Military | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

After landing at Buc Airport, the crew vacated the runway to reach his parking place when the aircraft collided with a parked Dewoitine. All five crew men evacuated safely while both aircraft were damaged beyond repair. The visibility was poor due to foggy conditions. The crew was from 77th Squadron.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley III in Kassel

Date & Time: Sep 9, 1939

Type of aircraft:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley

Operator:

Registration:

K8950

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Driffield - Driffield

MSN:

1403

YOM:

1938

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The bomber departed RAF Driffield at 2355LT on 08SEP1939 with the Ruhr as objective (leaflet dropping). Apparently shot down by the German Flak, the airplane crashed near Kassel. All five crew members from the 102nd Squadron became PoW.
Crew:
S/L Stephen Murray, pilot,
P/O Alan Thompson, pilot,
Sgt Charles Hill, observer,
AC1 Sam Burry, wireless operator,
AC1 Peter Pacey, gunner.

Probable cause:

Probably shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.54 Harrow II in RAF Penrhos

Date & Time: Sep 8, 1939

Type of aircraft:

Handley Page H.P.54 Harrow

Operator:

Registration:

K6959

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

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Crashed shortly after take off from RAF Penrhos AFB, Wales, due to an engine failure. Crew fate unknown.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I into the North Sea: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 7, 1939 at 2210 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-414 Hudson

Operator:

Registration:

N7247

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Leuchars - Leuchars

MSN:

414-1643

YOM:

1939

Location:

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The twin engine airplane departed RAF Leuchars on a night mission over the North Sea. In unknown circumstances, the aircraft crashed into the sea. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found.
Crew:
F/O Harry Dale Green, pilot,
P/O Cedric Nicholas Whittington, copilot,
LAC John Lawrence Calpin,
AC1 Archibald Macrae Rodger.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.54 Harrow II at RAF West Freugh

Date & Time: Sep 7, 1939

Type of aircraft:

Handley Page H.P.54 Harrow

Operator:

Registration:

K7003

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

West Freugh - West Freugh

Location:

West Freugh AFB

Dumfries and Galloway

Country:

United Kingdom

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The aircraft was approaching RAF West Freugh when it impacted the ground, lost its undercarriage and came to rest in a field. All five crew members evacuated safely.

Probable cause:

Too low approach.

Crash of a Vickers Valentia at RAF Catterick

Date & Time: Sep 5, 1939

Type of aircraft:

Vickers Valentia

Operator:

Registration:

K2345

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

YOM:

1931

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Country:

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Circumstances:

The float plane overshot upon landing at RAF Catterick when the grass runway was wet and shorter than was required for this aircraft category. The airplane overran, collided with the boundary hedge and came to rest near the A1 road. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3m in Wilhelmshaven: 9 killed

Date & Time: Sep 5, 1939

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.52

Operator:

Registration:

WL-AGZG

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Kiel - Jever

MSN:

1304

YOM:

1935

Location:

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Circumstances:

En route from Kiel to Jever and while approaching Wilhelmshaven, the three engine airplane was mistakenly shot down by Flak from the ship 'Admiral Sheer' and crashed. All nine occupants were killed.
Crew:
FF Kutschbach,
Bf Erwin Preuss,
Bw Baasch.
Passengers:
Cpt Günther Klünder,
Dr. Erhard K. A. Böhm,
Dr. Brinkmann,
Ofw Brammer,
St Fkmt Willi Becker,
Mr. Rohde.

Probable cause:

Mistakenly shot down by friendly fire.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I off Borkum Island: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 5, 1939

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

K6183

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Bircham Newton - Bircham Newton

Location:

Country:

Region:

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While approaching the German coast, the twin engine aircraft was shot down by a German fighter Heinkel He.115. The Anson crashed into the sea off the Borkum Island. A crew member was rescued while all three other occupants were killed.
Crew (206th Squadron):
P/O L. H. Edwards,
Sgt Alexander Oliver Heslop, †
AC1 Geoffrey Sheffield, †
LAC John Quilter. †

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fighter.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley III in Dormans

Date & Time: Sep 4, 1939 at 0545 LT

Type of aircraft:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley

Operator:

Registration:

K8969

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Leconfield - Leconfield

MSN:

1422

YOM:

1938

Location:

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Circumstances:

The aircraft departed RAF Leconfield at 2219LT on 03SEP1939 for a Nickel raid on the Ruhr (leaflets dropping). While cruising at night, one of the engine failed, forcing the crew to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in a cabbage field located along the River Marne, on the east bank of the river, near the village of Dormans, some 35 km southwest of Reims.All five crewmen escaped uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed.
Crew (58th Squadron):
F/O J. A. O'Neill, pilot,
F/O C. S. P. Russell, pilot,
Sgt Rawles, observer,
AC1 Mitchell, radio operator,
AC1 Walker. air gunner.

Probable cause:

Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Junkers JU.86K in Vårdnäs: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 1, 1939

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.86

Operator:

Registration:

135

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

0135

YOM:

1937

Location:

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Region:

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Circumstances:

The crew encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to attempt an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances. All three crew members were killed.