Zone

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I near RAF Langham

Date & Time: Jan 15, 1942 at 0045 LT
Operator:
Registration:
AE441
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
North Luffenham - North Luffenham
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF North Luffenham on January 14 on an operation to Hamburg. While returning to base the following night, it ran out fuel. The crew diverted to RAF Langham but the airplane crashed on approach near the airfield. All four crew members escaped uninjured.
Crew:
F/L W. J. W. Kingston,
Sgt R. C. W. de Courcy,
Sgt J. A. Tobin,
Sgt A. Gibson.
Probable cause:
Fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC at RAF Langham

Date & Time: Jul 15, 1941 at 0238 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
R1002
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Syerston - Syerston
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Syerston at 2240LT on July 14 on an operation to Bremen. The crew encountered engine trouble and decided to return to base but finally diverted to RAF Langham where the airplane crashed on final approach. All six crew members were slightly injured and the airplane was destroyed.
Sgt C. R. Gebicki,
Sgt K. Paszkiewicz,
P/O J. Ostrowsky,
P/O C. W. Siuda,
Sgt K. Szewczyk,
Sgt J. Trzebski.
Probable cause:
Engine trouble.

Crash of a Vickers 408 Wellington IA at RAF Langham: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 25, 1941 at 1130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N3010
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Langham - Langham
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The bomber departed RAF Langham on an air gunnery exercise. Shortly after takeoff, it climbed erratically then stalled and crashed near the boundary fence. Three crew members were killed and five others were injured. One of the survivors died from injuries sustained on June 4.
Crew:
Sgt Frantisek Dusek, †
Sgt Maxmilian Stocek, †
P/O Miloslav Svic, †
P/O Stanislav Zeinert, †
P/O M. Vild,
P/O J. Cermak,
P/O F. V. Vanderbyl,
Cpl Litherland.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC at RAF Langham

Date & Time: Mar 24, 1941 at 2225 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
T2719
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Langham - Langham
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Langham at 2225LT on an operation to Berlin. It swung through 45° and smashed through the boundary fence before coming to a stop in a field. All six crew members were uninjured.
Crew:
Sgt Hazierczak.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC at RAF Langham

Date & Time: Mar 24, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
R1273
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Langham - Langham
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Langham on an operation to Berlin. Upon takeoff, it started to swerve then veered off runway and went through the hedge bordering the airfield before coming to rest. All six crew members were uninjured.
S/L Cwynar +5.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I at RAF Langham: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jan 1, 1941 at 1448 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
T9287
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Bircham Newton - Langham
MSN:
414-2322
YOM:
1940
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Bircham Newton on a transfer flight to RAF Langham, carrying three crew members, two pilots being given local familiarization and three ground crew who were lifted to RAF Langham. Approaching RAF Langham, the pilot was demonstrating dive-bombing techniques and descended too low when the left wing collided with a barn. The airplane went out of control and crashed, killing all eight occupants.
Crew:
F/O Henry Edward Middleton Featherstone, pilot,
P/O John Buttemer Allen, pilot,
P/O Roy McKenzie Mansell, pilot,
F/O Dennis Maurice Gerald Kiralfry, pilot,
Sgt Robert Arthur Plowright, wireless operator and air gunner.
Passengers:
LAC Kenneth Charles George Gilder,
AC1 George Alexander Meridew,
LAC William Arthur Meller.
Probable cause:
The pilot misjudged the distance between the airplane and the barn while completing a demonstration at low height.