Driffield AFB

Operator:

Registration:

N1377

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Driffield - Driffield

MSN:

1541

YOM:

1939

Location:

Country:

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The airplane departed RAF Driffield at 2030LT on July 26 on a bombing mission over Mannheim. While flying over The Netherlands, it was shot down by the German Flak. The captain reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in an open field located in Spijkenisse, in the suburb of Rotterdam, and came to rest. All five crew members became PoW.
Crew:
P/O Robert Fochaig Beauclair,
P/O John Christopher Wyndowe Bushell,
Sgt Eric Albert Caloway,
Sgt Clement Wood,
Sgt Kenneth John Read.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V off Cromer

Date & Time: Jul 13, 1940 at 0425 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N1502

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Driffield - Driffield

MSN:

1642

YOM:

1939

Location:

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The airplane departed RAF Driffield at 2208LT on July 12 on a bombing mission over Emden. While cruising over the target at an altitude of 11,000 feet, it was hit by the German Flak, destroying the left engine. The captain was able to evacuate the area and while returning to his base, he skillfully ditched the bomber in the sea some 38 miles off Cromer, Norfolk. All five crew members were rescued and the aircraft sank and was lost.
Crew:
Sgt R. T. Langton,
S/L C. S. Bryan,
Sgt C. P. Coad,
Sgt G. Gibson,
Sgt C. Wood.

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

Date & Time: Jul 7, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N1523

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Driffield - Driffield

MSN:

1651

YOM:

1939

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The airplane departed RAF Driffield on a bombing mission over Kiel. Approaching the target, it was shot down by the German Flak and the captain made an emergency landing in a field. All five crew members evacuated safely and became PoW. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
P/O Jack Maurice Lewis, pilot,
P/O Denis Frederic Murray MacKarness, pilot,
Sgt Leslie Askham,
Sgt Sidney Fieldhouse,
Sgt James Fisk.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V in Frankfurt: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jun 30, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

P4948

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Driffield - Driffield

MSN:

1675

YOM:

1940

Location:

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The airplane departed RAF Driffield at 2106LT on June 29 to bomb the Hochst Explosives factory in Frankfurt. It crashed in unknown circumstances, killing all five crew members.
Crew:
S/L Mark Hastings, pilot,
P/O Peter Joseph Gard, pilot,
Sgt Harold Alfred Storey, radio operator,
Sgt Alan Johnston Davidson, observer,
P/O Raymond Fletcher Lum, air gunner.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V in Neukirchen-Vluyn: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jun 19, 1940 at 0030 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N1499

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Driffield - Driffield

MSN:

1639

YOM:

1939

Location:

Neukirchen-Vluyn

North Rhine-Westphalia

Country:

Germany

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Driffield at 2113LT on June 18 to attack oil installations in the Holten district. While cruising at night, it crashed in unknown circumstances in Neukirchen-Vluyn, west of Duisburg. All five crew members were killed. Possibly shot down.
Crew:
Sgt Stanley E. Masham, pilot,
Sgt Cyril M. Clayton, pilot,
Sgt Donald W. Dawson, observer,
Sgt Harold A. F. Giblin, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Charlie Hanlon, wireless operator and air gunner.

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

Date & Time: Jun 10, 1940 at 0230 LT

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

N1372

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Driffield - Driffield

MSN:

1536

YOM:

1939

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Driffield at 2027LT on June 9 to bomb bridges spanning the River Somme. During the operation, the starboard engine caught fire and the crew decided to return. The bomb-load was jettisoned over the Channel then the pilot diverted to RAF Abingdon. While trying to land, the aircraft crashed, bursting into flames. All five crew members were rescued, among them one was injured.
Crew:
P/O A. W. Dunn,
P/O C. J. D. Montagu,
Sgt Lucas,
Sgt A. L. Kennedy,
Sgt Martin.

Probable cause:

Engine fire.

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

Date & Time: Jun 7, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

N1476

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Driffield - Driffield

MSN:

1616

YOM:

1939

Location:

Finningley AFB (Doncaster)

South Yorkshire

Country:

United Kingdom

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

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Pax on board:

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Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft departed RAF Driffield on a mission to Bapaume, Pas-de-Calais. Few minutes after take off, a fire erupted in the cargo compartment. The captain ordered the crew to bail out and sole on board, diverted to RAF Finningley for an emergency landing. After touchdown, the aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest, bursting into flames. The pilot was unhurt while the aircraft was destroyed. All four other crew members were later recovered alive.
Crew (77th Squadron):
P/O Andrew Woodrow Dunn, pilot,
P/O C. J. D. Montague,
Sgt Lucas, observer,
AC1 Alan Leigh Kennedy, wireless operator,
AC2 Martin, air gunner.

Probable cause:

It was determined that a fire erupted in the cargo compartment after a flare self ignited in flight for undetermined reason.

Crash of a Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V in Gent

Date & Time: Jun 5, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N1522

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Driffield - Driffield

MSN:

1650

YOM:

1939

Location:

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Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Driffield at 2103LT on June 4 on a bombing mission over Gelsenkirchen. While cruising at night over Gent, Belgium, an engine caught fire. The crew bailed out and abandoned the aircraft that crashed on the ground. All five occupants survived and became PoW.
Crew:
P/O Alan C. Meigh,
Sgt W. G. Best,
Sgt M. A. Oliver,
LAC V. G. Allen,
AC1 D. V. Browne.

Probable cause:

Engine fire in flight.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V in Airon-Saint-Vaast: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 29, 1940 at 2300 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N1432

Flight Phase:

Flight Type: