Ground accident of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF Wattisham

Date & Time: May 10, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L8778
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Wattisham - Wattisham
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
In the absence of qualified pilot, LAC J. E. Humphreys attempted to taxi the Blenheim to its dispersal, but he ran off the perimeter track and collided with a tree. The pilot escaped uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Crew error.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3m in Kerk-Avezaath: 15 killed

Date & Time: May 10, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight to Valkenburg AFB. While overflying the center of Holland, the three engine aircraft was shot down by the Dutch Flak and crashed in flames in Kerk-Avezaath. Two crew members were seriously injured while 13 others were killed. A day later, both survivors died from injuries sustained.
Crew:
Uffz Otto Allrutz,
Sch Otto Borchers,
Gefr Jürgen Brümmer,
Osch Heinrich Dohrmann,
Gefr Paul Eggers,
Osch Wilhelm Fick,
Fw Erich Grosse,
Osch Walter Hoops,
Osch Johann Lamfuss,
Lt Fritz Maser,
Gefr Johann Michaelis,
Uffz Erich Röhler,
Gefr Harro Schau,
Fw Ralph Völkert,
Osch Kurt Willert.
Probable cause:
Shot down by Flak.

Crash of a Dornier DO.26AV2 off Ballangen

Date & Time: May 9, 1940 at 1710 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
P5+BH
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bergen – Narvik
MSN:
792
YOM:
1938
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Bergen to Narvik, the float plane was attacked by three RAF Blackburn Skua. The captain attempted to ditch the airplane that crashed off Ballangen. All 23 occupants were rescued and became PoW. The aircraft was lost.
Crew:
Oblt Siegfried Graf Schack von Wittenau, pilot,
Hptm Joachim Fehling, observer,
Ofw Wilhelm Küpper, radio operator,
Uffz Herbert Peukert, chief,
Uffz Hans Brettschneider, chief.
Probable cause:
Shot down by RAF Skua.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide at RAF Staverton: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 3, 1940
Operator:
Registration:
G-AEMM
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
6339
YOM:
1936
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from RAF Staverton, while climbing, the aircraft collided with an unknown aircraft and crashed in a field. Both crewmen were killed.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V on Mt Foudland: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 1, 1940 at 1059 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N1500
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Kinloss – Driffield
MSN:
1640
YOM:
1939
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed RAF Kinloss on a flight from RAF Kinloss to RAF Driffield. While cruising some 6 miles southeast of Huntly, the aircraft impacted the slope of Mt Foudland. Three crewmen were killed and five others were injured. Two survivors died from injuries sustained, one on May 6, the second on May 25, 1940.
Crew (102nd Squadron):
F/O Kenneth Neil Gray, pilot, †
Sgt John Hamilton Hopper, pilot, †
Sgt Frederick John Bass, observer, †
AC1 Alfred William Henry Hart, wireless operator, †
AC1 Harold Buttery, †
AC1 J. A. Hewitt,
AC2 George Main,
AC1 Fred Wallwork.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.84 Dragon in Mourmelon

Date & Time: Apr 29, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
X9395
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
6041
YOM:
1933
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed for unknown reasons while taking off from Mourmelon. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and all seven occupants evacuated safely.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I off Stavanger: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 24, 1940 at 0805 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7286
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Leuchars - Leuchars
MSN:
414-1682
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Leuchars at 0432LT on an escort mission. Approaching Stavanger at an altitude of 2,800 feet, the airplane was attacked by the pilot of a German Me.109 and caught fire. It entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed into the sea. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Murray Charles Petrie,
P/O Ronald Owen Lawry,
AC1 Kenneth Cyrus Maddocks,
LAC Percy Wilson.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I off Stavanger: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 24, 1940 at 0805 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7285
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Leuchars - Leuchars
MSN:
414-1681
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Leuchars at 0432LT on an escort mission. Approaching Stavanger at an altitude of 2,800 feet, the airplane was attacked by the pilot of a German Me.109 and caught fire. It entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed into the sea. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Edward William Aiden Peachey,
P/O Richard Heron Sanders,
AC1 Ronald Jack Simpson,
LAC Thomas Dobson.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Potez 25A.2 in Azinhaga: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 24, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
305
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Ota - Ota
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew departed Ota Airbase on a flight to Azinhaga where a cousin of the pilot got married. Flying too low over the city, the airplane impacted the top of the church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição and crashed. Both occupants were killed.
Crew:
Cpl Fernando Gomes,
Pvt José Maria Campos.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I in Aden

Date & Time: Apr 24, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L1544
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Aden - Aden
MSN:
8827
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed while approaching Aden-Khormaksar Airport at night. There were no casualties.