Church Fenton AFB

Operator:

Registration:

L1449

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Church Fenton - Church Fenton

MSN:

8732

YOM:

1939

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot departed RAF Church Fenton on a solo training sortie on behalf of the 54 OTU. The goal of the exercise was searchlight homing under R/T. After departure, the pilot was unwittingly vectored over the North Yorkshire Moors and Cleveland Hills by the by the ground-based controller. While attempting to break clouds at about 1,500 - 2,000 feet to see the searchlights, the airplane impacted the slope of a hill. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot was seriously injured.
Crew:
P/O Edward James Woodhead, pilot.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IF at RAF Church Fenton: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 18, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

K7090

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Church Fenton - Church Fenton

MSN:

8043

YOM:

1937

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot departed RAF Church Fenton for his first night solo sortie. While circling in the vicinity of the airbase, he lost control of the airplane that crashed in a field located 1,5 mile from the airfield. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot was killed.
Crew:
Sgt Cyril John Neighbour, pilot.

Probable cause:

It is believed that the pilot lost control of the airplane after he failed to maintain proper contact with his instruments while orbiting the flashing beacon owing to the presence of enemy aircraft in the vicinity.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IF at RAF Church Fenton: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 3, 1941 at 0407 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

L1438

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Church Fenton - Church Fenton

MSN:

8721

YOM:

1939

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot was completing a local solo training flight at RAF Church Fenton. While performing a low pass near the airfield, he misjudged his altitude when the airplane collided with a hedge and crashed. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot was killed.
Crew:
P/O Malcolm Richard Peter Oxley, pilot.

Probable cause:

Poor judgement on part of the pilot regarding his altitude.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IVF at RAF Church Fenton

Date & Time: Jun 25, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

Z6251

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Church Fenton - Church Fenton

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot was completing a local solo training flight when the airplane crashed on approach to RAF Church Fenton. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot was uninjured.
Crew:
P/O Malcolm Richard Peter Oxley, pilot.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IF at RAF Church Fenton

Date & Time: Jun 5, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

V5935

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Church Fenton - Church Fenton

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane crashed upon takeoff from RAF Church Fenton for unknown reasons. All three crew members were injured.
Crew:
P/O R. H. Williamson,
Sgt Cross,
Sgt K. Williamson.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IF at RAF Church Fenton: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 29, 1941 at 0125 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

L8377

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Church Fenton - Church Fenton

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot departed RAF Church Fenton for a local solo training flight. While circling in the vicinity of the airbase at night, the airplane collided with a Defiant registered N1556. Both aircraft crashed in a field near the airfield and were destroyed. Both pilots were killed.
Crew:
Sgt David Alexander Heggie, pilot.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IF at RAF Church Fenton

Date & Time: May 17, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

L1302

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Church Fenton - Church Fenton

MSN:

8585

YOM:

1938

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot departed RAF Church Fenton on a local solo training flight. On approach, both engines failed simultaneously and the airplane overshot and crashed. The pilot was slightly injured and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
P/O Michael William Kinmouth, pilot.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the pilot mismanaged the cooling air system, causing the carburetor to ice up on approach, causing both engines to stop.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I in Castleford: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 10, 1941 at 0330 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

L1494

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Church Fenton - Church Fenton

MSN:

8777

YOM:

1939

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot departed RAF Church Fenton on a solo training sortie. While cruising at night, the airplane suffered an engine failure and crashed in an open field, bursting into flames. The pilot Sgt Bruce William Smeaton was killed.

Probable cause:

Engine failure in flight.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V at RAF Church Fenton

Date & Time: May 5, 1941 at 0040 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

T4336

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site: