Coningsby AFB

Operator:

Registration:

L7399

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Coningsby - Coningsby

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The crew left RAF Coningsby at 2225LT on May 2 on a bombing mission to Germany. While overflying Denmark by night, the aircraft was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in a field located in Lilholt, some 14 km west of Haderslev. Five crew members were killed while two others survived.
Crew (106th Squadron):
F/Sgt William Lewis Johnston Young, pilot, †
Sgt Graham Wale, pilot, †
W/O Alexander Collingwood Bryce, observer, †
Sgt Richard George Davies, wireless operator and air gunner, †
Sgt H. Kendall, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt A. E. Hanks, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Henry MacLean, air gunner. †

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester I in Visgaarde: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 24, 1942 at 0320 LT

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Registration:

L7463

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Coningsby - Coningsby

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The aircraft left RAF Coningsby at 2200LT on April 23 on a bombing mission to Rostock, Germany. While overflying Denmark by night, an engine overheated and exploded. The captain ordered his crew to bail out and he tried to make an emergency landing. Eventually, he lost control of the aircraft that crashed in a huge explosion in a field located in Visgaarde, some 3 km east of Tinglev. The pilot was killed while all other occupants were uninjured.
Crew (106th Squadron):
P/O Harry Murdoch Stoffer, pilot, †
F/Lt T. Prescott-Decie, pilot,
P/O J. H. Paton,
Sgt I. Hamilton,
Sgt N. S. Lewis,
F/O N. J. C. Pollock,
Sgt J. C. George.

Probable cause:

Engine overheating.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester IA into The Channel: 7 killed

Date & Time: Apr 17, 1942

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Registration:

L7485

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Coningsby - Coningsby

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The aircraft left RAF Coningsby at 2050LT on April 16 to lay mines in the mouth of the Gironde River. While overflying The Channel, the aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea. SAR operations did not find any trace of the aircraft nor the 7 crew members.
Crew (106th Squadron):
P/O Charles Scatchard, pilot,
Sgt Thomas Henry Power, pilot,
Sgt Robert Robertson, observer,
Sgt Donald Neale Storer,
Sgt Douglas Wightman, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt William Valentine Rogerson, air gunner,
F/O George William Ward, air gunner.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester I off Lee-on-Solent

Date & Time: Apr 15, 1942 at 0655 LT

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

L7317

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Survivors:

Yes

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Coningsby - Coningsby

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The crew left RAF Coningsby at 2240LT on April 14 on a bombing mission to Dortmund, Germany. Following an uneventful flight, the aircraft returned to its base in UK. While approaching the British coast, both engines failed due to fuel exhaustion. The captain decided to divert to the Lee-on-Solent NAS but the aircraft stalled and crashed into the sea few hundred yards off shore. All seven crew were rescued while the aircraft sunk.
Crew (106th Squadron):
P/O J. A. Worswick,
Sgt Jones,
Sgt O'Hare,
F/Sgt Spiby,
Sgt Hutchieson,
Sgt Goodings,
Sgt Cartwright.

Probable cause:

Double engine failure due to fuel exhaustion.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester I off Terschelling: 7 killed

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1942 at 2159 LT

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Registration:

L7394

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Coningsby - Coningsby

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The airplane departed RAF Coningsby at 1930LT on a mine laying operation. While approaching the Dutch coast, it was shot down by a Me.110 and crashed into the sea off Terschelling. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew (106th Squadron):
F/Sgt Edgar Robert Dimond,
F/Sgt Henry Chaytor Bussell,
P/O Harold Selwyn Brough,
F/Sgt John Seery,
Sgt Donald Swaine,
Sgt Alexander Currie,
Sgt Francis Alfred Fry.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester I off Kornwerderzand: 7 killed

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1942 at 2228 LT

Type of aircraft:

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Registration:

L7390

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Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

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Coningsby - Coningsby

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The airplane departed RAF Coningsby at 2000LT on an operation to Essen. While passing over the Netherlands at night, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed into the sea (Ijsselmeer) off Kornwerderzand. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew (106th Squadron):
F/Lt Robert Jack Dunlop-McKenzie, pilot,
P/O Peter Norman Cann, pilot,
Sgt Raymond Benjamin Burrows, flight engineer,
Sgt Kimber Hill, navigator,
F/Sgt Wilfred Deryck Welham, wireless operator,
Sgt William Grant McDonald, wireless operator,
Sgt John Joseph Stewart, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I at RAF Coningsby

Date & Time: Mar 24, 1942 at 1445 LT

Type of aircraft:

Avro 683 Lancaster

Operator:

Registration:

L7531

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

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Coningsby - Coningsby

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The crew was engaged in a local training exercise at RAF Coningsby. Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the airplane crashed almost immediately when part of the port wing leading edge lifted, causing the bomber to career out of control and finish up, wrecked, near the station bomb dump. Miraculously, the crew escaped serious injury, despite smashing into a crane before coming to a stop.
Crew:
S/L T. H. Boylan +6.

Probable cause:

A technical failure occurred on the port leading edge flap shortly after liftoff. The flap went into a wrong position for such procedure, causing the airplane to crash.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester I in Winceby

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1942 at 2345 LT

Type of aircraft:

Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden

Operator:

Registration:

L7474

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Coningsby - Coningsby

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The crew was completing a local training exercise at RAF Coningsby. Upon landing, the airplane bounced and the pilot initiated a go around manoeuvre. While climbing, the crew was unable to raise and lock the left main gear. It was decided to abandon the airplane that entered a dive and crashed 800 metres north of Winceby. All six crew members were uninjured.
Crew (106th Squadron):
Sgt G. K. Carter, pilot.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I on Sylt Island: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 24, 1942 at 0612 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

P4323

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