Zone
Norfolk

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.67 Hastings at RAF West Raynham

Date & Time: Jun 9, 1967
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.67 Hastings
Operator:
Registration:
WD491
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
West Raynham - West Raynham
MSN:
119
YOM:
1951
Location:
West Raynham AFB
Norfolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll at RAF West Raynham, a tire burst. The pilot lost control of the airplane that veered off runway and came to rest. There were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Loss of control caused by a tire burst during takeoff.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7B Boston III in Lage Donk: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 11, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
W8302
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
West Raynham - West Raynham
Location:
Hoeven
North Brabant
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft left RAF West Raynham on a bombing mission to Roosendaal. While approaching the target, the aircraft was shot down by the German Flak. All four crew members were able to bail out while the aircraft crashed in a field and was destroyed. Two crew were killed while two others were injured and taken PoW.
Crew:
Sgt W. E.Burns, †
Sgt W. A. Brown, †
Sgt C. A. Mcnair,
Sgt D. J. Searle.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

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

Date & Time: Mar 27, 1942 at 2228 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
Z7276
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
West Raynham - West Raynham
Location:
Zeist
Utrecht
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 West Raynham at 1915LT on an intruder operation over Soesterberg AFB. It was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in Zeist. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
W/Cdr John Fraser Grant Jenkins, pilot,
F/O Henry Paul Brackner, observer,
Sgt Charles Henry Gray, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Wieringen: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1942 at 2357 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
Z7307
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
West Raynham - West Raynham
Location:
Wieringen
North 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 West Raynham at 2045LT on an operation to Soesterberg. It was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in the Waddenzee off Wieringen. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt William Maurice Popplestone, pilot,
P/O William George Francis Hawkin, observer,
P/O Cyril Edwin White, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV into the North Sea: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
Z7700
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
West Raynham - West Raynham
Location:
North Sea
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF West Raynham at 2140LT on an operation to Soesterberg. It failed to return to base and is believed to have crashed somewhere in the North Sea. Lost without trace.
Crew:
F/Lt Ernest Martin Bury, pilot,
Sgt John Samuel Beauchamp, observer,
Sgt Thomas Crilly, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off The Hague: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 12, 1942 at 1740 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
T1922
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
West Raynham - West Raynham
Location:
The Hague
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 West Raynham at 1410LT on 'Operation Fuller'. Approaching the Dutch coast, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed into the sea off Kijkduin, near The Hague. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Robert Elmer Drsydale, pilot,
Sgt Arthur Stanley Maynard, observer,
Sgt John Standeford Pullen, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF West Raynham

Date & Time: Feb 8, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
V6397
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
West Raynham - West Raynham
Location:
West Raynham AFB
Norfolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane crashed almost immediately after takeoff from RAF West Raynham after colliding with a storage shed. All three crew members were injured.
Crew:
Sgt A. T. Woodfield,
Sgt Matthews,
Sgt Harris.

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

Date & Time: Jan 28, 1942 at 2230 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
V5726
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
West Raynham - West Raynham
Location:
Amsterdam-Schiphol
North 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 West Raynham at 1940LT for an intruder mission to Leeuwarden Airfield. It was shot down by the German Flak and crashed near the airport of Amsterdam-Schiphol. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Thomas Archie Peters, pilot,
Sgt George Norman Church, observer,
Sgt Kenneth Maurice Bird, wireless operator.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

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

Date & Time: Jan 14, 1942 at 2042 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
V6391
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
West Raynham - West Raynham
Location:
Schiermonnikoog Island
Friesland
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 West Raynham at 1735LT on an operation to Amsterdam-Schiphol Airport. Approaching the Dutch coast, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed into the sea off Schiermonnikoog Island. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Lt Basil John Adam, pilot,
Sgt Joseph Arthur Willis, observer,
F/O Frederick Walter Ollis Street-Porter, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Den Helder: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 27, 1941 at 1508 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
Z7309
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
West Raynham - West Raynham
Location:
Den Helder
North 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 West Raynham at 1305LT on an anti-shipping operation. It was shot down by the German Flak then by a German fighter and crashed into the sea off Den Helder. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Walter Gordon Clement Beatson,
Sgt James Bradshaw,
P/O Haydn Jones.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.
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