Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I off Samsø Island: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 16, 1942 at 0200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden
Operator:
Registration:
AT224
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Balderton - Balderton
Location:
Samsø Island
Midtjylland
Country:
Denmark
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Balderton at 2219LT to lay mines in the Pumpkin area. While returning to base the following night, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed into the sea off Samsø Island. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Raymond James Dillon, pilot,
F/Sgt Raymond Wesley Dreyer, observer,
Sgt William Dudley Palmer, wireless operator,
P/O Cyril Cresswell, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I off Samsø Island: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 16, 1942 at 0153 LT
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden
Operator:
Registration:
AD803
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Balderton - Balderton
Location:
Samsø Island
Midtjylland
Country:
Denmark
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Balderton at 2235LT to lay mines in the Pumpkin area. While cruising at an altitude of 1,200 feet, it was shot down by the German Marine Flak and crashed into the sea off Samsø Island. Three crew members were killed and the pilot became PoW.
Crew:
Sgt Howard Joseph Copeman, pilot,
F/Sgt Albert Alexander Smith, observer, †
Sgt Norman William Smith, wireless operator, †
Sgt William Francis Millerd, wireless operator. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Marine Flak.

Crash of a Heinkel He.111J off Samsø Island

Date & Time: Apr 3, 1940 at 0930 LT
Type of aircraft:
Heinkel He.111
Operator:
Registration:
M7+CH
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
5094
Location:
Samsø Island
Midtjylland
Country:
Denmark
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
An engine caught fire in flight, forcing the crew to ditch the airplane off Samsø Island. All four occupants were rescued while the airplane sank and was lost.
Crew:
Obltn Werner Beck,
Fw Heinrich Baasch,
Fw Georg Juchelko +1.
Probable cause:
Engine fire in flight.
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