Zone
Suffolk

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling I near Sudbury

Date & Time: Mar 9, 1943 at 0300 LT
Type of aircraft:
Short S.29 Stirling
Operator:
Registration:
EF328
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Lakenheath - Lakenheath
Location:
Sudbury
Suffolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Lakenheath at 1945LT on March 8 on an operation to Nuremberg. While returning to base the following night, both starboard engines failed and the airplane crash landed near Sudbury and was destroyed. All seven crew members escaped uninjured.
Crew:
P/O G. T. P. Southall, pilot,
Sgt H. Murray,
Sgt D. A. Nicol,
P/O R. R. Clifton,
Sgt J. K. Dawes,
P/O G. P. Read,
F/Sgt H. I. Stott, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Failure of both starboard engines in flight.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura near RAF Lakenheath: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 2, 1943 at 2040 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed PV-1 Ventura
Operator:
Registration:
AE680
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Lakenheath - Lakenheath
MSN:
4023
YOM:
1942
Location:
Lakenheath AFB
Suffolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was returning to RAF Lakenheath following a low level training exercise when the airplane crashed for unknown reasons at Sharp's Corner on Grime Fen. All three crew members were killed.
Crew.
Sgt Bernard James O'Donnell, pilot,
Sgt J. R. McCormick,
F/Sgt James William Billing.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling III in Gueutteville: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 2, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Short S.29 Stirling
Operator:
Registration:
BK692
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Lakenheath - Lakenheath
Location:
Gueutteville
Seine-Maritime
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Lakenheath at 1853LT on March 1st on an operation to Berlin. Over the target area, it was badly shot about by a German fighter. Despite the situation, the crew was able to leave the area but over France, the airplane was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in Gueutteville. Three crew members were killed and five became PoW.
Crew:
F/Lt R. E. Richman, pilot, †
P/O R. J. Taylor,
Sgt D. R. Clayton,
Sgt R. A. Nunn, †
Sgt R. H. Hale,
Sgt H. J. Gillingham,
Sgt D. A. Crofts, †
Sgt N. Thornley, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter and the German Flak.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling I near Boxmeer: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 14, 1943 at 2105 LT
Type of aircraft:
Short S.29 Stirling
Operator:
Registration:
W7638
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Lakenheath - Lakenheath
Location:
Boxmeer
North Brabant
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Lakenheath at 1848LT on an operation to Cologne. Over the Netherlands, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed 2 km southwest of Boxmeer. Three crew members were killed and four others became PoW.
Crew:
F/Sgt John Graham Gow, pilot, †
Sgt Paul Thomas Cyril Oldham, flight engineer, †
F/Sgt Cecil Loughlin, navigator,
Sgt Valentine Wilfred Tulley, bomb aimer,
Sgt George Samuel Steven Reynolds, wireless operator,
Sgt James Cecil Brigden, air gunner,
Sgt William Anderson Summerson, air gunner. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling I at RAF Lakenheath: 1killed

Date & Time: Jan 3, 1943 at 1915 LT
Type of aircraft:
Short S.29 Stirling
Operator:
Registration:
R9334
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Lakenheath - Lakenheath
Location:
Lakenheath AFB
Suffolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane was returning to base at RAF Lakenheath following a practice bombing exercise. It overshot the runway and while trying to go around again, it crashed near the airfield. A crew was killed and six others were injured.
Crew:
F/Sgt J. L. Blair, pilot,
Sgt W. F. Johnson,
Sgt F. G. Giacomelli,
Sgt T. Whitelock, †
Sgt W. H. Clayton,
Sgt R. Zambra,
Sgt J. C. Barker, air gunner.
Probable cause:
A loss of power on the inner engine was considered as a major factor in the accident.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling I in Brandon: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1942 at 2135 LT
Type of aircraft:
Short S.29 Stirling
Operator:
Registration:
W7639
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Lakenheath - Lakenheath
Location:
Brandon
Suffolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Lakenheath at 1634LT to lay mines off Warnemünde. The crew encountered technical problems en route and returned early to base. Over Suffolk, the airplane went out of control and crashed in Brandon. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O John Philp, pilot,
Sgt William Stanley Hughes, flight engineer,
F/Sgt George Edward Hills, observer,
Sgt Frank Craven, wireless operator,
P/O Christopher William Higgins, wireless operator,
F/Sgt Thomas Harold Harris, air gunner,
F/Sgt Thomas Glenville Williams, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Unknown technical problems.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling I in Warnemünde: 8 killed

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1942 at 1950 LT
Type of aircraft:
Short S.29 Stirling
Operator:
Registration:
R9253
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Lakenheath - Lakenheath
Location:
Warnemünde
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Lakenheath at 1635LT to lay mines off Warnemünde. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed, killing the entire crew.
Crew:
F/O Laurence Theodore Izzard, pilot,
Sgt Daniel Patrick McAleese, flight engineer,
Sgt Philip Wedgwood Ditchburn,
F/Sgt Stephen Holroyd Hopkinson,
Sgt John Lind Strachan,
Sgt Fraser Hutchinson Watt,
Sgt Robert Henry Williams,
Sgt William Osborn, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling I in Schlesen: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1942 at 1925 LT
Type of aircraft:
Short S.29 Stirling
Operator:
Registration:
BF391
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Lakenheath - Lakenheath
Location:
Schlesen
Schleswig-Holstein
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Lakenheath at 1631LT to lay mines in the Fehmarn Channel. Over Germany, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in Schlesen, killing the entire crew.
Crew:
F/O Michael Harvey Good, pilot,
Sgt Haydyn Taliesin Williams, flight engineer,
Sgt William Thomas Taylor, observer,
Sgt Charles Richard Long, observer,
Sgt Leonard Percy James French, wireless operator,
F/Sgt Patrick Hatton Murray, air gunner,
Sgt John Alfred Clough, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling I in Ascot

Date & Time: Dec 7, 1942 at 0002 LT
Type of aircraft:
Short S.29 Stirling
Operator:
Registration:
N3723
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Lakenheath - Lakenheath
Location:
Ascot
Berkshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Lakenheath at 1802LT on an operation to Mannheim. It was hit by the German Flak which damaged the elevator controls so severely that the pilot had great difficulty in keeping the airplane in the air. Displaying airmanship of the highest order, he succeeded in regaining the south coast and shortly after doing so he instructed his crew to bail out. The Stirling came down at 0002LT near the racecourse at Ascot. All eight crew members were rescued, among them two were injured.
Crew:
F/Sgt F. H. J. Ashley, pilot,
Sgt L. Jones,
P/O L. J. Keating,
Sgt D. G. Detaris,
Sgt W. E. C. Morris,
Sgt J. Mackie,
Sgt J. E. Woolnough,
Sgt P. R. Trevayne, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Hit by the German Flak.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling I near Torino: 8 killed

Date & Time: Nov 30, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Short S.29 Stirling
Operator:
Registration:
R9202
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Lakenheath - Lakenheath
Location:
Torino
Piedmont
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Lakenheath at 0024LT on an operation to Torino. While approaching the target area, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed, killing the entire crew.
Crew:
Sgt George Norman Beames, pilot,
F/Sgt Valance Trent Bowie, pilot,
Sgt Charles Smith, flight engineer,
Sgt Neil Alexander MacLeod, navigator,
Sgt Leonard Houghton Smith, observer,
Sgt Ambrose Thomas Carter, wireless operator,
F/Sgt Peter Michael Everson, air gunner,
F/Sgt William Mitchell Wright, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.
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