Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I at RAF Drem

Date & Time: Dec 19, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L6756
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Evanton – Drem
Location:
Drem AFB
East Lothian (Haddingtonshire)
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane crashed upon landing for unknown reasons. Three crewmen were unhurt while a fourth was injured.
Crew:
Sgt E. G. Gilbert,
Cpl F. Malekin,
AC1 W. C. Dodge,
Sgt H. R. Crowley.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Richmond: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1939 at 0130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
N4887
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Richmond – Point Cook
Location:
Richmond
South Australia
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from Richmond Airport, while in initial climb, the twin engine aircraft stalled and crashed on a golf course. All five occupants were killed.
Crew:
F/Lt Arthur Moorhouse Watkins
F/Lt Hugh B. Horner,
F/O Henry Parker Fitzgerald,
F/O Malcolm Musgrave McInnes,
LAC Leonard J. King.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the loss of control was caused by an engine failure shortly after rotation.

Crash of a Martin B-10B near Hill City: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-10 (Model 139 & 166)
Operator:
Registration:
34-62
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
593
YOM:
1934
Location:
Hill City
Kansas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane suffered an engine failure in flight and crashed 26 km northeast of Hill City, bursting into flames. Both crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Tupolev ANT-40 near Arkhangelsk: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1939 at 0922 LT
Type of aircraft:
Tupolev ANT-40 (PS-40/PS-41)
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Arkhangelsk
Arkhangelsk oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The aircraft disappeared in the region of Arkhangelsk while completing a mission with four crew members on board. SAR failed to find any trace of the aircraft nor the crew. The wreckage was eventually found by walkers in early 90's in an isolated area.

Crash of a Heinkel He.111H-2 off Sylt: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Heinkel He.111
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
5385
Location:
Sylt Island
Schleswig-Holstein
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea off Sylt Island, maybe following an engine failure. No trace of the aircraft nor the four crewmen was found.
Crew:
Lt Hans Hüsgen, pilot,
Fw Walter Stemmler, observer,
Fw Erwin Hasse, radio operator,
Uffz Erich Frank, flight engineer.

Crash of a Bloch MB.210 in Saint-Martin-d’Août: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1939 at 1310 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bloch MB.210
Operator:
Registration:
E-856
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Avord - Istres
MSN:
183
YOM:
1939
Location:
Saint-Martin-d’Août
Drôme
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
En route from Avord to Istres to transfer the squadron, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with limited visibility due to heavy snow falls. All six crewmen decided to bail out and abandoned the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed in Saint-Martin-d'Août, some 32 northeast of Valence. Four crewmen were injured and two others were killed as their parachute failed to open. Crew from the 51st Bomb Squad.
Crew:
Sgt Daniel Dugourd, pilot,
Lt Gilbert Bonnardel, Chief,
Adj/C Henri Bouvet, observer, †
Sgt André Bozon, radio operator,
Sgt Henri Porcher, mechanic,
Cpl/C Jean Lucas, radio. †

Crash of a Caudron C.445 Goéland in Cardet: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1939 at 1240 LT
Type of aircraft:
Caudron C.440 Goéland
Operator:
Registration:
T-895
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Avord - Istres
MSN:
31
Location:
Cardet
Gard
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
En route from Avord to Istres to transfer the squadron, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with limited visibility due to heavy snow falls. The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in Cardet, about 12 km south of Alès. All three crew members from the 51st Bomb Squad were killed.
Crew:
Adj Camille Mabile, pilot,
Sgt Pierre Gasparini, pilot,
Sgt François Croguennec, mechanic.

Crash of a Caudron C.445 Goéland in Saint-Sorlin-en-Valloire

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Caudron C.440 Goéland
Operator:
Registration:
T-923
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Avor
MSN:
59
Location:
Saint-Sorlin-en-Valloire
Drôme
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Avord to Istres to transfer the squadron, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with limited visibility due to heavy snow falls. The captain attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crash landed in a swamp located in Saint-Sorlin-en-Valloire. All three crew members from the 51st Bomb Squad were uninjured.

Crash of a Caudron C.445 Goéland on Peak Cassini: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Caudron C.440 Goéland
Operator:
Registration:
T-913
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Avord - Istres
MSN:
49
Location:
Peak Cassini
Lozère
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
En route from Avord to Istres to transfer the squadron, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with limited visibility due to heavy snow falls. Too low, the airplane impacted the slope of Peak Cassini and was totally destroyed upon impact. As the airplane failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were initiated and the wreckage was found six days later at an altitude of 1,600 metres. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Roger Lardeau, pilot,
2cl Jaroslav Novak, pilot,
Sgt Jean Henriquet, mechanic.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Caudron C.445 Goéland in Valence

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Caudron C.440 Goéland
Operator:
Registration:
T-903
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
City
Schedule:
Avord - Istres
MSN:
39
Location:
Valence
Drôme
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Avord to Istres to transfer the squadron, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with limited visibility due to heavy snow falls. All occupants decided to bail out and abandoned the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed in the district of Paillassier, in the suburb of Valence. There were no casualties. Crew from the 51st Bomb Squad.
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