Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I at RAF West Raynham

Date & Time: Apr 27, 1941 at 0530 LT
Operator:
Registration:
AD847
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Waddington - Waddington
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Waddington at 2155LT on April 26 on an operation to Hamburg. While returning to base the following morning, it crashed on approach to RAF West Raynham (diversion?). All four crew members were rescued, among the one was injured.
Crew:
Sgt S. Mallen,
Sgt V. F. Lauderdale,
Sgt E. Hartley,
Sgt R. Oliever.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV near Dorchester: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 3, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
T2439
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
West Raynham - West Raynham
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 at 1915LT on an operation to Brest. It crashed and exploded 5 miles northwest of Dorchester. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Peter Ian Burrows, pilot,
Sgt George Benjamin Holt Birdsell, observer,
Sgt Hugh Raymond Perry, wireless operator.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV into The Channel: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 3, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N3552
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
West Raynham - West Raynham
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 at 1940LT on an operation to Brest. Lost without trace, maybe after it crashed somewhere in The Channel. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
W/Cdr Derek Addenbrooke,
Sgt Eric Edwin Blomeley,
P/O William Johnston Fenton.

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

Date & Time: Mar 19, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
R3846
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
West Raynham - West Raynham
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 at 1935LT on March 18 on an operation to Wilhelmshaven. It was lost without trace and probably crashed somewhere in the North Sea. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Charles Raymond Brown, pilot,
P/O Gordon Collis,
Sgt Godric Loughlin.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I at RAF West Raynham

Date & Time: Jan 3, 1941 at 1215 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L1100
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
West Raynham - White Waltham
MSN:
8383
YOM:
1938
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot departed RAF West Raynham on a ferry flight to White Waltham. Upon takeoff, the airplane stalled and crashed onto a hangar and was destroyed. The pilot was seriously injured.
Crew.
Cpt Carill Stanley Napier, pilot.
Probable cause:
The airplane could not get sufficient height and speed upon takeoff because the pilot took a too short run. This was aggravated by a loss of engine power because the throttles creeping back as friction adjusting nut had not been tightened up.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV near Plympton

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1940 at 0515 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
Z5801
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
West Raynham - West Raynham
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF West Raynham at 2108LT on December 16 on an operation to Mannheim. While returning to base the following morning, it ran out of fuel and was abandoned by the crew while approaching Plymouth. The airplane dove into the ground and crashed in the Newnham Deer Park located north of Plympton and was destroyed. All three crew members were uninjured.
Crew:
P/O C. E. Hill,
P/O R. E. Glover,
F/O J. V. Baker.
Probable cause:
Fuel exhaustion.

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

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
T2039
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
West Raynham - West Raynham
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 at 2051LT on December 16 on an operation to Mannheim. Presumed lost over the North Sea. All three crew members were killed.
Crew.
Sgt Henry James Clarke,
Sgt George Matheson Wilcox,
Sgt Michael Joseph Oliver Heaney.

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

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
P6953
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
West Raynham - West Raynham
MSN:
9463
YOM:
1940
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 at 2108LT on December 16 on an operation to Mannheim. The following night, while returning to base, it crashed in unknown circumstances in Fairlight. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt William Skipworth, pilot,
Sgt Walter Edward Need, observer,
Sgt Donald Stephenson, wireless operator and air gunner.

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

Date & Time: Nov 25, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N6238
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
West Raynham - West Raynham
MSN:
9335
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 in the evening of November 24 on an operation to Hamburg. It crashed in unknown circumstances into the North Sea. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Stanley Alfred Waugh, pilot,
Sgt Ronald Cox,
Sgt Adolphus Wilfred Norman.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF West Raynham: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 23, 1940 at 2258 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N6236
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
West Raynham - West Raynham
MSN:
9333
YOM:
1939
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF West Raynham at 1718LT on an operation to Wanne-Eickel. During the operation, the starboard propeller reduction gear sheered and the propeller fell off. The pilot was able to evacuate the area and to return to base, but the airplane crashed into West Raynham village while trying to land. All three crew members were seriously injured. Sgt Green died on 28 November from injuries sustained.
Crew:
Sgt B. J. Redmond, pilot,
Sgt Henry Ernest Geen, observer, †
Sgt A. G. Woodruff, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Failure of the starboard propeller reduction gear in flight.