Crash of a Handley Page H.P.63 Halifax VII in Stürzelberg: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 24, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.63 Halifax VII
Operator:
Registration:
NP781
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Linton-on-Ouse - Linton-on-Ouse
Location:
Stürzelberg
North Rhine-Westphalia
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was on his way to Germany to bomb the Düsseldorf-Lohausen Airport. The aircraft left RAF Linton-on-Ouse with 60 others bombers. En route, while cruising south of Düsseldorf, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a field. Five crew members were killed.
Crew (408th Squadron):
F/O David Garfield Kellar, †
F/Lt W. L. Friker, †
F/O W. H. Dunwoodie.

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

Date & Time: May 31, 1942 at 0108 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 416 Wellington IC
Operator:
Registration:
DV701
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Wellesbourne Mountford - Wellesbourne Mountford
Location:
Stürzelberg
North Rhine-Westphalia
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 Wellesbourne Mountford at 2248LT on May 30 on an operation to Cologne. Passing south of Düsseldorf, the airplane was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in Stürzelberg. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Harold Roger Blake, pilot,
F/O Donald Stewart MacLean,
Sgt Ralph Nelson Adams Creswell, wireless operator,
F/Sgt Julian Robert Wanbon.
Sgt Noel Grattan.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I in Stürzelberg: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 11, 1942 at 0051 LT
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden
Operator:
Registration:
AT221
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Wigsley - Wigsley
Location:
Stürzelberg
North Rhine-Westphalia
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Wigsley at 2146LT on April 10 on an operation to Essen. It was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in Stürzelberg, killing the entire crew.
Crew:
F/O Robert Charles Roberts, pilot,
F/O Frederick Abbey Keck, navigator,
Sgt John Ripley Wright, wireless operator,
Sgt Frank Hill Canning, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.
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