Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V in Leominster

Date & Time: May 4, 1941 at 0630 LT
Operator:
Registration:
Z6483
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Middleton St George - Middleton St George
MSN:
1995
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Middleton St George at 2045LT on May 3 on an operation to Cologne. The following morning, while returning to base, the crew encountered technical problems with the wireless system. As the airplane ran out of fuel, all five crew members bailed out and abandoned the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed in Leominster. All five occupants were uninjured.
Crew:
Sgt L. Hatcher,
Sgt Chandos,
Sgt H. B. Buttell,
Sgt T. K. Moodie,
Sgt T. Hall.
Probable cause:
Technical problems with the wireless system and fuel exhaustion.