Steeple Morden AFB | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The airplane departed RAF Steeple Morden at 2312LT on June 25 on an operation to Bremen. It was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in Aschhauserfeld, killing the entire crew.
Crew:
F/Sgt Robert Holden, pilot,
Sgt Robert Neil Urquhart, observer,
Sgt Cyril Thomas Raynes Matthewman, wireless operator,
Sgt Leonard Allen Mitchell, air gunner,
Sgt Victor Arthur Bullecourt Falk, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC off Heligoland Island: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jun 26, 1942 at 0215 LT

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 416 Wellington IC

Operator:

Registration:

DV778

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Steeple Morden - Steeple Morden

Flight number:

6MTA

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The airplane departed RAF Steeple Morden at 2314LT on June 25 on an operation to Bremen. It is believed that it crashed into the sea off Heligoland Island. Lost without trace.
Crew:
Sgt John Charles Cubitt, pilot,
Sgt Richard John Parish, observer,
Sgt William Harvey Flower, wireless operator,
Sgt Stanley Lyell Wilton, air gunner,
F/Sgt Fernleigh William Mutton, air gunner.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC in Schale: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 26, 1942 at 0120 LT

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 416 Wellington IC

Operator:

Registration:

R1078

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

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Schedule:

Steeple Morden - Steeple Morden

Location:

Schale

North Rhine-Westphalia

Country:

Germany

Region:

Europe

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The airplane departed RAF Steeple Morden at 2316LT on June 25 on an operation to Bremen. While returning to base the following night, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in Schale. Three crew members were killed and two others became PoW.
Crew:
P/O Stanley Gordon King, pilot,
Sgt Faris Clyde Main, observer, †
Sgt Frederick George Barber, wireless operator, †
Sgt Ivan Harry Reeves, air gunner, †
Sgt Walter Nisbet Hollands, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC near Rheinberg: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 2, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 416 Wellington IC

Operator:

Registration:

DV767

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

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Schedule:

Steeple Morden - Steeple Morden

Location:

Rheinberg

North Rhine-Westphalia

Country:

Germany

Region:

Europe

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The airplane departed RAF Steeple Morden at 2322LT on June 1st on an operation to Essen. Approaching Duisburg, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed near Rheinberg. Four crew members were killed and the fifth became PoW.
Crew:
P/O James Frederick Stanley, pilot, †
W/O Kenneth Railton, observer, †
Sgt William Edward James, wireless operator, †
F/Sgt Tom Lumley Kennedy, wireless operator, †
Sgt George Browning Spenceley, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC in Ouddorp

Date & Time: May 31, 1942 at 0220 LT

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 416 Wellington IC

Operator:

Registration:

R1065

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

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Steeple Morden - Steeple Morden

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The airplane departed RAF Steeple Morden at 2240LT on May 30 on an operation to Cologne. Over the west coast of the Netherlands, the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing for unknown reasons. The airplane crash landed south of Ouddorp and was wrecked. All five crew members became PoW.
Crew:
F/Sgt John Henry Bulford,
Sgt Keith Arthur Dunkley,
Sgt Ralph Higham,
Sgt Trevor Alexander Guthrie,
Sgt J. K. Day.

Crash of a Vickers 290 Wellington I at RAF Steeple Morden

Date & Time: Mar 10, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 290 Wellington I

Operator:

Registration:

L4382

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Steeple Morden - Steeple Morden

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The crew was performing a local training exercise at RAF Steeple Morden. For unknown reasons, the airplane crashed upon landing and was damaged beyond repair. All crew members escaped uninjured.
Crew:
Sgt D. G. Falconer.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC in Leytonstone: 11 killed

Date & Time: Feb 10, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 416 Wellington IC

Operator:

Registration:

X9905

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

City

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Steeple Morden - Steeple Morden

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The crew departed RAF Steeple Morden on a training operation on behalf of the 11th OTU. En route, he encountered poor weather conditions and the airplane crashed into Harrow Green School at Leytonstone. All six crew members as well as five people on the ground were killed.
Crew:
Sgt John Sharrock Taylor, pilot,
Sgt William Mance, pilot,
F/Sgt Harold Ernest Jowett, observer,
Sgt Arthur Wilfred Ford, wireless operator,
Sgt Allen Charles Elliott Rogers, wireless operator,
Sgt Arthur James Foote, air gunner.
Those killed on the ground were:
Henry Arthur Edwards,
Joseph G. Smith,
James Edward Gorham,
Walter G. Black,
Albert Edward Stanlon.