Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I off Heligoland Island: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 19, 1940 at 1600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7363
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Bircham Newton - Bircham Newton
MSN:
414-1759
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Bircham Newton on a reconnaissance mission to locate enemy ship positions. It crashed in unknown circumstances into the North Sea some 50 km north of the Heligoland Island. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Ernest Albert Judge, pilot,
Sgt William Jones, pilot,
Cpl Anthony John Metcalfe, observer,
AC1 Henry Charles Mewett, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I off Heligoland Island: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 15, 1940 at 1037 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L8752
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Wattisham - Wattisham
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Wattisham to reconnoitre the Heligoland area. During the course of the operation, the crew attacked an enemy patrol boat, but were shot down by return fire. The airplane crashed into the sea and all three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Lt Mervyn Lascelles Morris, pilot,
Sgt Leslie Bancroft, observer,
LAC Richard Henry Mercer, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Heligoland Island: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 17, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N6211
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Wattisham - Wattisham
MSN:
9310
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While approaching the German coast on a reconnaissance mission, the airplane was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter and crashed into the sea north of Heligoland Island. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt William Barnard Woods,
AC1 Jack Orchard,
Sgt Frederick John Raymond Bigg.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Heligoland Island: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 16, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L8759
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Watton - Watton
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While approaching Heligoland Island on a reconnaissance mission, the airplane was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter and crashed into the sea. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt G. H. Tice,
Sgt J. H. Wadmore,
LAC F. Birch.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Heligoland Island: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 11, 1939 at 1250 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N6150
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Wyton - Wyton
MSN:
9250
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed RAF Wyton at 1110LT on a reconnaissance mission. While approaching Heligoland Island, the aircraft collided with a second RAF Blenheim registered N6145 and also carrying three crew members. Both aircraft entered a dive and crashed into the sea. All six crew members in both aircraft were killed.
Crew:
F/Lt R. E. Mills, pilot,
Sgt Frederick William Doodey, observer,
AC1 Gilbert John Johnson, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Heligoland Island: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 11, 1939 at 1250 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N6145
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Wyton - Wyton
MSN:
9245
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed RAF Wyton at 1110LT on a reconnaissance mission. While approaching Heligoland Island, the aircraft collided with a second RAF Blenheim registered N6150 and also carrying three crew members. Both aircraft entered a dive and crashed into the sea. All six crew members in both aircraft were killed.
Crew:
P/O Boyd Alan Martyr, pilot,
Sgt Gerald Harold Boutall Taylor, observer,
AC2 David William Barker, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I off Helgoland Island: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 30, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7216
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Leuchars - Leuchars
MSN:
414-1612
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Leuchars on a reconnaissance mission over Wilhelmshaven. While flying over the North Sea and approaching the German coast, the twin engine airplane was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter and crashed into the sea off Helgoland Island. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O John Raymond Hollington, pilot,
Sgt Richard Samuel Pitts, copilot,
AC1 Graham Rout,
AC1 Alexander Bathgate.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the pilot of a German fighter.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I off Heligoland Island: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 29, 1939 at 1000 LT
Operator:
Registration:
L4134
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Hemswell - Hemswell
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Hemswell at 0640LT to bomb German ships moored at Heligoland. Approaching the target, the airplane was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter and crashed into the North Sea between Heligoland and Wangerooge. A crewman survived while three others were killed.
Crew:
W/Cdr James Charles Cunningham, pilot, †
Sgt Ronald Ernest Herd, pilot, †
Sgt Charles George Williams, observer, †
AC1 H. Liggett, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I off Heligoland Island: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 29, 1939 at 1000 LT
Operator:
Registration:
L4132
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Hemswell - Hemswell
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Hemswell at 0640LT to bomb German ships moored at Heligoland. Approaching the target, the airplane was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter and crashed into the North Sea between Heligoland and Wangerooge. A crewman survived while three others were killed.
Crew:
F/Lt R. M. Coste,
Sgt Siriol Williams, †
Sgt Charles George Williams, observer, †
AC2 Stanley Isherwood, wireless operator and air gunner. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I off Heligoland Island: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 29, 1939 at 1000 LT
Operator:
Registration:
L4127
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Hemswell - Hemswell
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Hemswell at 0640LT to bomb German ships moored at Heligoland. Approaching the target, the airplane was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter and crashed into the North Sea between Heligoland and Wangerooge. A crewman survived while three others were killed.
Crew:
F/O N. C. Beck, pilot,
P/O Roger Turner, air gunner,
Sgt Percy Edmund Boyce Sproston, observer,
AC1 Alan Wilson, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.