Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina in Montgomery Rock: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 17, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AH541
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in Montgomery Rock, in the region of Enniskillen. All three crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-20-DK near Açu: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 15, 1944 at 1302 LT
Operator:
Registration:
KG508
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Belém - Natal
MSN:
12912
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Belém at 0620LT bound for Natal with an ETA at 1338LT. While cruising overt the State of Rio Grande do Norte in poor weather conditions, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in an open field located 13 km east of Açu. All three occupants based at RAF Nassau, Bahamas, were killed. At the time of the accident, meteorological conditions were as follow: stratus, cumulus, turbulence and heavy rain falls.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I in RAF Waddingto

Date & Time: Apr 15, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L7540
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
For unknown reason, the landing procedure was wrong. After touchdown, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining runway, overrun and came to rest. While all occupants escaped uninjured, the aircraft was wrecked.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I off Blackshaw: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 13, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
DJ564
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in the Solway Firth, off Blackshaw bank. Both crewmen were killed.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II in Great Dun Fell: 9 killed

Date & Time: Apr 12, 1944
Operator:
Registration:
BB310
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Longtown - Longtown
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The crew consisted of five student pilots and four instructors and was performing a training exercise over the mountainous region of Pennines, on behalf of the 1674 HCU. En route since eight hours, the pilot in command did not realize his altitude was insufficient. The aircraft hit the slope of Blea Crag and disintegrated on impact, killing all nine crew members. Wreckage was spotted some 10 miles east of Penrith.
Crew:
F/O Paul B. Stevens, pilot,
F/O Sydney Brookes, pilot,
F/Sgt William Alan Johnson, wireless operator and air gunner,
F/Sgt Frank Pess, wireless operator and air gunner,
F/Sgt Harold S. Seabrook, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Robert J. Littlefield, flight engineer,
Sgt William J. Morrison, navigator,
Sgt Hugh Dunningham, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Dean W. Swedberg, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Avro 683 Lancaster I in Duizel: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 11, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LL784
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Coningsby - Coningsby
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged on a bombing mission over Aachen, Germany, and left RAF Coningsby at 2043LT. Following the raid over Aachen, still flying in the combat area, the aircraft was hit by enemy fire. Crew was able to leave the zone and tried to return to England when aircraft exploded and crashed in a field located near Duizel, some 15 km southwest of Eindhoven. Five crew members were killed while two others escaped and were later taken POW.
Crew (619th Squadron):
S/L John William Eunson Duncan McGilvray, pilot, †
Sgt Ivor Ronald Frank Haberfield, engineer, †
Sgt Raymond Hillier, air gunner, †
W/O Alexander Armstrong Munro, air gunner, †
P/O John Leonard Pritchard, air gunner, †
Ernest Drake,
Alfred Baker.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

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

Date & Time: Apr 8, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
K7009
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
For undetermined reason, the aircraft landed long and after touch down, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining runway, overrun and came to rest. No casualties.
Crew from 271st Squadron.

Crash of a Vickers 440 Wellington X in Rothersthorpe: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 5, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LN482
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Westcott - Westcott
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The aircraft left RAF Westcott at 1235LT on a training mission on behalf of the 11th OTU. En route, a technical failure occurred and the right wing was on fire. Crew attempted to divert to Milton and crew tried to extinguish the fire without success. On approach, the aircraft dove into the ground and crashed near the church of Rothersthorpe. The aircraft christened 'Bertie' was totally wrecked and all six occupants were killed.
Crew (11th OTU):
Sgt Norman H. Hewett, pilot,
Sgt Colin J. Mowatt, navigator,
Sgt John A. Freeman, air bomber
P/O Donald McTeer, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Joseph R. Dowling, air gunner,
Sgt Ernest V. Waller, air gunner.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura V in the Mediterranean Sea: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 1, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
FP633
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Oran - Oran
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a maritime patrol flight over the Mediterranean Sea. En route, the twin engine aircraft was shot down by mistake by a RAF Beaufighter and crashed into the sea. All five crewmen were killed.
Crew (500th Squadron):
F/O Wayne Sheldon Shea,
F/O Vernon Clifford Pockson,
P/O Frederick Joseph Schmidt,
W/O Henry Ernest Parsloe,
Sgt John Philip Taylor.
Probable cause:
Shot down.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax III in Steinheim: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1944 at 0100 LT
Operator:
Registration:
LV881
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The aircraft left RAF Melbourne for a bombing mission over Nuremberg. While cruising in the region of Steinheim, the bomber was shot down by enemy fire and crashed in a prairie. Four crew were killed while three others were rescued.
Crew (10th Squadron):
F/S W. T. A. Regan, pilot, †
F/S E. Birch, †
WO2 W. S. Norris,
F/S N. Wilmot,
Sgt R. W. Tindal, †
Sgt D. L. Smith, †
Sgt A. D. Lawes.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.