Crash of a Lioré-et-Olivier LeO 451B4 in Salon-de-Provence: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 25, 1940 at 2120 LT
Operator:
Registration:
L-568
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Salon-de-Provence - Salon-de-Provence
MSN:
32
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew departed Salon-de-Provence on a local night bombing exercice on the field of Quatre-Termes. After takeoff, while climbing to a height of 300-400 metres, the pilot initiated a left turn when the airplane entered stratus. Fort unknown reasons, the pilot continued to turn and completed a circle when the airplane went out of clouds at a height of 200 metres. Then the pilot attempted to regain control but the airplane slid on its left side and continued to descend at a speed of 500 km/h until it impacted the ground southeast of the airbase. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all four occupants were killed.
Crew:
S/Lt Raoul Pongnot, pilot,
Lt Gaston Denis, chief,
Cpl/C Lucien Lalloz, radio operator.
Passenger:
Lt Col Alfred d'Arnaud de Vitrolles.
Probable cause:
Loss of control for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Vickers 408 Wellington IA in Sauvenière

Date & Time: Feb 24, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N3004
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Newmarket - Newmarket
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in the 'Nickel' mission to Hamburg and departed RAF Newmarket at 1713LT. While overflying Belgium, the pilot was forced to attempt an emergency landing in Sauvenière, 3 km northeast of Gembloux. All six crew were rescued and later interned.
Crew (99th Squadron):
F/O O. L. Williams,
P/O R. A. G. Willis,
Sgt A. R. Mattick,
AC2 W. Cockburn,
AC2 C. G. Ashman,
P/O J. S. Trotter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I in Kuching

Date & Time: Feb 22, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L4921
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
8936
YOM:
1939
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Suffered an engine failure on approach. After touchdown, the airplane went out control, veered off runway, lost its undercarriage and came to rest. There were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Engine failure on approach.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I at RAF Bibury

Date & Time: Feb 21, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L4607
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bibery – South Cerney
MSN:
74
YOM:
1938
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while on initial climb, the aircraft impacted trees and crashed. Both occupants were injured and the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Heinkel He.111H2 in Memmingen: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 17, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Landsberg – Memmingen
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
On final approach to Memmingen in snow falls, the airplane stalled and crashed two km short of runway. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Fw Joachim Müller, pilot,
Oberfw Bernhard Knobelspiess, observer,
Oberfw Rudolf Klinke, radio operator,
Oberfw Johannes Gönner, air gunner.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide in Moyenneville

Date & Time: Feb 12, 1940
Operator:
Registration:
G-ACYM
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Hendon - Moyenneville
MSN:
6269
YOM:
1934
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was approaching Moyenneville in a snowstorm. The pilot made a forced landing in a field when the aircraft hit the ground and came to rest. All five occupants were slightly injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. This was a special mission on behalf of the 24th RAF Squadron.

Crash of a Saro A.27 London off Holyhead

Date & Time: Feb 5, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
K6927
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Oban – Calshot
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Oban to Calshot, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and continued to Holyhead where another London was already moored. On final approach in poor visibility (less than 200 yards), the crew completed a right turn at low height when the right float touched the water surface, causing the aircraft to crash in the Holyhead Bay. Both crewmen were injured and the float plane sank 10 minutes later.
Crew:
P/O Willis,
P/O H. A. B. Porteous.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.54 Harrow I at RAF Evanton

Date & Time: Feb 3, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
K6948
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The mishap occurred in unknown circumstances at RAF Evanton while the aircraft was taxiing on an icy pavement. All occupants were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair after the tail separated.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3m in Ludwigslust: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 2, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in Ludwigslust, killing all five crew members.
Crew:
FF Fw Schreiber,
FF Fw Haüsler,
FF Uffz Dallmeier,
Bf Ogefr Pantz,
Bw Gefr Spiess.

Crash of a Heinkel He.111P-2 in Diepholz: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1940 at 2015 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
5J+HN
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Diepholz - Diepholz
MSN:
1552
YOM:
1936
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Six minutes after takeoff from Diepholz Airport, while climbing at night, the airplane went out of control and crashed near the airport. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Oblt Johann Müller, pilot,
Oblt Max Graf Draganski, observer,
Fw Friedrich Züfle, radio operator,
Uffz Fritz Steinecke, flight engineer.