Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester I in RAF Wigsley

Date & Time: Aug 30, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Avro 679 Manchester
Operator:
Registration:
L7416
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Wigsley AFB
Nottinghamshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing at RAF Wigsley, the aircraft skidded on runway, veered off and eventually collided with trees. All occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The loss of control after touchdown was caused by the failure of the braking system.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester IA in RAF Wigsley

Date & Time: Jul 5, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Avro 679 Manchester
Operator:
Registration:
L7496
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Wigsley - Wigsley
Location:
Wigsley AFB
Nottinghamshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Just after lift off, while in initial climb, the aircraft stalled, hit the runway surface and slid for several yards before coming to rest in flames. While all seven crew members were unhurt, the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
Control was lost just after take off following an engine failure.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I in Watchfield: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1942 at 1743 LT
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden
Operator:
Registration:
P5329
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Saint Eval - Wigsley
Location:
Watchfield
Somerset
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF St Eval on a mine laying operation off Lorient. While returning to RAF Wigsley (main base), the right propeller detached. Out of control, the airplane dove into the ground and crashed near Watchfield, killing the entire crew.
Crew:
F/Lt Alan Herbert Metcalfe, pilot,
Sgt Frederick Max Donohoe,
F/O James Albert Sayer,
F/Sgt George Stevenson Wilson, wireless operator.
Probable cause:
Loss of the right propeller in flight.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I at RAF Wigsley: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1942 at 1300 LT
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden
Operator:
Registration:
P5326
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Wigsley - Wigsley
Location:
Wigsley AFB
Nottinghamshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local test flight at RAF Wigsley. Upon takeoff, the airplane suffered an engine failure and crashed. A crew was killed and a second was injured.
Crew:
Sgt Keith Alexander Andrews, pilot, †
Sgt E. G. Miflin, navigator.
Probable cause:
Engine failure upon takeoff.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I near Essen: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 11, 1942 at 1300 LT
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden
Operator:
Registration:
AT192
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Wigsley - Wigsley
Location:
Essen
North Rhine-Westphalia
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Wigsley at 1917LT on March 10 on an operation to Essen. It failed to return to base and is believed or to have crashed in the target area or somewhere in the North Sea. Lost without trace.
Crew:
P/O Orrel Gandy, pilot,
P/O Lewis Alfred Wright, navigator,
Sgt Eric Maynard Jennings, wireless operator,
Sgt Gardfield Lloyd Skinner, air gunner.

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

Date & Time: Mar 11, 1942 at 0050 LT
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden
Operator:
Registration:
P2085
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Wigsley - Wigsley
Location:
Wigsley AFB
Nottinghamshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Wigsley at 1926LT on March 10 on an operation to Essen. While returning to base the following night, it landed on the starboard wheel only. This caused the Hampden to swerve violently onto nearby rough ground, where the undercarriage collapsed. There were no injuries.
Crew:
Sgt E. H. Busfield,
Sgt Waites,
Sgt Gower,
Sgt Biggin.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I into the North Sea: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 21, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden
Operator:
Registration:
AT181
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Wigsley - Wigsley
Location:
North Sea
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Wigsley at 1845LT on an operation to the Rhine Valley. It failed to return to base and is believed to have crashed somewhere in the North Sea. Lost without trace.
Crew:
Sgt John Richard Moody, pilot,
P/O Arthur Timorthy Daly, navigator,
Sgt John James Davey, wireless operator,
Sgt Colin Robert Scott, air gunner.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I in Eagle: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 13, 1942 at 0153 LT
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden
Operator:
Registration:
AD783
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Wigsley - Wigsley
Location:
Eagle
Lincolnshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Wigsley at 2243LT on a mine laying operation. The following night, the crew encountered engine trouble and decided to return to base. While descending to base, the airplane went out of control and crashed in Eagle, southwest of Lincoln. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt John Bernard Kennedy, pilot,
Sgt Vernon James Hopwood, observer,
Sgt William Leonard Kelly, wireless operator,
Sgt George Arthur Metcalfe, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Engine trouble.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I into the North Sea: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 12, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden
Operator:
Registration:
P1156
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Wigsley - Wigsley
Location:
North Sea
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Wigsley at 1522LT on 'Operation Fuller'. It was shot down by enemy fire and crashed in the North Sea off the Dutch coast. Lost without trace.
Crew:
F/Lt Walter Edwin Perrin, pilot,
P/O Alexander Richard Abbott, navigator,
Sgt Ralph Edward Tomlinson, wireless operator,
F/O Edward Graham de Twenebroke Symons, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.
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