Zone
Suffolk

Crash of a Vickers 648 Varsity T.1 at RAF Stradishall

Date & Time: Jun 10, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Vickers Varsity
Operator:
Registration:
WL677
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
YOM:
1953
Location:
Stradishall AFB
Suffolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
For unknown reason, the airplane landed hard, causing the undercarriage to be torn off. The airplane then slid for several yards and came to rest. There were no casualties.

Crash of an Avro 685 York I in RAF Stradishall

Date & Time: May 28, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Avro 685 York
Operator:
Registration:
MW250
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
MW250
YOM:
1946
Location:
Stradishall AFB
Suffolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown, the crew started to brake but the aircraft failed to stop, overran, lost its undercarriage and skidded for 100 yards before coming to rest in a ditch. All five crew members from the 51st Squadron were slightly injured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance due to a failure of the braking systems. It was determined that the failure of the braking systems was caused by an incorrect assembly on part of the RAF technicians.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC in Dirkshorn: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 3, 1942 at 0220 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 416 Wellington IC
Operator:
Registration:
AD605
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Stradishall - Stradishall
Location:
Dirkshorn
North Holland
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew left RAF Stradishall at 2300LT on July 2 on an investigation mission and was overflying The Netherlands by night when he was attacked by the pilot of a German fighter. The aircraft went out of control and crashed in a field located near Dirkshorn. Five crew members were killed while two others were taken POW.
Crew (109th Squadron):
P/O P. R. V. Sullivan, pilot, †
W/O W. R. Allison, †
F/Sgt W. Adamson, †
Sgt R. J. Liversuch, †
F/Sgt W. J. Garnett,
Sgt W. J. Morrison,
Sgt J. A. Eyres. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German night fighter.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC into the North Sea: 8 killed

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1942 at 0209 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 416 Wellington IC
Operator:
Registration:
X9913
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Stradishall - Stradishall
Location:
North Sea
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Stradishall at 1945LT on March 28 on an operation to Lübeck. Over the North Sea, it was shot down by the German Marine Flak and crashed into the sea, maybe off the Danish coast. Lost without trace.
Crew:
P/O Gordon James Maygothling, pilot,
Sgt Francis John Cassells, pilot,
P/O Leo Joseph Convey, observer,
Sgt Frank Graham Bower, wireless operator,
P/O Richard James Cussen, wireless operator,
F/Sgt Ronald Arthur Walker, air gunner,
LAC Robert Frank Rendell, special equipment operator,
P/O Basil Elgar Percy Sadler, special equipment operator.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC near Vriezenveen: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1942 at 2350 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 416 Wellington IC
Operator:
Registration:
Z1143
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Stradishall - Stradishall
Location:
Vriezenveen
Overijssel
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Stradishall on an operation to Essen. Shortly before midnight, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed near Vriezenveen. All six crew members were killed.
Crew.
P/O Eric William Cuthbert Creed, pilot,
Sgt William Wykes Robey Norton, pilot,
Sgt Walter Irvine Christsen, observer,
Sgt Alfred Frederick Mons Emms, wireless operator,
Sgt John Routledge Payne, wireless operator,
Cpt Arnold Peter Mair, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V at RAF Stradishall: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 11, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley
Operator:
Registration:
Z9125
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Stradishall - Stradishall
MSN:
2264
YOM:
1941
Location:
Stradishall AFB
Suffolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Stradishall on operation 'Frensham I'. Shortly after takeoff, it went out of control and crashed just outside the airbase. Five crew members were killed and a sixth was injured.
Crew:
S/L Boris Romanoff, pilot, †
Sgt Maxmillian Politzer, pilot, †
Sgt Jan Janek, pilot, †
Sgt Ladislav Fornusek, wireless operator, †
F/O Vaclav Jelinek, navigator, †
Sgt Bohumil Vaverka, air gunner.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC at RAF Stradishall

Date & Time: Feb 26, 1942 at 0554 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 416 Wellington IC
Operator:
Registration:
X9939
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Stradishall - Stradishall
Location:
Stradishall AFB
Suffolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Stradishall at 2302LT on February 25 on an operation to Kiel. It was hit by the German Flak and subsequently crashed upon landing while returning to base the following morning. Three crew members were injured.
Crew:
F/O E. D. Baker
Sgt J. A. Lancaster,
Sgt A. C. Cole,
F/Sgt S. S. Dawes,
Sgt E. G. W. Shotter,
F/Sgt E. H. Erby.
Probable cause:
Hit by the German Flak.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC in Fulbourn

Date & Time: Feb 26, 1942 at 0400 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 416 Wellington IC
Operator:
Registration:
Z8858
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Stradishall - Stradishall
Location:
Fulbourn
Cambridgeshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Stradishall at 2335LT on February 25 on an operation to Kiel. While returning to base the following night, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. The Wellington overshot the beacons at RAF Honington and RAF Stradishall then crash landed in an open field located in Fulbourn. All six crew members escaped uninjured while the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
S/L Cyril Miles, pilot,
Sgt Anthony Alexander Ferguson, copilot,
P/O John Merlin Brown, navigator,
Sgt D. McIlroy,
Sgt J. C. Mason,
Sgt Watts.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC off Vlissingen: 6 killed

Date & Time: Feb 12, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 416 Wellington IC
Operator:
Registration:
Z1081
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Stradishall - Stradishall
Location:
Vlissingen
Zeeland
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Stradishall on 'Operation Fuller'. Approaching the Dutch coast, it was shot down by a Me.109 and crashed into the sea off Vlissingen. Six crew members were killed and a seventh became PoW.
Crew:
W/Cdr Richard Denis Barry MacFadden, pilot, †
P/O James Wood, pilot, †
F/Lt Patrick Roderick Hughes, navigator, †
Sgt Robin Murray, wireless operator,
Sgt Andrew Paton Everett, wireless operator, †
S/L Martin Tyringham Stephens, air gunner, †
Sgt George Ingate Taylor, air gunner. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V into the North Sea: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 29, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley
Operator:
Registration:
Z6728
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Stradishall - Stradishall
MSN:
2116
YOM:
1941
Location:
North Sea
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Stradishall on an operation to Belgium. It failed to return to base and is believed to have crashed somewhere in the North Sea. Lost without trace.
Crew:
W/O George Edward Albert Baxter,
W/Cdr Jack Elkan David Benham,
F/Sgt Albutt Brittain,
F/Sgt David Gold,
F/Sgt Emrys Evan Jones,
Sgt Francis William Smith,
P/O Dennis Owens Weeks, air gunner.
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