Military | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The crew departed Prestwick to transfer the airplane to Kindlington Airfield near Oxford. While cruising in poor visibility, the twin engine aircraft crashed on a hilly terrain located near Holywell. All three crew members were killed.
Crew (4th FPP):
F/O Aage Valdemar Helstrup Laursen, pilot,
P/O Richard Clyde Ensign, pilot,
AC2 Alexander Sterling Carrick, wireless operator.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7 Boston at RAF Benson

Date & Time: Nov 3, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston

Operator:

Registration:

AX849

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

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After landing at RAF Benson in poor weather conditions, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth in Ashby-de-la-Zouch

Date & Time: Nov 3, 1940

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth

Operator:

Registration:

X9405

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

2113

YOM:

1930

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En route, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions and was forced to attempt an emergency landing in a pasture located in Ashby-de-la-Zouch. Later, while trying to take off, the single engine aircraft hit a hedge and crashed. The pilot was slightly injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Short S.16 Scion I in Manchester: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 1, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Short S.16 Scion

Operator:

Registration:

AV981

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

A.775

YOM:

1933

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On final approach to Manchester-Ringway Airport, the airplane stalled and crashed, killing both crew members.
Crew:
Cpl Karol Matysik,
Lt Tadeusz Romuald Stroynowski.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC in Iver: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 30, 1940 at 0100 LT

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 416 Wellington IC

Operator:

Registration:

T2613

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

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En route to Malta, the airplane collided with a balloon barrage cable and crashed in Iver. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Alexander John Roberts Pate, pilot,
Sgt Walter Vincent Jaggs, pilot,
Sgt William Ernest Elliott, observer,
Sgt Edward Fisher, wireless operator,
Sgt Kenneth Raymond Draper, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Collision with a balloon barrage cable.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland I near Latheron: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 29, 1940 at 0930 LT

Type of aircraft:

Short S.25 Sunderland

Operator:

Registration:

P9622

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The floatplane was engaged in a sea rescue operation. In unclear circumstances, it impacted the slope of a mountain located about five miles from Latheron, southwest of Wick. Four crew members were killed and five others were injured.
Those killed were:
Sgt John Leadbetter Carson, wireless operator,
Sgt Robert Lauder, air gunner,
AC1 George Allan Nangle,
Sgt Ronald Wilkie John Phelps, wireless operator.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Dornier DO.17E near Rheinsberg: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 29, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Dornier DO.17

Operator:

Registration:

VC+BF

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

2142

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Following an engine failure in flight, the crew attempted an emergency landing when the floatplane crashed near Kampen Lake, north of Rheinsberg. The flight engineer was killed and the pilot was injured.
Crew:
FF Schern, pilot,
Flg Erwin Hielscher, flight engineer. †

Probable cause:

Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Dornier DO.24N-1 in Noordwijk: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 28, 1940 at 1440 LT

Type of aircraft:

Dornier DO.24

Operator:

Registration:

KD+GD

Flight Phase:

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Schedule:

Schellingwoude - Brest

MSN:

YOM:

1937

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The floatplane departed Schellingwoude NAS on a flight to Brest, Brittany. En route, an engine failed, forcing the crew to attempt an emergency landing when the airplane crashed in Noordwijk. The pilot was killed and both other occupants were injured.
Crew:
Lt Karl Scheel, pilot, †
Lt Ernst-G. Unterhorst, observer,
Uffz Friedrich Krause, radio operator.

Probable cause:

Engine failure in flight.