Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V in Lanvollon

Date & Time: Dec 29, 1940
Operator:
Registration:
P4950
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Dishforth - Dishforth
MSN:
1677
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The bomber departed RAF Dishforth at 1604LT on December 28 on an operation to Lorient. The following night, it crashed in unknown circumstances in Lanvollon. A crew evaded and four others became PoW.
Crew:
F/Lt John Bertie Thomas Loudon,
W/O Edward Winston Wilmore,
Sgt Leslie Alan Beckett,
Sgt Andrew James McMillan,
Sgt A. J. Mott.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V into the North Sea: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 7, 1940 at 2045 LT
Operator:
Registration:
P5112
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Dishforth - Dishforth
MSN:
1820
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Dishforth at 1745LT on an operation to Düsseldorf. It was lost without trace, maybe after it crashed somewhere into the North Sea. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Derek John Dunn,
P/O Norman Wylam-Walker,
Sgt Thomas Gray,
Sgt Albert Edward Creswell,
Sgt Frank Eddowes.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V into The Wash: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 4, 1940 at 1540 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N1485
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Dishforth - Dishforth
MSN:
1625
YOM:
1939
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Dishforth at 1636LT on December 13 on an operation to Kiel. While returning to base the following night, it crashed in unknown circumstances into The Wash. Three crew members were killed and two others were rescued.
Crew:
Sgt Dennis Angell, pilot, †
Sgt Frank Thomas Allcock, wireless operator, †
P/O Michael Lomax Stedman, †
Sgt F. Waldren,
Sgt E. A: Grunsell.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V at RAF Dishforth: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 2, 1940 at 1615 LT
Operator:
Registration:
P4958
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Dishforth - Dishforth
MSN:
1685
YOM:
1940
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Dishforth on an operation to Lorient. Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the aircraft stalled and crashed, bursting into flames. All five crew members were injured and five ground crew (rescuers) were killed when bombs stored in the cargo bay exploded.
Crew (78th Squadron):
P/O J. B. T. Loudon,
Sgt Charles Arhur Smith,
Sgt H. J. Panter,
Sgt J. Barker,
Sgt T. Brown.
Those killed on the ground were:
AC2 Frederick Percy Griffiths,
AC1 Walter Douglas Victor,
AC1 Alfred George Haslett,
LAC Alfred John Patterson,
LAC Robert Smith.
Probable cause:
The engine power was insufficient upo takeoff, causing the aircraft to stall.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V near Saint Osyth

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1940 at 0345 LT
Operator:
Registration:
P4984
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Dishforth - Dishforth
MSN:
1706
YOM:
1940
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The bomber departed RAF Dishforth at 1705LT on November 28 on an operation to Stettin (Szczecin). While returning to base the following night, it ran out of fuel and was abandoned by the crew. All five crew members were uninjured.
Crew:
P/O S. O. Hookway,
Sgt Austin,
Sgt Hughes,
Sgt Carter,
Sgt Brindley.
Probable cause:
Fuel exhaustion.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V on Juist Island

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1940
Operator:
Registration:
P5026
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Dishforth - Dishforth
MSN:
1748
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Dishforth at 1702LT on an operation to Stettin (Szczecin). While cruising off the north German coast, it was shot down by enemy fire. The pilot reduced his altitude and made an emergency landing on Juist Island. All five crew members became PoW.
Crew:
P/O John Richard Denny,
P/O Basil Virgil Kirwin,
P/O George Chambers Brown,
Sgt J. E. Everson,
Sgt John William Massie.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V in the Wash

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1940
Operator:
Registration:
T4201
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Dishforth - Dishforth
MSN:
1874
YOM:
1940
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Dishforth at 1710LT on November 28 on an operation to Stettin (Szczecin). While returning to base the following night, it ran out of fuel and ditched in The Wash, six miles north of King's Lynn. All five crew members were rescued.
Crew:
P/O D. J. Dunn,
P/O P. Myers,
Sgt T. Gray,
Sgt A. E. Creswell,
Sgt F. Eddowes.
Probable cause:
Fuel exhaustion.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V in Magdeburg

Date & Time: Nov 20, 1940
Operator:
Registration:
T4156
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Dishforth - Dishforth
MSN:
1849
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Dishforth at 1730LT to bomb a synthetic oil plant in Ruhland. It was shot down by enemy fire and crashed near Magdeburg. All five crew members became PoW.
Crew:
P/O Robert Ernest Hinton George,
P/O Robin Charles Mordaunt,
Sgt John William Knight,
Sgt Sydney Cawkwell,
Sgt James Wilkinson.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

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

Date & Time: Nov 18, 1940 at 0219 LT
Operator:
Registration:
T4218
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Dishforth - Dishforth
MSN:
1891
YOM:
1940
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Dishforth at 1850LT on November 17 on an operation to Gelsenkirchen. While returning to base at night, it encountered severe electric storms and the w/t equipment was rendered unserviceable. Upon landing at RAF Usworth, the airplane went out of control and collided with a building used to store ammunition. Two crew members were injured and three others were unhurt.
Crew:
Sgt Alfred Ellis Prior, pilot,
P/O R. Keeling, pilot,
Sgt J. Wilson, observer,
Sgt Julian Robert Wanbon, wireless operator,
Sgt Barnes, air gunner.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley in RAF Usworth

Date & Time: Nov 18, 1940 at 0219 LT
Operator:
Registration:
T4218
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Dishforth - Usworth
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft left RAF Dishforth at 1850LT on November 17 on a bombing mission to Gelsenkirchen, Germany. On the return trip to England, the crew encountered bad weather conditions with stormy activity and lightnings. Concentrated static influenced several equipment that went unusable. After touchdown, the aircraft veered off runway and crashed in an ammunition store. All five crew members were injured while the aircraft was destroyed.
Crew (51st Squadron):
Sgt Alfred Ellis Prior, pilot,
P/O R. Keeling, pilot,
Sgt Wilson, observer,
Sgt Julian Robert Wanbon, wireless operator,
Sgt Barnes, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Aircraft became unstable during the last segment due to poor weather conditions and unreadable instruments.