Zone
Norfolk

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V near RAF Bircham Newton

Date & Time: Jul 9, 1941 at 0405 LT
Type of aircraft:
Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley
Operator:
Registration:
Z6625
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Middleton St George - Middleton St George
MSN:
2059
YOM:
1941
Location:
Bircham Newton AFB
Norfolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Middleton St George at 2257LT on July 8 on an operation to Hamm. While returning to base the following morning, it suffered an engine failure. The crew diverted to RAF Bircham Newton and the airplane crashed on approach. All five crew members were rescued and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
P/O Wright,
Sgt Jones,
F/S R. Jopling,
Sgt R. Boucher,
Sgt A. D. Wills.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax I at RAF Bircham Newton

Date & Time: Jun 16, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax I
Operator:
Registration:
L9506
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Linton-on-Ouse - Linton-on-Ouse
Location:
Bircham Newton AFB
Norfolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Linton-on-Ouse at 2325LT on June 15 on an operation to Hanover. Over the target area, it was badly shot about by a German fighter but the crew was able to return to England and diverted to RAF Bircham Newton for an emergency landing. It crashed upon landing at RAF Bircham Newton and was damaged beyond repair. There were no casualties.
Crew:
F/O J. W. Murray,
Sgt L. Martin,
P/O D. S. S. Wilkerson,
Sgt T. R. Nixon,
Sgt J. Constable,
Sgt D. J. Mennie,
Sgt J. Colgan.
Probable cause:
Damaged by a German fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Hillington: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 30, 1941 at 1052 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
V6389
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Bircham Newton - Bircham Newton
Location:
Hillington
Norfolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Bircham Newton on a training exercise. While flying northeast of King's Lynn, the pilot lost control of then airplane that dove into the ground and crashed in Hillington. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
S/L Hugh John Norman Lindsaye, pilot,
Sgt Albert Ernest Stone, observer,
F/O Frank Holmes, air gunner.
Probable cause:
The drogue had separated from its cable and had fouled the port elevator and trim tad, causing the aircraft to become uncontrollable.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Hoek van Holland: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 23, 1941 at 1852 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
Z6085
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Bircham Newton - Bircham Newton
Location:
Hoek van Holland
South Holland
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Bircham Newton at 1540LT on an anti-shipping operation. While approaching the Dutch coast, it was shot down by the pilot of a Me.109 and crashed into the sea, some 10 km west of Hoek van Holland. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Anthony William Bright Newman, pilot,
Sgt Harry Wwillis, observer,
Sgt Victor Sydney Key, wireless operator.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Hoek van Holland: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 23, 1941 at 1852 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L9404
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Bircham Newton - Bircham Newton
Location:
Hoek van Holland
South Holland
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Bircham Newton at 1540LT on an anti-shipping operation. While approaching the Dutch coast, it was shot down by the pilot of a Me.109 and crashed into the sea, some 10 km west of Hoek van Holland. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Cecil Roy Evans, pilot,
Sgt Eric Harold Harvey, observer,
Sgt George Sutherland Murray MacLeod, wireless operator.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V at RAF Bircham Newton: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 13, 1941 at 0100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley
Operator:
Registration:
T4140
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Topcliffe - Topcliffe
MSN:
1833
YOM:
1940
Location:
Bircham Newton AFB
Norfolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Topcliffe at 1945LT on March 12 on an operation to Berlin. It returned from the Dutch coast on one engine and while trying to land at RAF Bircham Newton, it overshot the airfield and crashed in a wooded area. Two crew members were killed and three others were injured.
Crew:
P/O Frederick George Malim, pilot,
P/O Eaton Geoffrey Cubitt,
Sgt J. E. Madgett,
Sgt N. W. Davies,
Sgt R. D. Davidson.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V near RAF Bircham Newton

Date & Time: Feb 12, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley
Operator:
Registration:
T4217
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Dishforth - Dishforth
MSN:
1890
YOM:
1940
Location:
Bircham Newton AFB
Norfolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Dishforth at 1843LT on February 11 on an operation to Bremen. While returning to base the following night, the crew were unable to pinpoint their position and abandoned the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed near RAF Bircham Newton. All five crew members were rescued, among them three were injured.
Crew:
Sgt R. A. Congdon,
P/O N. E. Sharp,
Sgt D. Mathewman,
Sgt L. J. Allum,
Sgt Salt.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I at RAF Langham: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jan 1, 1941 at 1448 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
T9287
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bircham Newton - Langham
MSN:
414-2322
YOM:
1940
Location:
Langham AFB
Norfolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Bircham Newton on a transfer flight to RAF Langham, carrying three crew members, two pilots being given local familiarization and three ground crew who were lifted to RAF Langham. Approaching RAF Langham, the pilot was demonstrating dive-bombing techniques and descended too low when the left wing collided with a barn. The airplane went out of control and crashed, killing all eight occupants.
Crew:
F/O Henry Edward Middleton Featherstone, pilot,
P/O John Buttemer Allen, pilot,
P/O Roy McKenzie Mansell, pilot,
F/O Dennis Maurice Gerald Kiralfry, pilot,
Sgt Robert Arthur Plowright, wireless operator and air gunner.
Passengers:
LAC Kenneth Charles George Gilder,
AC1 George Alexander Meridew,
LAC William Arthur Meller.
Probable cause:
The pilot misjudged the distance between the airplane and the barn while completing a demonstration at low height.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I at RAF Bircham Newton

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1940 at 0935 LT
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden
Operator:
Registration:
X3008
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Waddington - Waddington
Location:
Bircham Newton AFB
Norfolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Waddington in the evening of November 16 on an operation to Hamburg. While returning the following morning, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and diverted to RAF Bircham Newton. The airplane overshot on landing and crashed. Two crew members were injured and two others were unhurt.
Crew:
P/O E. G. M. Bond,
Sgt A. J. K. Moon,
P/O H. R. Stockings,
Sgt C. A. Watts.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I in Kalbe: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 15, 1940 at 0305 LT
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden
Operator:
Registration:
X2993
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Bircham Newton - Lindholme
Location:
Kalbe
Saxony-Anhalt
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Bircham Newton on an operation to Berlin. While cruising at night, it was shot down by enemy fire and crashed near Kalbe. Two crew members were killed and two others became PoW.
Crew:
P/O Arthur Howell Davies, pilot, †
Sgt Edgar James Andrews, pilot, †
Sgt Harold Leslie Hurrell,
Sgt Roland Lee.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.
Subscribe to Bircham Newton AFB