Zone
Norfolk

Crash of a Douglas DB-7 Boston IIIA in Lille

Date & Time: Jul 26, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
BZ399
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Swanton Morlay - Swanton Morlay
Location:
Lille
Nord
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful supply mission over Courtrai, Belgium, the twin engine aircraft was returning to its base in Swanton Morlay, when the crew encountered engine problems and was forced to divert to Lille Airport. The crew completed a belly landing and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair while all four crew members were uninjured.
Crew (88th Squadron):
F/O J. B. Wilson,
P/O W. T. MacDonald,
F/L F. J. G. Patridge,
Sgt. T. Hunt.
Probable cause:
Both engine should be cut by the crew for unknown reason.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7B Boston III at RAF Swanton Morley: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 3, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
Z2261
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Swanton Morley - Swanton Morley
Location:
Swanton Morley AFB
Norfolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed RAF Swanton Morley on a local training mission. Almost immediately after takeoff, it crashed near the airbase, killing all four crew members.
Crew:
Sgt Stephen Joseph Roche, pilot,
Sgt Percy Julyans,
Sgt Reginald Austin Fretwell,
Sgt William Walter Simms, air gunner.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7B Boston into The Channel: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 29, 1943 at 1434 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
AL278
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Swanton Morley - Swanton Morley
Location:
The Channel
World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Swanton Morley at 1207LT to attack a viaduct in Morlaix. Approaching the French coast, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed into The Channel. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Clifford Stanley Thomas, pilot,
F/O Richard Laurence Bowyer,
Sgt Robert Morton,
Sgt George Currah, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7B Boston III near Vlissingen: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 25, 1943 at 1147 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
W8354
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Swanton Morley - Swanton Morley
Location:
Vlissingen
Zeeland
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Swanton Morley at 1046LT on an operation to Vlissingen. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by the German Marine Flak and crashed near Vlissingen Airfield. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Adrian Grey Wilson, pilot,
F/O Ronald Herbert Aitchison Evans, navigator,
Sgt David John Dudley Thomas, wireless operator,
Sgt Arthur Stanley Oakes, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Marine Flak.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7B Boston III off Hoek van Holland: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 6, 1942 at 1254 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
Z2266
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Swanton Morley - Swanton Morley
Location:
Hoek van Holland
South Holland
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Swanton Morley at 1135LT on an operation to Eindhoven. Approaching the Dutch coast, it was shot down by the German Marine Flak and crashed into the sea off Hoek van Holland. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Norman James Alexander Paton, pilot,
F/Lt James George Annesley Maguire, navigator,
P/O James Lester Fletcher, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Marine Flak.

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III at RAF Swanton Morley: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 9, 1942 at 2355 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 417 Wellington III
Operator:
Registration:
BJ764
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Dishforth - Dishforth
Location:
Swanton Morley AFB
Norfolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Dishforth at 1733LT on an operation to Hamburg. Over Germany, it was badly shot about by the German Flak and the crew decided to return to base. Two crew members bailed out over Germany and became PoW. The crew eventually diverted to RAF Swanton Morley where the airplane crashed on a night approach and was destroyed. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Raymond Rogers Foltz, pilot, †
F/O George Stevenson Cartwright, observer, †
F/Sgt Roy Norman Victor Burke, wireless operator, †
F/Sgt Joseph Eugene Raymond Laporte, air gunner, †
Sgt Joseph Albert Delorme,
Sgt Joseph Raoul Armand Pambrum,
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7B Boston III in Chocques

Date & Time: Sep 22, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
AL743
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Swanton Morley - Swanton Morley
Location:
Chocques
Pas-de-Calais
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed RAF Swanton Morley at 1050LT to bomb a power station located in Chocques, Pas-de-Calais. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed. A crew evaded and two others became PoW.
Crew:
Sgt M. A. Collins, pilot
P/O Harold John Milford, observer,
Sgt George Alfred Nicholls, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7B Boston III in Chocques: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 22, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
AL685
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Swanton Morley - Swanton Morley
Location:
Chocques
Pas-de-Calais
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed RAF Swanton Morley at 1050LT to bomb a power station located in Chocques, Pas-de-Calais. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed, killing all three crew members.
Crew:
F/Sgt Marcel Auguste Henri Demont, pilot,
P/O Robert William Andrew, observer,
Sgt William Elwyn Ronald Wareham, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7B Boston III at RAF Swanton Morley: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 4, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
AL679
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Swanton Morley - Ouston
Location:
Swanton Morley AFB
Norfolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Swanton Morley on a training flight to RAF Ouston, taking part to the 'Exercise Dryshod'. Shortly after takeoff, it went out of control and crashed near the airfield. All four crew members were injured. One of them later died from injuries sustained.
Crew:
Sgt Thomas Robinson Thompson, wireless operator, †
F/Sgt R. W. Webb,
Sgt R. J. Stephenson,
Ac1 E. R. Baldwin.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7B Boston III off Spiekeroog Island: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 27, 1942 at 0126 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
AL746
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Swanton Morley - Swanton Morley
Location:
Spiekeroog Island
Lower Saxony
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 Swanton Morley at 2123LT on July 26 on an intruder operation to Germany. Approaching the German coast, it was shot down by the German Marine Flak and crashed into the sea off Spiekeroog Island. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Victor Nelson Salmon, pilot,
P/O Harold Frederick Deck, observer,
F/Sgt Sidney Duckworth, wireless operator,
Sgt Leslie Edward Caleb Oxley, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Marine Flak.
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