Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III off Sylt Island: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 16, 1942 at 0342 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
X3482
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Feltwell - Feltwell
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Feltwell in the evening of May 15 on a Gardening operation. Approaching the German coast, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed into the sea off Sylt Island. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Myles Frederick Gordon Fraser, pilot,
F/Sgt Albert Ivan Smith, navigator,
Sgt John Owen Henry Nichols, wireless operator,
Sgt Stanley Alfred George Shaw, wireless operator,
Sgt Norman Edward Whiting, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester IA on Sylt Island: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 30, 1942 at 0253 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L7516
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Skellingthorpe - Skellingthorpe
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Skellingthorpe at 2142LT on April 29 on a mine laying operation in Kiel. While approaching the German coast, it was shot down by a German fighter. The crew reduced his altitude and attempted to make an emergency landing in a field. On touchdown, the aircraft slid for several yards before coming to rest. Two crew members were killed and five other occupants became PoW.
Crew (50th Squadron):
F/Sgt Stanley Willett, pilot,
F/Sgt Stanley Edward Packard, pilot,
P/O Neil Hannah, navigator,
F/Sgt Hector John McDonald, wireless operator,
Sgt Clarence Alfred Miners, wireless operator,
Sgt David Alexander Williams, air gunner, †
Sgt Cecil John Scott, air gunner. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Junkers JU.88A-5 off Sylt Island: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 17, 1942 at 0955 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Westerland-Sylt - Westerland-Sylt
MSN:
8022
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Westerland-Sylt Airfield on a bombing exercise. It suffered engine problems and crashed into the sea about 10 km north of Sylt Island. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Uffz Ewald Schulz, pilot,
Uffz Fritz Rowinski, radio operator,
Uffz Hans Keller, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Engine problems.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I on Sylt Island: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 24, 1942 at 0612 LT
Operator:
Registration:
P4323
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Coningsby - Coningsby
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Coningsby on a mine laying operation. Approaching the German coast at night, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed on Sylt Island. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Stanley Arthur Kent, pilot,
Sgt Reginald Stephen Anderson, observer,
Sgt Albert William Blake, wireless operator,
Sgt Stanley Ronald McLeod, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V off Sylt Island: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 30, 1941
Operator:
Registration:
Z9126
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Middleton St George - Middleton St George
MSN:
2265
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Middleton St George at 2139LT on September 29 on an operation to Stettin. While returning to base the following night, the crew called for help. A bearing taken at the time indicated the Whitley was near Sylt. No trace was found.
Crew:
Sgt Robert Walters Bird,
Sgt Harold Bernard Buttell,
Sgt Ivor McCarthy,
Sgt Roy Russell Vosper,
F/Sgt Belph Ward.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC off Sylt Island: 6 killed

Date & Time: Aug 13, 1941 at 0013 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
R1024
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Mildenhall - Mildenhall
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Mildenhall at 2116LT on August 12 on an operation to Hannover. Approaching the German coast, it was shot down by the German Marine Flak and crashed into the sea off Sylt Island. All six crew members were killed.
crew:
P/O Frederick Hill Beemer, pilot,
Sgt Peter Edward Hay Dangerfield,
Sgt Ernest William Hall,
Sgt Jack Richard Littlefield,
P/O Foster William Jack Scott, observer,
Sgt Charles Frederick Young.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Marine Flak.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Sylt Island

Date & Time: Jun 30, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
V6139
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Great Massingham - Great Massingham
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Great Massingham at 1029LT on an operation to Westerland. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the sea off Sylt Island. All three crew members became PoW.
Crew:
Sgt Clement Murray Chown,
Sgt Michael Kelly,
Sgt Alfred Ernest William Smith.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Sylt Island: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 30, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
R3801
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Great Massingham - Great Massingham
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Great Massingham at 1030LT on an operation to Westerland. Approaching Sylt Island, it was shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the sea. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Thomas Andrew Hillock Drysdale, pilot,
Sgt Stanley Thomas Frank Edwards, observer,
Sgt Harold Challis, wireless operator.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Sylt Island: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 5, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N6140
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
West Raynham - West Raynham
MSN:
9240
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF West Raynham on an operation over German when it crashed into the sea off Sylt Island, probably after being shot down. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
W/Cdr Joseph Henry Hargroves, pilot,
Sgt Ewart William Smith, observer,
Sgt Robert Mark Livermore, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I off Sylt Island: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 26, 1940
Operator:
Registration:
P1319
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Scampton – Scampton
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Scampton on operations to the Frisian Islands. While approaching the Sylt Island at night, the airplane was shot down by the pilot of a Me.109 and crashed into the sea. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Arthur Herbert Benson, pilot,
P/O Alfred Peter Burdett Hordern, pilot,
Sgt Robert Ian Leonard MacKenzie, observer,
LAC J. D. Openshaw, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.