Military

Operator:

Registration:

L9191

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Survivors:

Yes

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Circumstances:

Crashed upon takeoff from Crécy-en-Ponthieu Airfield. All three crew members were injured.
Crew:
F/L R. G. Wheldon, pilot,
Sgt A. E. Craig, observer,
Sgt G. Hawkins, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Preux-au-Bois: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 18, 1940 at 1605 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

L8853

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Wyton – Abbeville

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Wyton on a positioning flight to Abbeville. While cruising northeast of Le Cateau-Cambrésis, it was shot down by the pilot of a Me.109 and crashed. Two crew members were killed and a third was injured.
Crew:
S/L Hector Yeates Lawrence, pilot, †
Sgt Reginald George Hopkins, observer, †
LAC E. L. H. Thomas, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

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

Date & Time: May 18, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

L8852

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Wyton - Abbeville

Location:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Wyton on a positioning flight to Abbeville. While cruising northeast of Le Cateau-Cambrésis, it was shot down by the pilot of a Me.109 and crashed. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O F. D. Dawson-Jones, pilot,
Sgt W. Baxter, observer,
LAC C. G. Watts, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

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

Date & Time: May 18, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

P6917

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Wyton – Abbeville

MSN:

9442

YOM:

1939

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Wyton on a positioning flight to Abbeville. While cruising northeast of Le Cateau-Cambrésis, it was shot down by the pilot of a Me.109 and crashed. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Lt Paul Geoffrey Chapman, pilot,
Sgt Cecil Ernest Colbourn, observer,
LAC Ernest John Fagg, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Noorduyn Norseman near Grafton: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 17, 1940 at 0230 LT

Type of aircraft:

Noorduyn Norseman

Operator:

Registration:

678

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Camp Borden – Trenton

MSN:

YOM:

1938

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Captain / Total flying hours:

1040

Captain / Total hours on type:

137.00

Circumstances:

En route from Camp Borden to Trenton, while cruising at night in adverse weather conditions, the pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed in high ground near Grafton. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/L H. B. Jasper, pilot,
F/O J. E. Pidcook, navigator,
F/O G. E. Auld, navigator,
AC1 J. R. Kean, wireless operator.

Probable cause:

While in a night cross country flight to give experience in practical air navigation, the pilot lost control of the airplane when flying in adverse weather conditions at low altitude over high ground.

Final Report:

Crash of a Junkers F.13he in South Africa

Date & Time: May 17, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Junkers F.13

Operator:

Registration:

258

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

MSN:

2055

YOM:

1931

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Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in South Africa. The single engine aircraft was named 'Cutty Sark'.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I on Mt Torbreck: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 16, 1940 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

A4-4

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Point Cook – Pearce – Camden

MSN:

970

YOM:

1936

Flight number:

8BNA

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Circumstances:

The crew departed RAAF Point Cook at 1145LT on a flight to Camden with an intermediate stop at RAAF Pearce. While flying south of Eildon in foggy conditions, the pilot failed to realize that his altitude was insufficient. The twin engine aircraft impacted the slope of Mt Torbreck located northeast of Melbourne and was destroyed by impact forces. All rescue operations were suspended after few days as no trace of the aircraft was found. Eventually, the wreckage was located on 24 January 1941, no more than 200 feet below the summit. All four occupants were killed.
Crew (14th Squadron):
F/O Anthony Ashby Daniel,
Cpl Ivan Lapen Stowdor,
Cpl Francis Ettiene Hyland,
Cpl Herman Fred Sass.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Final Report:

Crash of a Junkers W.34 in Weiler-Simmerberg: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 16, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Junkers W.34

Operator:

Registration:

ND+XH

Flight Phase:

Flight Type: