Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V in Quakenbrück: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 7, 1941 at 0056 LT
Type of aircraft:
Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley
Operator:
Registration:
Z6668
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Leeming - Leeming
MSN:
2102
YOM:
1941
Location:
Quakenbrück
Lower Saxony
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Leeming at 2004LT on September 6 on an operation to Hüls (chemical factory). While returning to base the following night, it was shot down by a Me.110 and crashed in Quakenbrück. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt John Harry Painter, pilot,
Sgt Desmond William Mercer, pilot,
Sgt Derek George Kemp, observer,
Sgt Donald Watson Gillies, wireless operator,
P/O Richard John Minnis, wireless operator.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Heinkel He.111 in Torhout: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 22, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Heinkel He.111
Operator:
Registration:
5J+FA
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Quakenbrück - Quakenbrück
Location:
Torhout
West Flanders
Country:
Belgium
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in a combat sortie from the Quakenbrück airfield in Lower Saxony. While flying over Belgium, the crew was attacked by few Curtiss Hawk 75 from the French First Squadron of the Fighter Group 1/4 based in Norrent-Fontes. The crew attempted to make an emergency landing but the aircraft crashed near Torhout. While the captain was injured, all three other crewmen were killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by French fighters.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I in Quakenbrück: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 30, 1939 at 1250 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L1415
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Metz - Metz
MSN:
8698
YOM:
1939
Location:
Quakenbrück
Lower Saxony
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Metz on a reconnaissance mission over Germany. En route, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter and crashed, killing all three crew members.
Crew:
F/O Dennis Frederick Elliot, pilot,
Sgt Kenneth Burton Crew, observer,
AC1 John Arthur Garrick, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the pilot of a German fighter.
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