Bremerhaven | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The departure from Bremerhaven to the Wangerooge Island was delayed for 30 minutes due to snow showers over the airport. Prior to departure, the pilot manually removed snow from the windshield, leading edge and wings. After takeoff from runway 34, the twin engine aircraft climbed slowly to a height of about 195 feet then stalled and crashed in the Weser River. The crew of a ferry was quickly on the scene to rescue a passenger while eight other occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the snow over the wings was not properly removed prior to takeoff, causing a loss of lift and disturbing the airflow. There were no defined procedures about deicing in the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) manual of the operator.

Crash of a Heinkel He.70 in Bremerhaven

Date & Time: Sep 21, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Heinkel He.70

Operator:

Registration:

DB+LO

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MSN:

1649

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Crashed in Wesermünde, Bremerhaven, following technical problems. Both crew members were injured.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I off Bremerhaven: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 12, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden

Operator:

Registration:

X2913

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Waddington - Waddington

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The airplane departed RAF Waddington on an operation to Bremerhaven. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed into the sea. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Donald Eglington Stewart, pilot,
Sgt Dennis Arthur Joyce, observer,
Sgt William Goodwill, wireless operator,
Sgt George John Hobson, wireless operator.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I in Bremerhaven: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 12, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden

Operator:

Registration:

P1338

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Waddington - Waddington

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The airplane departed RAF Waddington to bomb the liners 'Bremen' and 'Europa'. It crashed in unknown circumstances, probably in the target area of Bremerhaven. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/L Thomas Laidlaw Scott Smythe, pilot,
P/O Stanley Cuthbert Wise, pilot,
Sgt William Henry Jones, wireless operator,
F/O Wilfred Francis Ernest Coombes, air gunner.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC near Bremerhaven

Date & Time: Aug 28, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 416 Wellington IC

Operator:

Registration:

P9272

Flight Phase:

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Schedule:

Mildenhall - Mildenhall

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The airplane departed RAF Mildenhall at 2022LT on August 27 on an operation over Kiel. While flying over the area of Bremerhaven, it was shot down by the German Flak. All six crew members bailed out and became PoW.
Crew:
F/Lt Maurice George Butt, pilot,
F/Lt Paul François Reginald Vaillant, pilot,
W/O Douglas Haig Gordon Connolly,
W/O John Fender,
W/O Ronald Westmore Saywood,
Sgt Lawrence Francis Mabey.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Heinkel HD.24 off Bremerhaven

Date & Time: May 24, 1929

Type of aircraft:

Heinkel HD.24

Operator:

Registration:

D-1165

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Bremen - Bremen

MSN:

263

YOM:

1927

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Circumstances:

The crew departed Bremen on a training mission. En route, he lost control of the airplane that crashed in the Weser delta, off Bremerhaven. Both pilots were rescued by the crew of the 'SS Lützow' while the aircraft sank and was lost.