Coltishall AFB | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The airplane landed at 0740LT at RAF Coltishall following a successful mining operation. It departed RAF Coltishall mid-morning to return to base and crashed on approach. All four crew members were injured.
Crew:
Sgt Jones,
Sgt Kirk,
Sgt Baynes,
Sgt Shimmons.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I near RAF Coltishall

Date & Time: Oct 27, 1941 at 1730 LT

Type of aircraft:

Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden

Operator:

Registration:

AE398

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Waddington - Waddington

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The airplane departed RAF Waddington on a navigation exercise. When it arrived over RAF Coltishall, it encountered poor visibility and circled for the next 30 minutes, before an engine failed, necessitating an immediate landing. In doing so, the airplane crash landed in a field, seriously injuring at least one airman.
Crew:
Sgt M. Gruber +3.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC near RAF Coltishall

Date & Time: Sep 21, 1941 at 0430 LT

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 416 Wellington IC

Operator:

Registration:

R1518

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Feltwell - Feltwell

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The airplane departed RAF Feltwell at 1930LT on September 20 on an operation to Berlin. It was abandoned and crashed at 0430LT at Swanton Abbott, while trying to reach RAF Horsham St Faith. Earlier, the crew was instructed to divert to RAF Colstihall due to fog at base.
Crew:
Sgt J. A. Matetich,
Sgt Jordan,
Sgt Lawton,
Sgt F. H. Worlledge,
Sgt A. Service,
Sgt D. F. Barkhouse.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester I at RAF Coltishall: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 14, 1941 at 0232 LT

Type of aircraft:

Avro 679 Manchester

Operator:

Registration:

L7383

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Coltishall - Coltishall

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The crew was engaged in a night training exercise out from RAF Coltishall. As the airplane ran out of fuel, the crew initiated an approach when the airplane crashed on final onto a house located in Westwick, less than 3 km north of the airbase. Five crew members were injured while the pilot was killed.
Crew (97th Squadron):
Sgt John Stevens Meighan Warton, pilot, †
P/O D. E. Fox,
F/S Hall,
Sgt F. W. Tewson,
Sgt J. Goldie,
Sgt B. S. Robertson.

Probable cause:

The cause of the accident was attributed to the bomber running low of fuel, necessitating an emergency landing.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IF near RAF Coltishall: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 16, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L1223

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Hibaldstow - Coltishall

MSN:

8506

YOM:

1938

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The crew departed RAF Hibaldstow on a ferry flight to RAF Coltishall. On approach, the port engine lost power. The airplane lost height, impacted trees and crashed less than a mile from the airbase. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O James Howard Emmerson, pilot,
Sgt Donald Crosby Fowler, pilot.

Probable cause:

Loss of power on the left engine, probably caused by a loose spark plugs, consequence of an inappropriate maintenance.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC at RAF Coltishall: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 13, 1941 at 0220 LT

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 416 Wellington IC

Operator:

Registration:

T2563

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Marham - Marham

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Marham at 2134LT on August 12 on an operation to Essen. While returning to base the following night, it was attacked by the crew of a JU.88 and severely damaged. Nevertheless, the crew was able to divert to RAF Coltishall where he attempted an emergency landing. The pilot missed the airfield and the airplane landed half way down the runway then crashed into a barn, bursting into flames. A crew was killed and five others were injured.
Crew:
Sgt Bernard George Evans, air gunner, †
P/O Wood,
P/O A. J. A. Day,
Sgt S. W. Morton,
Sgt R. A. Hodges,
Sgt C. D. Tavener.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.