Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V near Metz

Date & Time: May 22, 1940 at 0100 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N1528
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Driffield - Driffield
MSN:
1656
YOM:
1939
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Driffield at 2124LT on May 21 on a bombing mission over Euskirchen. En route, the crew was forced to abandon the aircraft and bailed out. The aircraft crashed in a field near Metz and was destroyed. All five crew members were unhurt and returned to UK.
Crew (102nd Squadron):
P/O G. H. Womersley, pilot,
P/O R. F. Beauchair, pilot,
Sgt J. Derbyshire, observer,
AC1 H. F. Hurt, wireless operator and air gunner,
AC2 A. Sedgley, air gunner.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V near Abbeville

Date & Time: May 21, 1940
Operator:
Registration:
N1384
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Driffield - Driffield
MSN:
1548
YOM:
1939
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Driffield at 2036LT on a bombing mission over Cambrai. While cruising over the area of Abbeville, the airplane was hit by Flak. The Captain attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crash landed in a pasture and was damaged beyond repair. All five occupants escaped unhurt.
Crew (77th Squadron):
F/O David Douglas Pryde, pilot,
P/O Andrew Woodrow Dunn, pilot,
Sgt Albert Cuthbert Thompson, observer,
AC1 Thomas Brendon Kenny, wireless operator,
AC1 Frank Crawford, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V in Brissy-Hamégicourt: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 20, 1940 at 2330 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N1380
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Driffield - Driffield
MSN:
1544
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed RAF Driffield at 2029LT to bomb a bridge over the River Oise near Ribemont. While cruising south of Saint-Quentin, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in unknown circumstances in Brissy-Hamégicourt, some 10 km southeast of Saint-Quentin. All five crewmen were killed.
Crew (102nd Squadron):
F/Lt David W. H. Owen, pilot,
P/O Dennis F. S. Holbrook, pilot,
Sgt Duncan H. J. Barrett, observer,
LAC Reginald J. Newberry, wireless operator,
AC2 Michael D. Dolan, wireless operator.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V in Milheeze: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 19, 1940 at 2330 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N1417
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Driffield - Driffield
MSN:
1571
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed RAF Driffield at 2000LT on a bombing mission over Gelsenkirchen. While overflying The Netherlands, the bomber crashed in unknown circumstances in a pasture located in Milheeze. A crewmen was killed, a second one evaded and three others became PoW.
Crew (102nd Squadron):
F/O W. C. G. Cogman,
P/O L. Miller,
Sgt K. V. Thrift, †
LAC J. R. Nicholson,
AC2 E. H. Bros.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V near Goch

Date & Time: May 19, 1940 at 2325 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N1376
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Driffield - Driffield
MSN:
1540
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed RAF Driffield at 2010LT to attack a synthetic oil plant located in the region of Gelsenkirchen. While approaching the target, the bomber was hit by the German Flak. All five occupants abandoned the aircraft and bailed out. Out of control, the aircraft crashed in a field near Goch and was destroyed. All five occupants became PoW.
Crew (102nd Squadron):
F/S E. L. G. Hall,
P/O J. T. Glover,
Sgt D. L. Dick,
LAC J. McCutcheon,
AC2 A. Murray.
Probable cause:
Shot down by German Flak.

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

Date & Time: May 19, 1940
Operator:
Registration:
N1388
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Driffield - Driffield
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed RAF Driffield at 2005LT on a bombing mission over Hanover. At 2135LT, while flying at 9,000 feet some 60 miles off the Dutch coast, the Whitley was attacked by the pilot of a Me.110 and badly damaged. In turn, the enemy aircraft was claimed destroyed by AC1 Parkes. Despite a painful foot wound, F/L Raphael ditched the bomber and the crew clambered into the dinghy. Their plight was seen by F/L Crockett, who happened to be in the area at the time, and he was able to direct a Royal Navy destroyer to the scene. After four hours afloat, the crew were rescued and take into Yarmouth.
Crew (77th Squadron):
F/L G. L. Raphael,
P/O R. P. Payne,
Sgt Prescott,
LAC Storey,
AC1 Parkes.
Source: W. R. Chorley.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V near Mönchengladbach: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 12, 1940
Operator:
Registration:
N1366
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Driffield - Driffield
MSN:
1530
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed RAF Driffield at 2025LT on a bombing mission over Mönchengladbach. While approaching the target, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances. A crewman survived and became PoW while all four other occupants were killed.
Crew (77th Squadron):
F/O Thomas Hayward Parrott, pilot,
F/O D. Blew, pilot,
Sgt Thomas Todd Atchison, observer,
LAC Terence Poad, wireless operator,
AC2 Tudno Jones, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V on Mt Foudland: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 1, 1940 at 1059 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N1500
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Kinloss – Driffield
MSN:
1640
YOM:
1939
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed RAF Kinloss on a flight from RAF Kinloss to RAF Driffield. While cruising some 6 miles southeast of Huntly, the aircraft impacted the slope of Mt Foudland. Three crewmen were killed and five others were injured. Two survivors died from injuries sustained, one on May 6, the second on May 25, 1940.
Crew (102nd Squadron):
F/O Kenneth Neil Gray, pilot, †
Sgt John Hamilton Hopper, pilot, †
Sgt Frederick John Bass, observer, †
AC1 Alfred William Henry Hart, wireless operator, †
AC1 Harold Buttery, †
AC1 J. A. Hewitt,
AC2 George Main,
AC1 Fred Wallwork.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

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

Date & Time: Apr 12, 1940 at 0305 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N1347
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Driffield - Driffield
MSN:
1511
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Driffield at 1935 on April 11 on a reconnaissance mission for enemy shipping in the Skagerak and Kattegat. A last w/t was heard at 0305LT then the aircraft disappeared into the sea. No trace was found.
Crew (77th Squadron):
F/O George Edgar Saddington, pilot,
P/O Christopher Rendel Hebeler,
Sgt John Raleigh Ibbotson,
Cpl Oscar Haire,
AC1 Peter William Simpson Chalmers.

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

Date & Time: Apr 2, 1940 at 2240 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N1368
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Driffield - Driffield
MSN:
1532
YOM:
1939
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following a low level bombing practice exercise, the aircraft was returning to RAF Driffield. At the end of the landing run, the pilot braked but due to the wet grass runway, the aircraft skidded and was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It went through the boundary fence, crossed a road and came to rest in a field. All five occupants escaped unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Crew (77th Squadron):
P/O Kenneth Neil Gray, pilot,
Sgt John Hamilton Hopper, pilot,
Sgt Frederick John Bass, observer,
AC1 Alfred William Henry Hart, wireless operator,
AC2 George Main, air gunner.