Mildenhall AFB

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X3416

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Mildenhall - Mildenhall

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The airplane departed RAF Mildenhall at 0058LT on an operation to Duisburg. It failed to return to base and is believed to have crashed somewhere into the North Sea. Lost without trace.
Crew:
W/O Warren Langton Sargant, pilot,
F/Sgt Basel Vincent Pearce, navigator,
F/Sgt Ferneaux Montague Van Geun, wireless operator,
Sgt James Grant, air gunner,
F/Sgt William Leonard Maxim, air gunner.

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III near Oare: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jul 7, 1942

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Registration:

Z1597

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Site:

Mountains

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Mildenhall - Mildenhall

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The airplane departed RAF Mildenhall to lay mines off Lorient. While returning to base at night, it descended below the clouds when it impacted trees and crashed in hilly terrain near Oare. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Patrick Louis Murphy, pilot,
F/Sgt Cecil Baker Smith, pilot,
P/O Ivan Thomas Hugh Evans, observer,
F/Sgt John Gordon Holmes, wireless operator,
F/Sgt James McMillan Ferguson, air gunner,
WO Clayton Penrose Lindon Brown, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III off Noordwijk: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jun 17, 1942 at 0323 LT

Type of aircraft:

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Registration:

X3723

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Mildenhall - Mildenhall

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The airplane departed RAF Mildenhall at 2336LT on June 16 on an operation to Essen. While returning to base the following night, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed into the sea off Noordwijk. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Arnold Harveys Harris, pilot,
Sgt Norman Edward Costigan, observer,
F/Sgt Harry Alexander MacDonald, wireless operator,
F/Sgt John Thompson Hunter, air gunner,
P/O Frederick Ritchie Donnison, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III in Gooreind: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 17, 1942 at 0139 LT

Type of aircraft:

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Registration:

X3359

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Mildenhall - Mildenhall

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The airplane departed RAF Mildenhall at 2355LT on June 16 on an operation to Essen. About 30 minutes out from the target, the crew encountered technical difficulties with the right propeller that developed excessive vibration. Later, the airplane was hit by light Flak and the crew eventually decided to abandon the airplane that crashed in Gooreind. The pilot was killed, two others became PoiW and two others evaded.
Crew:
Sgt Charles Emile Leblanc, pilot, †
P/O John Henry Watson, navigator,
Sgt Eric Alfred Winkler, wireless operator,
Sgt Norman William Bradley, air gunner,
Sgt Joseph Arthur Angus Bruneau Angers, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Engine problems.

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III into the North Sea: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jun 6, 1942 at 0116 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

X3486

Flight Phase:

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Site:

Landing (descent or approach)

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Mildenhall - Mildenhall

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The airplane departed RAF Mildenhall at 2345LT on June 5 on an operation to Essen. Over the North Sea, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed, killing the entire crew. Lost without trace.
Crew:
F/Lt Joseph Mervyn Dutton, pilot,
F/Sgt Herbert Joseph Kirkpatrick, navigator,
Sgt Walter Ruben Rice, wireless operator,
F/Sgt Cameron Francis McCaw, air gunner,
P/O Donald Howard Peters, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I at RAF Mildenhall: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 4, 1942 at 1645 LT

Type of aircraft:

Airspeed AS.10 Oxford

Operator:

Registration:

AT724

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

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Mildenhall - Mildenhall

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The crew was completing a training exercise at RAF Mildenhall. On approach, the airplane suffered a loss of engine power, stalled and crashed in a field nearby the airbase. Two crew members were killed and a third was injured.
Crew:
Sgt Alfred Neil Yeaman, pilot, †
Sgt Robert Jack Brewer, pilot, †
Sgt E. G. Cook, pilot.

Probable cause:

Loss of engine power on approach.

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III in Argenteuil: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 30, 1942

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Registration:

X3715

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Site:

Plain, Valley

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Mildenhall - Mildenhall

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The airplane departed RAF Mildenhall on an operation to Gennevilliers. Approaching Paris, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in Argenteuil. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Eric Graham Cavaghan, pilot,
F/Sgt Orville Everett Crawford, navigator,
Sgt John Gordon Forbes, wireless operator,
Sgt William Laverson Field Kellow, wireless operator,
Sgt Robert Widdop Whitley, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III off Cromer: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 18, 1942 at 2330 LT

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Registration:

Z1562

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Mildenhall - Mildenhall

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The airplane departed RAF Mildenhall at 2309LT to lay mines off the Frisian Islands. It is believed that it was shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the sea off Cromer, Norfolk. Lost without trace.
Crew:
F/Sgt Frank Pikula, pilot,
W/O Kenneth Lendon McDowell, navigator,
Sgt Gordon Clelland, wireless operator,
Sgt William Thomson, wireless operator,
Sgt Walter Hopkins Webster, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington II in Rejsby: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 9, 1942 at 0220 LT

Type of aircraft: