Zone

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC off Wells-next-the-Sea

Date & Time: Nov 27, 1941 at 2306 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
Z1103
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Marham - Marham
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Marham at 1715LT on an operation to Emden. It ditched at 2306LT off Wells-next-the-Sea. The pilot decided to put the bomber down in the sea, rather than land on the beach which, he supposed, might be mined. After being picked up by the combined efforts of the Wells life boat and an RAF ASR, Sgt Helfer was told that he had been correct in his assumptions. Earlier, it is believed the Wellington was hit by Flak.
Crew:
Sgt Helfer,
Sgt Taylor,
Sgt Ross,
Sgt Adamson,
Sgt Purcell,
Sgt England.
Probable cause:
Hot by the German Flak.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I near Wells-next-the-Sea

Date & Time: Sep 3, 1941 at 0525 LT
Operator:
Registration:
AE305
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Swinderby - Swinderby
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Swinderby at 2035LT on September 2 on an operation to Berlin. While returning to base the following morning, it crash landed near Wells-next-the-Sea and was damaged beyond repair after it passed beneath telephone wires and slid through two hedges. The crew escaped unhurt.
Crew:
F/S F. A. Titcomb,
Sgt R. M. Gifford,
Sgt Raynes,
Sgt Christy.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V in Wells-next-the-Sea

Date & Time: Sep 8, 1940 at 0100 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N1414
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1568
YOM:
1939
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane took off at 2350LT on September 7 to reconnoitre the French and Belgian coastline. 51 Squadron ORB indicates an engine failed while the crew were outbound and despite jettisoning the bomb-load, the pilot was unable to maintain height and subsequently a crash landing was made at 0100LT near Wells, Norfolk. A reliable private source reports that the incident occurred at 0350LT at Hindringham, 4 miles southeast of Wells-next-the-Sea, suggesting the possibility that the crew may have been on the return part of their operation.
Crew:
S/L J. B. Tait,
P/O A. G. Davies,
Sgt T. Gray,
Sgt A. E. Creswell,
Sgt Short.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.