Upwood AFB

Operator:

Registration:

N3626

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Upwood - Upwood

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The pilot departed RAF Upwood on a solo high-level bombing exercise. On approach to base, the starboard engine lost power. The pilot attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crashed in Holme Fen, about 7 km northwest of the airfield. The pilot escaped uninjured.
Crew:
P/O James Lang, pilot.

Probable cause:

Loss of power on the right engine.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in East Leake: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 2, 1941 at 1715 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

Z5947

Flight Phase:

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Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Upwood - Upwood

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The crew was completing a training sortie when the airplane went out of control and crashed in East Leake. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Charles William Bush, pilot,
P/O Arthur Thomas Sims, observer,
Sgt Edward John Bush, wireless operator.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Gayton: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 27, 1941 at 1000 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

V6013

Flight Phase:

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Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Upwood - Upwood

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The airplane departed RAF Upwood on a training exercise. It crashed for unknown reasons at Wetmoor Farm in Gayton, about six miles northeast of Stafford. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Harold William Taylor, pilot,
Sgt Frank Raymond Bayliss, observer,
Sgt John Alexander Hendley, wireless operator.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF Grafton Underwood: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 24, 1941 at 1005 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

V6004

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

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Schedule:

Upwood - Upwood

Location:

Grafton Underwood AFB

Northamptonshire

Country:

United Kingdom

Region:

Europe

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Circumstances:

The crew departed RAF Upwood on a training exercise. En route, one of the engine failed and the pilot lost control of the airplane that lost height and crashed nearby RAF Grafton Underwood. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Peter Desmond Thompson, pilot,
Sgt Allan Ian Wilson Fairbairn, wireless operator.

Probable cause:

It is believed that the pilot failed to follow the procedure while changing the fuel selector, causing an engine to stop.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I at RAF Chelveston

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1941 at 1830 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

L1305

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Upwood - Upwood

MSN:

8588

YOM:

1938

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The pilot departed RAF Upwood on a formation training exercise. When the leader ordered the pilot the formation to break, the pilot became disoriented and attempted a forced landing at the partially built airfield of Chelveston. The airplane was damaged beyond repair and the pilot escaped uninjured.
Crew:
Sgt R. S. Trigg, pilot.

Probable cause:

Pilot got disoriented after leaving the formation.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I at RAF Upwood

Date & Time: Oct 10, 1941 at 1600 LT

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

K7048

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Upwood - Upwood

MSN:

8001

YOM:

1937

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The pilot was completing a solo training exercise at RAF Upwood. On final approach, the left engine failed. The pilot lost control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed near the airfield. The pilot was injured.
Crew:
Sgt P. A. Paquet, pilot.

Probable cause:

Failure of the left engine on approach.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Cromer: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 17, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

R3814

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Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Upwood - Upwood

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The crew was completing a navigational exercise out from RAF Upwood. In unknown circumstances, the airplane crashed into the sea off Cromer. Two crew members were killed and a third was injured.
Crew:
Sgt Dennis Henry Farley, pilot, †
F/Sgt William Frederick Jeffery, observer, †
Sgt T. F. Heron, wireless operator.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Cressage: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 7, 1941 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

R3875

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Upwood - Upwood

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The crew was completing a training sortie from RAF Upwood. While cruising at an altitude of 2,500 feet, the pilot lost control of the airplane that entered a spin and crashed in Cressage. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Matthew Francis Fox, pilot,
Sgt Bruce Adams Coukell, observer,
Sgt Elias Cyril Brearley, wireless operator.

Crash of a Douglas A-20A Havoc II at RAF Upwood: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 2, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

AE472

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