Zone

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling III in Ambérieu-en-Bugey: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 17, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EH884
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Downham Market - Downham Market
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The aircraft left RAF Downham Market at 2019LT on August 16 on a bombing mission to Torino, Italy. While flying over the east part of France at an altitude of 14,000 feet, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter and crashed in a field in Saint German en Bugey. A crew member was taken PoW, another evaded while five others were killed.
Crew (218th Squadron):
W/O S. F. Chudzik, †
Sgt D. Deans, †
Sgt C. E. Taylor, †
Sgt D. P. J. Rawlings, †
Sgt J. D. Bates, †
Sgt J. L. Paterson,
Sgt W. L. McKinnon.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Downham Market

Date & Time: Dec 4, 1940 at 0745 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
T1813
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Bodney - Bodney
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Bodney in the evening of December 3 on an operation to Essen. While returning to base the following morning, the crew encountered poor weather conditions over East Anglia. Unable to find a gap, the crew decided to abandon the aircraft at an altitude of 6,000 feet in the vicinity of Bircham Newton. The aircraft entered a dive and crashed on Denver Sluice in Downham Market, bursting into flames. All three crew members were uninjured.
Crew:
S/L J. H. McMichael,
Sgt T. C. P. Hodges,
Sgt L. A. Lawrence.