Withernsea | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The airplane departed Amsterdam-Schiphol Airport on an operation to England. While approaching the British coast, it was shot down by a Spitfire and crashed into the sea off Withernsea. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Lt Erich Palm, pilot,
Fw Rudolf Mühlbach, observer,
Uffz Arthur Hoffmann, radio operator,
Ogfr Reinhard Kammerath, mechanic.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a British fighter.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester I near Holmpton: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 14, 1942 at 2045 LT

Type of aircraft:

Avro 679 Manchester

Operator:

Registration:

L7523

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Bottesford - Bottesford

Location:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Bottesford at 1735LT on an operation to Hamburg. While approaching the target area, it was hit by the German Flak. The crew decided to return to base but while approaching the coast of Yorkshire, the engine caught fire, probably due to bullets impact. The airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in Mill Hill, near Holmpton. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew (207th Squadron):
F/Sgt Basil Courtney Wescombe, pilot,
F/Sgt Frederick Edward Thomas, pilot,
Sgt Eric Ronald Harper, observer,
F/Sgt Leonard Sieve, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Claude Raymond Westbury, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt John Thomas Howe, air gunner,
Sgt Maurice Robert Walker, air gunner.

Probable cause:

The engine caught fire in flight, probably due to enemy action.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V off Withernsea

Date & Time: Sep 21, 1941 at 0500 LT

Type of aircraft:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley

Operator:

Registration:

Z6802

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Leeming - Leeming

MSN:

2162

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Leeming at 1837LT on September 20 on an operation to Berlin. It was hit by the German Flak while bombing Wismar as an alternative target. Subsequently, the Whitley ran out of fuel and the crew ditched the airplane at 0500LT off Withernsea. All were picked up two hours later by an HSL out from Grimsby.
Crew:
Sgt P. G. Rochford,
Sgt Owen,
P/O Openshaw,
Sgt Cleere,
Sgt Howells.

Probable cause:

Fuel exhaustion.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V off Withernsea: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 2, 1941 at 1802 LT

Type of aircraft:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley

Operator:

Registration:

T4227

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Topcliffe - Topcliffe

MSN:

1900

YOM:

1940

Location:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Topcliffe at 1641LT on an operation to Bremen. Less than two hours into the flight, it was shot down by the pilot of a JU.88 and crashed into the sea some 50 km east of Withernsea. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Desmond Christian Frederick Coutts,
Sgt Kenneth Harold Smith,
Sgt Norman Stephenson,
Sgt James Kennedy,
Sgt Thomas Fraser Behan.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Dornier DO.17Z off Withernsea: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 3, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Dornier DO.17

Operator:

Registration:

5K+GL

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

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Circumstances:

Approaching the British coast, the airplane was shot down by the pilot of a Spitfire and crashed into the sea some 15 km off Withernsea. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Oblt Schurpkowski +3.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a RAF fighter.