Zone
Derbyshire

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III in Gladwins Mark: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 30, 1943 at 0200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 417 Wellington III
Operator:
Registration:
X3941
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Church Broughton - Church Broughton
Location:
Matlock
Derbyshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew left RAF Church Broughton at 1915LT on January 29 for a night training exercise. At 0059LT, all crews were informed about the deterioration of the weather conditions but for unknown reason, the crew of X3941 did not receive this message. While returning to his base in low visibility, the bomber hit tree tops and crashed in a field located in Gladwins Mark, some three miles north of Matlock. Two crew members were killed while three others were injured.
Crew (27th OTU):
Sgt William Alan Catron, pilot, †
Sgt Kenneth Barton Killeen, air bomber, †
P/O Neil Garrett Traylen, navigator,
Sgt Neil Charles Craigie, wireless operator,
Sgt Thomas Somerville Easton, air gunner.

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III in Upper Hulme: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 20, 1942 at 1650 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 417 Wellington III
Operator:
Registration:
Z1744
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Church Broughton - Church Broughton
Location:
Leek
Staffordshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
At about 16:50 on the 20th November 1942 Wellington Mk.III Z1744 flew into the ground above Upper Hulme. It is reported that prior to this the aircraft had be the subject of a mock attack by two USAAF Spitfires, possibly operating from Atcham near Shrewsbury, one of the aircraft had come too close to Z1744 and cut the trailing ariel that the crew were using to communicate with their base. With their primary means of communication cut the crew became disorientated and could not gain a fix on Lichfield, after flying in cloud for some time the aircraft was seen to pass very low over Upper Hulme before crashing about 1/3 of a mile to the north. The aircraft slewed across a field and entered woodland where it was completely destroyed.
Crew (27th OTU):
Sgt James Robert Barlow, pilot,
F/O Keith Pettiford, observer,
F/O James Love, observer,
Sgt William John Baker, bomb aimer,
Sgt Howell James Buckley, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Kenneth Spencer Cheek, air gunner.
Source:
http://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/pages/peakdistrict/peakdistrictz1744.htm

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC in RAF Church Broughton: 6 killed

Date & Time: Oct 13, 1942 at 2305 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 416 Wellington IC
Operator:
Registration:
Z8854
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Church Broughton - Church Broughton
Location:
Church Broughton AFB
Derbyshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
While on a training mission, the crew was forced to return to his base due to the deterioration of the weather conditions. On approach in foggy conditions, the aircraft crashed and exploded, killing all six occupants.
Crew (27th OTU):
F/Lt František Fanta, pilot,
Sgt Josef Hrala, pilot,
P/O Karel Mucha,
P/O Václav Obšil,
Sgt Emil Tufkel,
Sgt Rudolf Jelínek.
Subscribe to Church Broughton AFB