Crash of a Bristol 152 Beaufort I near Tingwall: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 20, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L4514
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Leuchars - Leuchars
MSN:
8375
YOM:
1940
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Leuchars on an operation off the Norwegian coast. Approaching the target area, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and decided to return to base. Doing so, the airplane went through an area of severe icing when the engines got iced. It crashed near Tingwall and was destroyed. Three crew members were killed and a fourth was injured.
Crew:
Sgt Norman Arthur Blanchflower, observer, †
P/O Tom Thornley Braithwaite Stoker, pilot, †
Sgt Arthur James Woolsey, wireless operator, †
Sgt W. H. Bond, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Icing conditions.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson near Dunino: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 10, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7396
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Leuchars - Leuchars
MSN:
414-1795
YOM:
1940
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from RAF Leuchars, while cruising at low height, the twin engine airplane impacted a hill and crashed 5 km west of Dunino, south of Saint Andrews. The airplane was destroyed and both crewmen were killed. The crew consisted of an instructor and a pilot under training.
Crew:
Sgt WILLEM Hijkoop, instructor,
Sgt Anton Marie Ten Herkel, student pilot.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I in Ancroft: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 5, 1940 at 1956 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
P5117
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Leuchars - Leuchars
MSN:
414-1806
YOM:
1940
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a reconnaissance mission over the North Sea. En route, due to the deterioration of the weather conditions, the pilot lost his orientation and decided to return to his base. Unable to locate his position, the crew abandoned the aircraft and bailed out. Few minutes later, the twin engine aircraft entered a dive and crashed in a field located between Scremerston and Ancroft. SAR did not find any trace of the four crew members who fall into the sea and were drowned.
Crew (233rd Squadron):
P/O Gilbert Keith Brackenridge, pilot,
P/O John McIntosh, copilot and radio navigator,
Sgt Donald Bruce, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Andrew Russell, wireless operator and air gunner.

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

Date & Time: Jun 21, 1940 at 1610 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7246
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Leuchars - Leuchars
MSN:
414-1642
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Leuchars at 1320LT to attack the German battleship 'Scharnhorst' and eight enemy destroyers which were in the coastal waters off Norway. While approaching Solsvik, it was shot down by the pilot of a Me.109 and crashed into the sea. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
S/L Dunstan Yves Feeny, pilot,
F/O Charles Andrew Wallis, navigator,
Sgt Charles Grant Macnab Wilson, wireless operator,
Sgt George William Eric Walton.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

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

Date & Time: Jun 15, 1940 at 0900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7279
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Leuchars - Leuchars
MSN:
414-1675
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Leuchars at 0625LT to bomb an ammunition dump. While approaching Stavanger-Sola Airport, it was shot down by the pilot of an Me.109 and crashed into the sea. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Neil Ewart,
P/O Francis Sirius Crawford,
Sgt Edgar Pearce,
AC1 Thomas Morton.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

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

Date & Time: Jun 15, 1940 at 0900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7270
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Leuchars - Leuchars
MSN:
414-1666
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Leuchars at 0625LT to bomb an ammunition dump. While approaching Stavanger-Sola Airport, it was shot down by the pilot of an Me.109 and crashed into the sea. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Clifford Stephen Greenaway, pilot,
Sgt Sydney George Henry Stephens,
Sgt Adam Fraser King,
Cpl Alfred John Hull.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

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

Date & Time: Jun 15, 1940 at 0900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7217
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Leuchars - Leuchars
MSN:
414-1613
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Leuchars at 0625LT to bomb an ammunition dump. While approaching Stavanger-Sola Airport, it was shot down by the pilot of an Me.109 and crashed into the sea. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Ralph Blanshard Askquith-Ellis, pilot,
Sgt Thomas Hugh Nicholls,
AC1 Samuel James Watkin Baines, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt John Long.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I near Stavanger: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 14, 1940 at 1130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7359
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Leuchars - Leuchars
MSN:
414-1755
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Leuchars on a reconnaissance mission. While approaching Stavanger, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed. Two crew members were killed and two others became PoW.
Crew:
P/O Talbot Norman Conn Rothwell, pilot,
P/O R. C. Wood,
Sgt Charles Lawrence Hand,
Sgt Walter Edmund Harding.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

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

Date & Time: Jun 5, 1940 at 1430 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7255
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Leuchars - Leuchars
MSN:
414-1651
YOM:
1939
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Leuchars on a maritime patrol flight over the North Sea. It is possible that it was mistakenly shot down by friendly fire before crashing into the sea some 13 km north of Lerwick. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Raymond Cyril Dodd,
F/O James Dunn,
P/O John L. Piercey,
Cpl Robert Purves.

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

Date & Time: Apr 24, 1940 at 0805 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7286
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Leuchars - Leuchars
MSN:
414-1682
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Leuchars at 0432LT on an escort mission. Approaching Stavanger at an altitude of 2,800 feet, the airplane was attacked by the pilot of a German Me.109 and caught fire. It entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed into the sea. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Murray Charles Petrie,
P/O Ronald Owen Lawry,
AC1 Kenneth Cyrus Maddocks,
LAC Percy Wilson.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.