Crash of a Noorduyn UC-64A Norseman in Stanton Harcourt

Date & Time: Aug 24, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
43-35371
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
445
YOM:
1944
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, the engine failed, forcing the pilot to attempt an emergency landing. On final, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a field located in Stanton Harcourt, west of Oxford. While the pilot was injured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
Harvey T. Bonser, pilot.
Probable cause:
Engine failure caused by a fuel exhaustion. A fuel gauge stuck indicating ¼ tank when the tank was actually empty.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax I in L'Aiguillon-sur-Mer: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 24, 1941
Operator:
Registration:
L9529
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Stanton Harcourt - Stanton Harcourt
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Stanton Harcourt at 1034LT on an operation to La Rochelle. Approaching the target area from the north, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in L'Aiguillon-sur-Mer, some 20 km northwest from La Rochelle. Four crew members were killed and three others became PoW.
Crew:
F/Lt Austin Ellerker Lewin, pilot, †
Sgt William Henry James Gourley, †
F/Sgt Charles Henry Horner, observer, †
Sgt Percy James Vickery, wireless operator, †
Sgt William Allan Finlayson,
F/Lt Norman White McLeod,
Sgt Benjamin Phillips.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax I off La Rochelle: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jul 24, 1941
Operator:
Registration:
L9517
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Stanton Harcourt - Stanton Harcourt
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Stanton Harcourt at 1055LT on an operation to La Pallice, west of La Rochelle. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the sea. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Joseph Francis Patrick John McKenna, pilot,
F/Sgt Valentine Arthur Davis, wireless operator,
Sgt Roger Francis Stuart Ford-Hutchinson,
F/Sgt Roy William Joseph Hill, air gunner,

Sgt John Mitchell Pilbeam, wireless operator,
Sgt Leonard Thomas Rice,
Sgt George Summers.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a enemy fire.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax I off La Rochelle

Date & Time: Jul 24, 1941
Operator:
Registration:
L9494
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Stanton Harcourt - Stanton Harcourt
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Stanton Harcourt at 1055LT on an operation to La Pallice, west of La Rochelle. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by a Me.109 and crashed into the sea. All seven crew members were rescued and became PoW.
Crew:
S/L William Richard Williams, pilot,
Sgt Leonard James Butler,
P/O John George Ireton,
Sgt Samuel Jones,
Sgt Norman Kershaw,
Sgt Alexander Henry John Turner,
Sgt George Robert Wedderburn.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax I off Isle of Ré

Date & Time: Jul 24, 1941
Operator:
Registration:
L9512
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Stanton Harcourt - Stanton Harcourt
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Stanton Harcourt at 1036LT on an operation to La Pallice, west of La Rochelle. It was hit by the German Flak then shot down by a Me.109 and crashed into the sea north of the Isle of Ré. All six crew members were rescued and became PoW.
Crew:
Sgt Ernest William Constable,
Sgt John Noel Gibson,
Sgt Allan Gillbanks,
F/Sgt Stanley Desmond Greaves,
Sgt Albert Henery,
Sgt Gordon Herbert Frank Ogden,
Sgt Wilfrid Campbell Walters.
Probable cause:
shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax I near Angles: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 24, 1941
Operator:
Registration:
L9527
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Stanton Harcourt - Stanton Harcourt
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Stanton Harcourt at 1040LT to attack the Scharnhorst anchored at La Pallice. It was shot down by enemy fire and crashed near Angles. Five crew members were killed and two others were rescued and became PoW.
Crew:
Sgt Greville Gascoyne Esnouf, pilot, †
F/Sgt Clarence Arthur Godwin, pilot, †
Sgt Conrad Howard Newstead, flight engineer, †
Sgt Reginald Thomas Rudlin, wireless operator, †
F/Sgt Sidney Harry James Shirley, air gunner, †
Sgt Eric Oswald Thomas Balcomb,
F/Lt Arthur George Eperon.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V at RAF Stanton Harcourt

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1941 at 0100 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N1411
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Stanton Harcourt - Stanton Harcourt
MSN:
1565
YOM:
1939
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training flight at RAF Stanton Harcourt. Following a circuit in the vicinity of the airbase, the crew initiated the approach at night. Upon landing, the airplane bounced and the crew attempted to go around when the pilot lost control of the aircraft that crashed in a field located one mile from the airfield. Two crew members were injured and a third was unhurt.
Crew:
P/O L. S. Davies,
Sgt H. J. Burton,
Sgt P. G. Brothers.