Newmarket AFB

Operator:

Registration:

R9248

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Site:

Schedule:

Newmarket - Newmarket

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The airplane departed RAF Newmarket at 1746LT on an operation to Lorient. Passing over Morlaix, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in Kerescars, near Saint-Thégonnec. The pilot evaded while six other crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt R. M. Kidd, pilot,
Sgt Gilbert Frank Mitchell, flight engineer, †
Sgt James William Schofield, navigator, †
Sgt Bernard Torrance, bomb aimer, †
Sgt Eric Berry, wireless operator, †
Sgt James Edward Brewster, air gunner, †
Sgt Peter Douglas Fowler, air gunner. †

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling I in the Westeinderplassen

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1942 at 2254 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

BK620

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Newmarket - Newmarket

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The airplane departed RAF Newmarket at 1807LT on an operation to Fallersleben. While returning to base in the late evening, it was shot down by the German Flak and German fighters and crashed in the Westeinderplassen, a lake located 7 km south of Amsterdam-Schiphol Airport. All seven crew members were rescued and became PoW.
Crew:
F/Sgt Kenneth John Dunmall, pilot,
W/O Kenneth John Atwell,
Sgt Kenneth David Glen,
P/O E. E. Williams,
Sgt Alden Lyle Magnus,
Sgt John Ritchie,
Sgt William James Stanley Voice, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a enemy fire.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling I at RAF Newmarket: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1942 at 2212 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

R9245

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

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Schedule:

Newmarket - Newmarket

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The airplane departed RAF Newmarket at 2211LT to lay mines off Bordeaux. Almost immediately after liftoff, the starboard wheel clipped the top of Devil's Dyke, and this was followed by an engine failure. Out of control, the bomber spun one minute later, coming down about 1,5 km from the airfield. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Benjamin Allan Franklin, pilot,
Sgt William Joseph Lawrence, flight engineer,
Sgt William Henry Whitcombe, navigator,
Sgt Edgar William Harvey, bomb aimer,
Sgt Harold Rangi Welch, wireless operator,
Sgt Eric James Burbridge, air gunner,
Sgt Tom Pascoe, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Engine failure at takeoff.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling I off Camperduin: 8 killed

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1942 at 2053 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

BF396

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Newmarket - Newmarket

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The airplane departed RAF Newmarket at 1745LT on an operation to Fallersleben. While approaching the Dutch coast at night, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed into the sea off Camperduin. All eight crew members were killed.
Crew (75th Squadron):
W/Cdr Victor Mitchell, pilot,
W/O Trevor Horace Bagnall, pilot,
Sgt Robert Hart, flight engineer,
W/O Reginald William Pearson, navigator,
Sgt Gerald Thomas Padden, bomb aimer,
Sgt Stuart John Goff, wireless operator,
Sgt Arthur Henry Rider, air gunner,
F/Sgt Albert Charles William Parker, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

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

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1942 at 2016 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

BF400

Flight Phase:

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Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Newmarket - Newmarket

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The airplane departed RAF Newmarket at 1817LT on an operation to Fallersleben. Over Germany, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in Ankum, killing the entire crew.
Crew:
F/O Gerald Howard Jacobson, pilot,
Sgt Leonard Arthur Roff, flight engineer,
Sgt Charles Lucas, observer,
P/O Walter Duncan McAlpine, observer,
Sgt Eric Lumley Durham Ashwin, wireless operator,
Sgt Wallace Frederick Stokes, wireless operator,
Sgt William George Henry White, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

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

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1942 at 1956 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

R9247

Flight Phase:

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Schedule:

Newmarket - Newmarket

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The airplane departed RAF Newmarket at 1800LT on an operation to Fallersleben. Approaching Vechta, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed near the airfield. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Henry Edwin Rousseau, pilot,
Sgt William Wilson Morton, flight engineer,
P/O Mervyn Oliver Clark, observer,
Sgt Reginald Crosby Mocock, bomb aimer,
Sgt Christopher James Kendal, wireless operator,
F/Sgt John Fellows, air gunner,
Sgt Henry Welsh Pullar, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling I in Idar-Oberstein: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 3, 1942 at 0513 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

BK618

Flight Phase:

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Site:

Schedule:

Newmarket - Newmarket

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The airplane departed RAF Newmarket at 0202LT on an operation to Frankfurt. While returning to base, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in Idar-Oberstein. Two crew were killed and six others became PoW.
Crew:
Sgt Alexander Scott, pilot, †
Sgt Robert William Sharpe, copilot,
Sgt Dennis Cygnet Baker, flight engineer,
Sgt Albert Edward Rey, navigator,
Sgt Walter Keith Wright, bomb aimer,
Sgt John Robert Smith, wireless operator,
Sgt Alexander Watson McMorrine, air gunner, †
Sgt Robert Edward Preston, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling I at RAF Bradwell Bay

Date & Time: Nov 30, 1942 at 0705 LT

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

BK609

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Newmarket - Newmarket

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The airplane departed RAF Newmarket at 0005LT on an operation to Torino. It turned back with a fault in the bomb release mechanism and crashed at 0705LT while trying to land at RAF Bradwell Bay. A crew was injured.
Crew:
F/Sgt J. McCullough, pilot,
F/Sgt A. G. Tolley,
Sgt E. F. F. Allen,
Sgt W. E. Gibbs,
Sgt I. J. D. Broadie,
Sgt K. J. S. Smith,
Sgt K. E. Kimberley,
P/O D. A. Stuart-White, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Fault in the bomb release mechanism

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling I at RAF Stradishall

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1942 at 0317 LT

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

BK608

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site: