Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC at RAF East Wretham

Date & Time: Mar 18, 1941 at 0530 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
R1378
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
East Wretham - East Wretham
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF East Wretham at 0030LT on an operation to Bremen. When returning to base in the early morning, it crashed upon landing and was damaged beyond repair. All six crew members evacuated safely.
Crew:
Sgt Anderle,
Sgt Plzak,
P/O J. Sejbl,
P/O V. Konstacky,
P/O J. Horak,
Sgt K. Valach.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC into the North Sea: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jan 16, 1941 at 2221 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
T2519
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
East Wretham - East Wretham
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF East Wretham at 1750LT on an operation to Wilhelmshaven. The crew reported technical problems then the airplane was lost without trace, maybe after it crashed somewhere in the North Sea. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Antonin Kubiznak,
P/O Josef Hudec,
Sgt Bohumil Baumbruk,
P/O Jindrich Leskauer,
Sgt Rudolf Bolfik,
P/O Jaromir Oldrich Kral.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC at RAF East Wretham: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1940 at 1807 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
T2577
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
East Wretham - East Wretham
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF East Wretham at 1800LT on an operation to Mannheim. After takeoff, the crew encountered technical problems with the engine and decided to return to base. On final approach, approximately 1 km short of runway, the bomber clip a tree with its left wing and crashed, bursting into flames. Three crew members were rescued while three others were killed.
Crew (311th Squadron):
Sgt Jan Křivda, †
Sgt Josef Pavelka,
P/O Vladimir Nedved,
P/O Joseph Doubrava,
Sgt Jiri Janousek, †
P/O Jaromir Toul. †
Testimony from the crew on http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=16278
Probable cause:
Engine problems.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC near Stanmore: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 17, 1940 at 2145 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N2771
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
East Wretham - East Wretham
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF East Wretham on an operation to Kiel. Few minutes after takeoff, the crew encountered icing conditions when control was lost. The airplane crashed on a tennis court located in Bentley Priory, near Stanmore. Five crew members were killed and a sixth occupant was seriously injured.
Crew (311th Squadron):
S/L Jan Vesely, †
P/O Jaroslav Matousek, †
P/O Jaroslav Slaby, †
Sgt Frantisek Zapletal, †
Sgt Josef Albrecht, †
P/O Frantisek Trular.
Probable cause:
Icing.

Crash of a Vickers 408 Wellington IA in Needham Market: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 17, 1940 at 1120 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L7786
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
East Wretham - East Wretham
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF East Wretham on a routine training exercice. While cruising at a too low altitude, the aircraft hit power cables and crashed in a farmland located in Needham Market. Both pilots were killed.
Crew (311th Squadron):
Sgt Karel Lang, pilot,
Sgt Oldrich Tosovsky, pilot.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC in Blidworth: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 17, 1940 at 0322 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N2773
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
East Wretham - East Wretham
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF East Wretham in the evening of October 16 on an operation to Kiel. While returning to base at night, after passing over the Dutch coast, the radio failed. The crew continued until arriving over England but eventually decided to abandon the airplane and bailed out. The airplane dove into the ground and crashed in a field located in Blidworth. A crew was killed and five other were uninjured.
Crew (311th Squadron):
F/L Joseph Šnajdr,
Sgt Leo Anderle,
P/O Joseph Richter,
P/O Miroslav Vejražka, †
P/O Joseph Fürbach,
Sgt Ulrich Langer.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC in Oosterwolde: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1940 at 2145 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L7844
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
East Wretham - East Wretham
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF East Wretham at 1850LT on a bombing mission over Kiel. While flying over the Netherlands at night, it was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter and crashed in a field located in Oosterwolde, southwest of Groningen. Four crew members were killed and two others became PoW.
Crew (311th Squadron):
P/O Bohumil Landa, pilot, †
Sgt Emanuel Novotný, copilot,
P/O Hubert Jarošek, navigator, †
Sgt Karel Klimt, wireless operator and air gunner, †
Sgt Otto Jirsák, front gunner, †
Sgt Augustýn Karel Šesták, rear gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC in The Hague

Date & Time: Sep 24, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L7788
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
East Wretham - East Wretham
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF East Wretham on an operation to Berlin. For unknown reasons, the crew was forced to make an emergency landing in The Hague. All six crew members became PoW.
Crew:
F/L K. Trojacek,
Sgt A. Zabrs,
F/L Z. Prochazka,
Sgt K. Kunka,
Sgt F. Knotek,
F/L V. Kilian.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC at RAF East Wretham

Date & Time: Sep 2, 1940 at 0438 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
R3159
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Mildenhall - East Wretham
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed RAF Mildenhall at 2050LT on September 1st on a bombing mission over Hanover. On the return trip, while completing a last turn on approach to RAF East Wretham, the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed, bursting into flames. A fire broke out, followed by an explosion that totally wrecked the aircraft. All six crew members were injured.
Crew (75th Squadron):
P/O N. R. Peel,
P/O J. L. Sharp,
Sgt R. C. Lord,
Sgt P. Crossley,
Sgt P. W. G. Lester,
Sgt R. A. Newton.
Probable cause:
The cause of the crash was attributed to the pilot losing sight of the flare-path while turning in poor visibility.