Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester I in Saxilby

Date & Time: Jan 24, 1943 at 1510 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 679 Manchester
Operator:
Registration:
L7457
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Wigsley - Wigsley
Location:
Saxilby
Lincolnshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training flight at RAF Wigsley. Following several circuits and touch and go maneuvers, the airplane took off again at 1458LT. While climbing, the left engine failed and caught fire. The pilot made an emergency landing in an open field located in Saxilby. The airplane was damaged beyond repair and all seven crew members escaped uninjured.
Crew:
Sgt Jack Russell, pilot,
Sgt Jack Lazenby, flight engineer,
Sgt Richard Wright, navigator,
Sgt Nick Golden, bomb aimer,
Sgt John Dow, wireless operator,
Sgt Wally Bark, air gunner,
Sgt Ron Marston, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I near Essen: 7 killed

Date & Time: Sep 17, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Avro 683 Lancaster
Operator:
Registration:
W4138
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:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Wigsley in the evening of September 16 on an operation to Essen. It is believed that it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed while approaching the target area, killing the entire crew.
Crew:
Sgt Frederick Hope Huntley, pilot,
Sgt Ronald Albert Low, flight engineer,
F/Sgt Leslie Edwin Bell, observer,
F/Sgt John Nelson Secoro King, bomb aimer,
Sgt Donald Richard Gilchrist, wireless operator,
F/Sgt Stuart Harold Cowley, air gunner,
F/Sgt Murray Rowe Crocker, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I in Oudehorne: 7 killed

Date & Time: Sep 14, 1942 at 0221 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 683 Lancaster
Operator:
Registration:
W4108
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Wigsley - Wigsley
Location:
Oudehorne
Friesland
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Wigsley at 2330LT on September 13 on an operation to Bremen. Over the Netherlands, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in Oudehorne, killing the entire crew.
Crew:
P/O Edwin Frederick Dowdell, pilot,
Sgt George Alec Walker, flight engineer,
P/O Patrick Aylmer Vivian, navigator,
F/Sgt John Joseph William Adams, bomb aimer,
F/Sgt Robert Robertson, wireless operator,
Sgt Percy Kenneth Jones, air gunner,
Sgt Reginald Laurence Moss, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester I at RAF Wigsley

Date & Time: Sep 1, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Avro 679 Manchester
Operator:
Registration:
L7298
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
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:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training flight at RAF Wigsley. On final approach, one of the engine failed. The airplane stalled and crashed few hundred metres short of runway. All six crew members escaped uninjured and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
Clinch,
Elkington,
F. E. Eustace,
Mims,
A. A. Morgan,
Rowlands.
Probable cause:
Engine failure on approach.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester I at RAF Wigsley

Date & Time: Aug 30, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Avro 679 Manchester
Operator:
Registration:
L7416
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
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:
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 I at RAF Talbenny

Date & Time: Aug 16, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Avro 679 Manchester
Operator:
Registration:
L7475
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Talbenny - Wigsley
Location:
Talbenny AFB
Pembrokeshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was returning to base (RAF Wigsley) while performing a training exercise. Just after liftoff from RAF Talbenny, while in initial climb, the airplane stalled and crashed near the runway end. All seven crew members were injured while the aircraft was destroyed.
Crew:
Sgt H. A. Phillips, pilot, +6.
Probable cause:
One of the engine caught fire just after takeoff.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester IA at RAF Wigsley

Date & Time: Jul 6, 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 liftoff, while in initial climb, the aircraft stalled, impacted the runway surface and slid for few dozen metres before coming to rest, bursting into flames. While all seven crew members escaped uninjured, the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.
Crew:
F/Sgt George William Lancey, pilot +6.
Probable cause:
Control was lost just after takeoff due to an engine failure.

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

Date & Time: Apr 11, 1942 at 0051 LT
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden
Operator:
Registration:
AT221
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Wigsley - Wigsley
Location:
Stürzelberg
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 2146LT on April 10 on an operation to Essen. It was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in Stürzelberg, killing the entire crew.
Crew:
F/O Robert Charles Roberts, pilot,
F/O Frederick Abbey Keck, navigator,
Sgt John Ripley Wright, wireless operator,
Sgt Frank Hill Canning, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

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

Date & Time: Apr 11, 1942 at 0050 LT
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden
Operator:
Registration:
AE291
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Wigsley - Wigsley
Location:
Hitdorf
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 2145LT on April 10 on an operation to Essen. It was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in Hitdorf, northwest of Leverkusen. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Seth Tilstone Manners, pilot,
F/O Charles Anthony Harland, navigator,
Sgt Joseph Anthony Larkin, wireless operator,
Sgt Charles Kay Ormston, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

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

Date & Time: Apr 7, 1942 at 0413 LT
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden
Operator:
Registration:
P1203
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Wigsley - Wigsley
Location:
Heerde
Gelderland
Country:
Netherlands
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 2355LT on April 6 on an operation to Essen. Passing over the Netherlands at night, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed nearby the lake of Heerderstrang, west of Heerde. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt A. H. Wincott, pilot,
F/O T. E. Roberts, observer,
Sgt K. W. McIlrath, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt C. Gammie, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a night fighter.
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