Driffield AFB | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The aircraft left RAF Driffield at 2305LT on March 27 on a reconnaissance mission over Germany. During the back trip to UK, the bomber strayed into the Dutch airspace and was shot down by the pilot of a Dutch fighter before crashing in flames in Pernis, southwest of Rotterdam. A crew member was killed while all four other occupants were rescued. It is possible the that Sgt Miller have fallen from the airplane just seconds prior to the final impact.
Crew (77th Squadron):
F/O T. J. Geach,
F/O W. P. Copinger,
Sgt J. E. Miller, †
LAC S. H. E. Caplin,
AC2 R. B. Barrie.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a Dutch fighter.

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

Date & Time: Mar 28, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley

Operator:

Registration:

N1351

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Driffield - Driffield

Location:

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Circumstances:

The crew was performing a reconnaissance mission over Germany and left RAF Driffield at 2240LT on March 27. While flying over the region of Prüm, the aircraft was hit by Flak and crashed in an open field located in Gerolstein, some 18 km northeast of Prüm. A crew member was killed while all four other occupants were taken POW.
Crew (77th Squadron):
F/O J. B. J. Boardman,
P/O G. L. Norman, †
Sgt W. R. Taylor,
LAC J. Masters,
AC1 W. Cowle.

Probable cause:

Shot down by Flak.

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

Date & Time: Oct 25, 1939 at 2315 LT

Type of aircraft:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley

Operator:

Registration:

N1358

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Driffield - Driffield

MSN:

1522

YOM:

1939

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The aircraft departed RAF Driffield at 1850LT on 24 October and headed for the ports of Hamburg and Wilhelmshaven. At 2315LT, a w/t signal was intercepted, indicating a position 60 miles off the East coast of UK. SAR operation did not find any trace of the aircraft nor the crew.
Crew (77th Squadron):
P/O Philip Edwin William Walker, pilot,
Sgt Reginald Austin Bigger, pilot,
Sgt George Jonathan Burrell, observer,
AC1 Alexander Bernard Bogle MacDonald, wireless operator and air gunner,
AC1 James Alfred Topham, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley IV in Geinsheim am Rhein: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1939

Type of aircraft:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley

Operator:

Registration:

K8947

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Villeneuve-les-Vertus - Driffield

MSN:

1400

YOM:

1938

Location:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed Villeneuve-les-Vertus at 1850LT on October 15 with Munich as target (leaflet dropping mission). En route, the aircraft went off course and was overflying Frankfurt at night when it was shot down by the German Flak. The crew attempted to make an emergency landing in a field when the aircraft crashed in Geinsheim am Rhein, about 30 km southwest of Frankfurt. Four crew members became PoW and the captain was killed.
Crew (77th Squadron):
F/O Roland Williams, pilot, †
LAC Reginald Enrath Fletcher,
Cpl A. R. Gunston,
Sgt James William Lambert,
F/O John Tilsley.

Probable cause:

The crew failed to respond to a recall signal and when last heard on w/t, it was assumed that the bomber was on course for RAF Driffield.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley IV near RAF Driffield: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 15, 1939 at 1505 LT

Type of aircraft:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley

Operator:

Registration:

K8958

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Driffield - Driffield

MSN:

1411

YOM:

1938

Flight number:

302

Location:

Country:

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Circumstances:

While flying at an altitude of some 600 feet two miles north of RAF Driffield, the starboard elevator trim tab failed, causing the aircraft to go into a dive. Despite full backward pressure on the control column on part of the pilot-in-command, he was unable to prevent the crash landing. The aircraft hit the ground at a speed of 100 mph with the undercarriage locked down. Four crew members were injured and the pilot P/O Robert Clare Bisset was killed.

Probable cause:

Loss of control in flight following the failure of the starboard elevator trim tab.

Ground accident of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley III in Buc

Date & Time: Sep 9, 1939 at 0645 LT

Type of aircraft:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley

Operator:

Registration:

K8961

Flight Phase:

Taxiing

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Driffield – Buc – Essen

MSN:

1414

YOM:

1938

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Circumstances:

After landing at Buc Airport, the crew vacated the runway to reach his parking place when the aircraft collided with a parked Dewoitine. All five crew men evacuated safely while both aircraft were damaged beyond repair. The visibility was poor due to foggy conditions. The crew was from 77th Squadron.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley III in Kassel

Date & Time: Sep 9, 1939

Type of aircraft:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley

Operator:

Registration:

K8950

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Driffield - Driffield

MSN:

1403

YOM:

1938

Location:

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The bomber departed RAF Driffield at 2355LT on 08SEP1939 with the Ruhr as objective (leaflet dropping). Apparently shot down by the German Flak, the airplane crashed near Kassel. All five crew members from the 102nd Squadron became PoW.
Crew:
S/L Stephen Murray, pilot,
P/O Alan Thompson, pilot,
Sgt Charles Hill, observer,
AC1 Sam Burry, wireless operator,
AC1 Peter Pacey, gunner.

Probable cause:

Probably shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.54 Harrow I in Owstwick

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1938

Type of aircraft:

Handley Page H.P.54 Harrow

Operator:

Registration:

K6954

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Honington – Driffield

YOM:

1937

Location:

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Aircraft flight hours:

315

Circumstances:

En route from RAF Honington to RAF Driffield, one of the engine failed due to icing. The captain attempted an emergency landing in an open field located in Owstwick, some 17 km east of Hull. The aircraft slid on the ground for few dozen metres before coming to rest against trees. All five crew members evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Engine failure in flight due to icing.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I on Mt Mickle Fell: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 26, 1938

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L1252

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Upper Heyford – Driffield – Kingstown

MSN:

8535

YOM:

1938

Location:

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Circumstances:

The crew departed RAF Upper Heyford on a bombing exercice over Carlisle. After a fuel stop at RAF Driffield, the crew continued to Kingstown. While cruising over the Pennines, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. The airplane descended too low until it impacted the slope of Mt Mickle Fell located 14 km west of Middleton-in-Teesdale. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O John Owen Sowerbutts, pilot,
AC1 William Ashbridge, air gunner,
AC2 Horace Redfern, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.54 Harrow II in Tibthorpe: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 5, 1938 at 1210 LT

Type of aircraft:

Handley Page H.P.54 Harrow

Operator:

Registration:

K6995

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Driffield - Driffield

Location:

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Circumstances:

The crew was performing a night training flight on behalf of the 75th Squadron. The aircraft departed RAF Driffield in the evening and completed several circuits around the airbase. While returning to the airfield in poor weather conditions, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a field located in Tibthorpe. All five occupants were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Edward James Merchant,
Sgt Ronald George Cowley Marshall,
Cpl Walter Greaves,
AC1 Ronald Herbert Fish,
AC1 George Jeffrey Humphries.

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