pilot) corrected by partially retarding the power on engines n°3 and 4, and by the use of rudder. Full power was then re-applied on all engines, but the aircraft started to swing to the right. The pilot throttled back engine n°1 and 2, together with the application of rudder, but these actions were not immediately effective. The aircraft did not resume a straight course until it was on the grass to the right of the runway. Knowing that the B17 had been operated from grass runways, the commander elected to continue with the take-off. However, after some 400-500 yards the aircraft swung further to the right, by which time the speed was 90-95 mph. The commander then became aware that the aircraft's path was obstructed by a tree and a pile of gravel. The left wing tip struck the tree and the n°4 propeller struck the gravel. The aircraft yawed to the right, crossed a hollow in the ground and landed in a cornfield beyond. The fuselage broke in two and a fire erupted. All 10 occupants were rescued, among them five were injured, two seriously. The aircraft was totally destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
The commander was subsequently unable to provide any explanation for the accident, although he suggested that the n°1 engine turbo-compressor may have been 'cutting in and out'. He also considered that the right wheel brake may not have been completely free. One eye witness, an engineer who was familiar with B17 aircraft, saw smoke emanating from the area of the n°3 engine at the start of the take-off. This led him to venture the opinion that this engine may have over-boosted and then suffered a power loss, thus causing the sequential left and right swings.
Final Report:

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson T.21 at RAF Leeming

Date & Time: Sep 23, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
WJ514
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Binbrook - Leeming
Location:
Leeming AFB
North Yorkshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training flight from RAF Binbrook to RAF Leeming. On touchdown, the tail wheel detached. The airplane swung on runway and went out of control before coming to rest. While both crew members were uninjured, the airplane was considered as damaged beyond repair. Strong cross winds were blowing at the time of the accident.

Crash of an Avro 694 Lincoln B2 in RAF Binbrook: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 18, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Avro 694 Lincoln
Operator:
Registration:
RA712
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Binbrook - Binbrook
Location:
Binbrook AFB
Lincolnshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training sortie at RAF Binbrook. After completing several approaches with one engine inoperative, the crew started a new approach when, on final, control was lost. The airplane stalled and hit the ground about 150 yards short of runway threshold. It slid for several yards and eventually collided with two other RAF Avro Lincoln parked on the tarmac. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and the captain was killed while all five other occupants were injured. It is believed that the loss of control was caused by an insufficient approach speed.

Crash of a Vickers 406 Wellington II in Hemmerwurth: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1942 at 0257 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 406 Wellington II
Operator:
Registration:
Z8398
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Binbrook - Binbrook
Location:
Hemmerwurth
Schleswig-Holstein
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Binbrook on an operation to Hamburg. It was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in Hemmerwurth, killing the entire crew.
Crew:
F/Lt William Deryk Castello, pilot,
Sgt Maurice Deighton, pilot,
Sgt Alfred James Currie, wireless operator,
Sgt Harry Raymond Jones, wireless operator,
F/O Adrian Russel Heaton, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III in Cologne: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 11, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 417 Wellington III
Operator:
Registration:
W5570
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
Binbrook - Binbrook
Location:
Cologne
North Rhine-Westphalia
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Binbrook at 2158LT on an operation to Essen. Passing over Cologne, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in the center of the city. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Harold Leslie Cook, pilot,
Sgt Rae Rees Frost, pilot,
F/Sgt Colin Alais Fletcher, observer,
Sgt Edwin Victor Pratt, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Findon Douglas Newton, wireless operator and air gunner,
F/Sgt William Tripp McEwan, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Vickers 406 Wellington II in Sainte-Opportune-la-Mare

Date & Time: Apr 2, 1942 at 0333 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 406 Wellington II
Operator:
Registration:
W5395
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Binbrook - Binbrook
Location:
Sainte-Opportune-la-Mare
Eure
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 Binbrook at 2305LT on April 1st on an operation to Le Havre. Passing over the target area at night, the airplane was shot down by the German Flak and crash landed in Sainte-Opportune-la-Mare, some 30 km southeast of Le Havre. All six crew members became PoW.
Crew:
Sgt James Woodhead, pilot,
Sgt Noel Dennis Catt, pilot,
P/O Derek John Perdue, navigator,
Sgt Donovan Selfridge Hutchinson, wireless operator,
Sgt Andrew Hutton, air gunner,
Sgt James Mcgran Wintrup, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Vickers 406 Wellington II in Monnickendam: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1942 at 2255 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 406 Wellington II
Operator:
Registration:
W5371
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Binbrook - Binbrook
Location:
Monnickendam
North Holland
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Binbrook at 2026LT on an operation to Essen. While returning to base in the late evening, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed near Monnickendam. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Francis John Lowe, pilot,
Sgt Benjamin James Dove, wireless operator,
Sgt Walter Robinson Lea, wireless operator,
Sgt Thomas Edward Parsons,
Sgt Charles William Lawrence Pooley,
Sgt Leonard Charles Stanley, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Vickers 406 Wellington II in Andijk: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1942 at 2240 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 406 Wellington II
Operator:
Registration:
W5372
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Binbrook - Binbrook
Location:
Andijk
North Holland
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Binbrook at 2011LT on an operation to Essen. Passing over the Netherlands at night, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed near Andijk. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
W/Cdr Albert Golding, pilot,
Sgt Finlay Donald McLeod, pilot,
F/Sgt Bruce Elbert Doe, observer,
Sgt Mervyn Duncan, wireless operator,
Sgt William Stanley Makin, wireless operator,
Sgt Percival Gordon Thorpe, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Vickers 406 Wellington II in La Baule: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 406 Wellington II
Operator:
Registration:
W5578
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Binbrook - Binbrook
Location:
La Baule-Escoublac
Loire-Atlantique
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Binbrook on an operation to Saint-Nazaire. While approaching the target area, the bombs were released when the airplane caught fire and crashed. Four crew members were killed and two others bailed out and became PoW.
Crew:
Sgt Einar Ernest Due, pilot, †
Sgt Robert Eric Greenwell, pilot, †
F/Lt T. A. Mayo, observer,
F/Sgt Gordon John Sheahan, wireless operator, †
Sgt John Henry Ives, air gunner, †
Sgt Alister McGregor Currie, air gunner.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the airplane burst into flames coming from the bomb bay possibly caused by hung up flares.

Crash of a Vickers 406 Wellington II into the North Sea: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 13, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 406 Wellington II
Operator:
Registration:
Z8578
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Binbrook - Binbrook
Location:
North Sea
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Binbrook at 2015LT on an operation to Dunkirk. It failed to return to base and is believed to have crashed somewhere in the North Sea. Lost without trace.
Crew:
F/Sgt Joseph Antonio Lucien Giroux,
Sgt George William Howes,
Sgt Richard Alfred Hudd,
P/O Frederick William Jones,
Sgt Leslie Ronald Meager,
F/Sgt Leslie Mckenzie Scott.
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