Crash of a Handley Page H.P.61 Halifax III in Trappe

Date & Time: Feb 15, 1944 at 2115 LT
Operator:
Registration:
HX348
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Lissett - Lissett
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The bomber aircraft departed RAF Lissett at 1754LT on a bombing mission over Berlin. While flying over the region of Flensburg, north Germany, when it was hit by Flak. With both left engines on fire, the captain decided to reduce his altitude and to attempt an emergency landing. Eventually, the aircraft crash landed in a fruit plantation located in Trappe, in the region of Sønderborg, south Denmark. All seven crew escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
William C. M. Hogg, pilot,
F/Sgt Bernard V. Millett, navigator,
Sgt George A. Naylor, flight engineer,
Sgt Ronald H. E. McLaren,
Sgt George E. Ksendz,
Sgt Peter L. Chamberlain, bomb aimer,
F/Sgt Robert McDonald, wireless operator.
Probable cause:
Shot down by Flak.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Llandudno Junction: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 15, 1944 at 1609 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N5130
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a cross country training exercise on behalf of the 8th AFU. The twin engine aircraft left RAF Mona, in Anglesey, at 1505LT. While cruising north of Wale at a height of some 5,000 feet, the pilot made a left turn when he lost control of the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed in an open field. All five occupants were killed.
Crew:
Sergeant Melville O. Samuels, pilot,
Sergeant Thomas M. Clothier,
Charles H. M. Folkard,
Lieutenant Jan M. Radecki,
Sergeant Sylvester K. Yates.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the left wing failed after an aileron separated and led to a loss of control.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II near Mantaille

Date & Time: Feb 9, 1944
Operator:
Registration:
LW275
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crew was performing a supply mission for the French Resistance. En route, while flying over Romans, captain instructed his crew to bail out following an engine fire. Out of control, aircraft crashed in a field and was destroyed while all eight occupants were uninjured. The passenger was a member of the British Special Services.
Probable cause:
Engine fire in flight.

Crash of a Supermarine Walrus I off Hunstanton

Date & Time: Feb 9, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LL268
Flight Phase:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Takeoff was started on a rough sea off Hunstanton. The float plane hit several waves, went out of control and came to rest. Crew fate unknown.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.63 Halifax V in Autrans: 7 killed

Date & Time: Feb 8, 1944
Operator:
Registration:
LL114
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a supply mission to the French Resistance. While cruising by night and low visibility, the four engine aircraft hit a hilly terrain located near Bec de l'Orient, in the Vercors mountains, near Autrans. All 7 crew were killed.
Crew:
Gerald Dennis Carroll, pilot,
Arthur Edward Reid, pilot,
Sergeant Peter Theodore Thompson, flight engineer,
Sergeant Ronald Denis Clement, air gunner,
Sergeant William Kenneth Radford, air gunner,
Sergeant Alvin James Taylor, air bomber,
Sergeant Gordon Stanley Woodrow, air gunner.

Crash of a Martin B-26A-1 Marauder in the Mediterranean Sea

Date & Time: Feb 8, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
FK362
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
MSN:
7419
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crew was performing a flight from Italy to Algeria when the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances into the Mediterranean Sea. Crew fate unknown.

Crash of a Avro 683 Lancaster II in Great Dunmow: 8 killed

Date & Time: Feb 5, 1944 at 2020 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
DS827
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
RAF Witchford - RAF Witchford
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a night training exercise on behalf of the 115th Squadron. While cruising, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a field in Great Dunmow, Essex. All eight occupants were killed.
Crew:
Sergeant W. J. B. Bishop, pilot,
Sergeant C. G. Magness, navigator,
Sergeant J. C. Speechly,
Sergeant R. E. Green,
Sergeant J. Carless,
Sergeant P. F. Palmer,
Sergeant H. D. Clough,
1st Lieutenant C. A. Weber.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling III in Hauteville-Lompnes: 7 killed

Date & Time: Feb 5, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EJ110
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Crew was completing a supply mission to the French Resistance. While overflying Ain in snow falls, aircraft went out of control and crashed in Bois de Valorse, near Hauteville-Lompnes. All 7 crew of the 196th Squadron were killed.

Crash of a Martin B-26A-1 Marauder in Ghisonaccia

Date & Time: Feb 3, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
FK126
MSN:
7370
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances. Crew fate unknown.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland III near Donegal: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1944 at 2330 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
DW110
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Pembroke Dock - Pembroke Dock
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
13
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Crew was engaged in a maritime patrol flight and left RAF Pembroke Dock in the afternoon for a 13 hours mission. Aircraft was scheduled to overfly the Lake Lough Erne but for unknown reason, was off the initial track and was flying over a mountainous area in the Donegal County. By night, the four engine aircraft hit the slope of Mt Blue Stak at a height of 2,219 feet. Rescuers arrived on site, some 200 feet from the top, and were able to evacuate six injured crew members while all seven other occupants were killed.
Crew:
Lieutenant Howard Charles Sheffield Armstrong, pilot, †
Lieutenant Maurice Leonard Gillingham, pilot, †
Maurice Vincent Wareing, copilot, †
Joseph George Trull, navigator,
John Bruce Richardson, flight engineer,
Sergeant C. S. Hobbs, air gunner,
Sergeant Cyril Robinson Greenwood, †
Sergeant Frederick George Green, gunner, †
Sergeant John Ernest Parsons, †
Sergeant Frederick Tom Copp, flight engineer, †
Sergeant James Kenneth Gilchrist, rear gunner,
Sergeant A. Gowens.