North Coates AFB

Operator:

Registration:

AM877

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Site:

Schedule:

North Coates - North Coates

MSN:

414-2959

YOM:

1941

Location:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF North Coates on an anti-shipping patrol mission with three crew members on board. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing at night and poor weather conditions, the pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed near the airbase. The observer was killed and both other occupants were injured.
Crew:
Sgt R. Walbanke, pilot,
Sgt Colin Stuart Milne, observer, †
Sgt F. A. Hutton, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the pilot initiated the flight under VFR mode rather than IFR while the visibility was poor due to the night and 10/10 cloud.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson V at RAF North Coates: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 17, 1942 at 1430 LT

Type of aircraft:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Operator:

Registration:

AM567

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

North Coates - North Coates

MSN:

414-2649

YOM:

1941

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Shortly after takeoff from RAF North Coates, while climbing, the airplane went out of control and crashed. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Arthur William Goulding, pilot,
F/Sgt John Clarke Harris, observer,
Sgt William John Thomas Flagg, wireless operator,
Sgt Raymond George Edward Whale, wireless operator.

Probable cause:

Loss of control after liftoff following an aerial breaking and its insulation material jamming the rudder.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson V into the North Sea: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 12, 1942 at 1215 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

AM712

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

North Coates - North Coates

MSN:

414-2794

YOM:

1941

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The airplane departed RAF North Coates to attack the German battleship named 'Scharnhorst' (Operation Fuller'). Approaching the target, it was shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the sea. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
S/L William Andrew Anderson,
F/Sgt Neville Frederick Jordan,
P/O Harold Victor Spicer, wireless operator,
F/Sgt Stanley Walker.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson V into the North Sea: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 12, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

AM598

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

North Coates - North Coates

MSN:

414-2680

YOM:

1941

Location:

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The airplane departed RAF North Coates to attack the German battlecruiser named 'Scharnhorst' cruising in the North Sea. Approaching the target, it was shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the sea. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Lt Lonsdale Cowperthwaite, pilot,
P/O John Ernest Lister, observer,
Sgt William Beverley Lenover, wireless operator,
F/Sgt Norman John Jones, air gunner,
Sgt Alan Forster Muris.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson V off Schiermonnikoog Island: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 8, 1942 at 1324 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

AM617

Flight Phase:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

North Coates - North Coates

MSN:

414-2699

YOM:

1941

Location:

Schiermonnikoog Island

Friesland

Country:

Netherlands

Region:

Europe

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The airplane departed RAF North Coates on a maritime patrol flight. While flying along the Dutch coast, it crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea some 15 km off Schiermonnikoog Island. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O John Ryan McCulloch, pilot,
F/Sgt Norman Nelson Palmer, observer,
Sgt Arthur Kenneth Cobb, wireless operator,
Sgt Leslie James Hodson, air gunner.

Crash of a Blackburn B-26 Botha I in New Brighton

Date & Time: Feb 7, 1942 at 1920 LT

Type of aircraft:

Blackburn B-26 Botha

Operator:

Registration:

L6249

Flight Phase:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

North Coates - Squires Gate

MSN:

7866/46

YOM:

1940

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The airplane was on a reconnaissance flight from RAF North Coates to RAF Squires Gate. After passing Liverpool, while flying over the Mersey River, it collided with the cable of a barrage balloon and crash landed in New Brighton. Both crew members were injured.
Crew:
F/O Jackson-Smith,
P/O Griffin.

Probable cause:

Collision with the cable of a barrage balloon.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson V off IJmuiden: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1942 at 1400 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

AE649

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

North Coates - North Coates

MSN:

414-3002

YOM:

1941

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The airplane departed RAF North Coates to search for enemy shipping. While flying along the Dutch coast, it crashed on a German merchant vessel near IJmuiden. Two crew members were killed and two others became PoW.
Crew:
F/Sgt Leslie Walter Jaggard, pilot, †
P/O Hubert Jack Parker, †
Sgt William John Palmer,
Sgt Douglas Sykes.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson V at RAF Donna Nook: 17 killed

Date & Time: Jan 22, 1942 at 0310 LT

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

AM602

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

North Coates - Donna Nook

MSN:

414-2684

YOM:

1941

Location:

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Circumstances:

The crew departed RAF North Coates at 2240LT on a local training exercise. On final approach to RAF Donna Nook close to RAF North Coates, the twin engine airplane overshot, and the captain initiated a go around procedure and increased engine power. Climbing to a height of 300 feet, the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a huge explosion on the Operation Center of the airbase. All four crew members as well as 13 RAF personnel were killed. The explosion upon impact was favored by the presence of bombs on board the airplane.
Crew (407th Squadron):
P/O Roland Edison Dann, pilot,
F/Sgt Harry Arthur Wilkins, pilot,
Sgt John Clifton Gaudet, observer,
Sgt John Edward Duval, wireless operator and air gunner.
Those killed on the ground were:
AC2 Marcel Pietro Belcher,
AC1 William Henry Bell,
LAC Walter Edward Cooper,
AC1 Archibald Cruddas,
LAC James Elliott,
LAC Stanley Walter Friend,
AC1 Thomas Heath,
LAC William Conway Langley Pink,
LAC John Render,
Sgt Gerald Edward Anijah Romain,
AC1 George Shorrock,
LAC George Douglas Thomas,
AC2 Sidney Alexander Herbert Thurlow.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson V off Ameland Island

Date & Time: Dec 1, 1941 at 0501 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

AM778

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site: