Crash of a Vickers 290 Wellington I in Elveden: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 8, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L4320
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Honington - Honington
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a navigation exercise out from RAF Honington. While flying southwest of Thetford at a too low altitude, the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in a wooded area, bursting into flames. All five occupants were killed.
Crew (9th Squadron):
P/O Harold Rosofsky, pilot,
P/O Bruce Innes Clifford-Jones, observer,
AC1 Hugh M. McGreevy, wireless operator,
AC1 Thomas Purdie, wireless operator,
AC2 William Charles Hilsdon, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Pilot error.

Crash of a Vickers 290 Wellington I in Brunsbüttel: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 4, 1939 at 1815 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L4268
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Honington - Honington
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed RAF Honington at 1605LT on a raid over Germany. While approaching the Kiel Canal, the aircraft was shot down by enemy fire and crashed. All five crewmen were killed.
Crew (9th Squadron):
F/S Ian Edward Maitland Borley,
Sgt George Miller,
Cpl George William Park,
LAC Harry Dore,
AC2 Robert Henderson.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Vickers 290 Wellington I in Brunsbüttel: 6 killed

Date & Time: Sep 4, 1939 at 1815 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L4275
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Honington - Honington
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed RAF Honington at 1605LT. Presumed shot down, either by Flak or fighters, in the target area. All six occupants were killed.
Crew (9th Squadron):
F/S Albion John Turner, pilot,
Sgt Donald Edward Jarvis, pilot,
Sgt Bertie Greville Walton,
Sgt A. O. Heslop,
AC2 George Thomas Brocking,
AC2 Kenneth George Day.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

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

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1938
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
K6954
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Honington – Driffield
YOM:
1937
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
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 Handley Page H.P.54 Harrow II at RAF Honington

Date & Time: Nov 24, 1938
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
K7002
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Honington - Honington
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to RAF Honington at night, the aircraft impacted the ground and crashed short of runway. All four crew members were injured and the aircraft was destroyed. For unknown reason, the crew was completing the approach at a too low altitude.

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

Date & Time: Oct 6, 1938
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
K6965
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Honington - Honington
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While performing a night training flight, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. The aircraft was struck by lightning, forcing the pilot to attempt an emergency landing. While the maneuver was completed successfully and all occupants survived, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Emergency landing after being struck by lightning.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.54 Harrow II off Dungeness: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 6, 1938
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
K6971
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Honington - Honington
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was conducting a night training exercise on behalf of the 215th Squadron. While cruising over the Channel in poor weather conditions, the aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea off Dungeness. SAR were performed by British and French Authorities during several days but no trace was ever found.
Crew:
P/O Roland Noah Haynes, pilot,
P/O Thomas Ian Stewart Munro, copilot,
F/O Douglas Aubrey Hamilton, observer,
LAC Charles Selby Lodge, gunner,
AC1 Trevor Prowse, wireless operator.
Probable cause:
It is believed that crew encountered bad weather conditions with turbulences and that the aircraft may have been struck by lightning.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.50 Heyford III at RAF Honington: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 16, 1937 at 2120 LT
Operator:
Registration:
K5183
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Honington - Honington
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local night training flight at RAF Honington. For unknown reasons, the airplane landed hard, went out of control and came to rest upside down. A crew member was killed while three others were injured and one escaped unhurt. Two days later, one of the survivor died from injuries sustained.
Crew:
P/O Thomas Arthur Bunting, †
P/O Basil Gaston Lancelot Betbeder, †
P/O Laurence Herbert McFarlane,
AC1 Ernest Marrows,
AC1 Charles Albert Frederick Kettle.