Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in RAF Wigtown

Date & Time: Feb 21, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
K6160
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Wigtown - Wigtown
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing. No casualties.

Crash of a Martin B-26A-1 Marauder off Adamantas: 6 killed

Date & Time: Feb 21, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
FK139
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Shallufa - Shallufa
MSN:
7387
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Shallufa Airbase at 1240LT to attack ships cruising off Milos Island. While approaching the target, the aircraft was hit by enemy fire and crashed into the bay off Adamantas. All six crew members were killed.
Crew (14th Squadron):
F/Sgt Basil Herbert Yarwood, pilot,
Sgt H. Walker,
F/Sgt E. T. H. MacLean,
F/Sgt R. G. Davies,
Sgt F. Gotheridge,
Sgt W. J. E. Glenn.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I near RAF Usworth: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1943 at 0907 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
DJ686
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Usworth - Usworth
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training mission in the vicinity of RAF Usworth. While cruising at an altitude of 5,000 feet, the twin engine aircraft collided with another RAF Avro 652 Anson I registered L7908 carrying a crew of four. Following the collision, both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a field located 3 miles northeast of the airbase. Both aircraft were totally wrecked and all eight crew members were killed.
Crew (62nd Squadron):
Sgt Charles Davidson, pilot,
Sgt Donald Kenneth Upperton,
LAC John Ramsden Smith,
LAC Aurthur Joseph Kelly.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I near RAF Usworth: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1943 at 0907 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L7908
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Usworth - Usworth
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training mission in the vicinity of RAF Usworth. While cruising at an altitude of 5,000 feet, the twin engine aircraft collided with another RAF Avro 652 Anson I registered DJ686 carrying a crew of four. Following the collision, both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a field located 3 miles northeast of the airbase. Both aircraft were totally wrecked and all eight crew members were killed.
Crew (62nd Squadron):
Sgt Alistair Cameron Dunlop, pilot,
Sgt Ian Duncan McDonald, navigator,
Sgt Frank Wickenden, observer,
LAC George Miller Johnston.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I off Vlielandin: 7 killed

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ED485
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Warboys - Warboys
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The aircraft left RAF Warboys at 1807LT on a bombing mission over Wilhelmshaven. While approaching the Dutch coast by night, the aircraft crashed into the North Sea about 15 km off the Vlieland Island. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found.
Crew (156th Squadron):
P/O Thomas Edward Case,
P/O Harry William Welch,
Sgt Hugh Alexander McLennan,
Sgt Elias Cuthbert,
P/O Pierre Yves Camille Tremblay 2.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I on Mt Cross Fell

Date & Time: Feb 18, 1943 at 0945 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
DJ453
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Kinloss – Kirkbride
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route to RAF Kirkbride and while flying over the Pennines mountain range, east of Penrith, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with icing. He decided to modify his route, passing via the Alston valley. Shortly later, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of Mt Cross Fell, slid for several yards and came to rest. All five crew members were injured.
Crew (4th AOS):
Sgt Victor Henry Hill 4.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder into the Aegean Sea: 6 killed

Date & Time: Feb 15, 1943 at 1600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
FK150
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Shallufa - Shallufa
MSN:
7377
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Shallufa at 1045LT on a maritime patrol flight over the Aegean Sea. En route, the aircraft was attacked by Flak based on a enemy merchant vessel and crashed into the sea. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was ever found.
Crew (14th Squadron):
P/O Colin Carl Truman, pilot,
F/Sgt Jack Irvine Thompson, copilot,
F/O B. T. Connell, observer,
F/Sgt Robert Edward Herbert Hope, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt K. Firth, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt W. J. Semple, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III in Hope: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 15, 1943 at 1300 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HF613
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Wellesbourne Mountford - Wellesbourne Mountford
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The aircraft took off during the mid-morning of the 15th February 1943 from Wellesbourne Mountford near Stratford upon Avon for a cross country flight. At just after 1300LT the aircraft descended out of bad weather (possibly due to icing) and became enveloped in a snow storm, shortly afterwards the aircraft crashed, seemingly out of control, with a steep nose down attitude near to Peakshole Water. The aircraft slide for a short distance, crossing the river and striking a large embankment on the other side where the aircraft was completely destroyed.
Crew (22nd OTU):
Sgt John Douglas Kester, pilot,
Sgt Richard Foote Cairns, navigator,
Sgt William James Hackett, air gunner,
Sgt Bernard Elliott Wilkinson, air gunner,
Sgt William Arthur Billy Marwood, wireless operator and air gunner.
Source & photo:
http://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/pages/peakdistrict/peakdistricthf613.htm

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.54 Harrow I into the Moray Firth: 18 killed

Date & Time: Feb 15, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
K6946
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Wick - Lossiemouth
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
18
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a flight from Wick to RAF Lossiemouth. While flying over the Moray Firth, the aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea off Inverness. Despite significant SAR operations, no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found.
Crew (782nd Squadron):
Lt Anthony J. E. Howey,
LAC Cyril A. Tilbury,
LAC Frederick J. Burton,
LAC John Graham,
LAC William Thompson
F/Sgt Frank S. Barnes,
LAC Leslie Bool,
AC2 Sidney J. W. Clark,
AC1 Kenneth Douglas Drage,
LAC John Garden,
Cpl Edward F. J. W. Hoare,
AC1 Kenneth R. Morse,
F/Lt Walter H. Nicholson,
Sgt Eric J. M. Riordan,
AC1 James S. Stevenson 3.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson II in Hobcarton End: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 15, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
DJ464
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While on a training flight, the twin engine aircraft hit a hill in Hobcarton End, in the Lake District National park. All four crew members were killed.