Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I in Freiston

Date & Time: Mar 20, 1942 at 1500 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L7570
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Woodhall Spa - Woodhall Spa
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Woodhall Spa on a mine laying operation of the Frisian Islands. After takeoff in poor weather conditions, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain height. The right wing struck the roof of a house then the airplane stalled and crashed in a field located in Freiston, some 25 km southeast of the airbase. All seven crew members were injured.
Crew (97th Squadron):
F/O E. E. Rodley,
P/O Colquhoun,
Sgt Healey,
Sgt Merralls,
Sgt Cummings,
Sgt J. Crisp,
Sgt Ratcliffe.

Crash of a Bristol 152 Beaufort I near Tingwall: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 20, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L4514
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Leuchars - Leuchars
MSN:
8375
YOM:
1940
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Leuchars on an operation off the Norwegian coast. Approaching the target area, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and decided to return to base. Doing so, the airplane went through an area of severe icing when the engines got iced. It crashed near Tingwall and was destroyed. Three crew members were killed and a fourth was injured.
Crew:
Sgt Norman Arthur Blanchflower, observer, †
P/O Tom Thornley Braithwaite Stoker, pilot, †
Sgt Arthur James Woolsey, wireless operator, †
Sgt W. H. Bond, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Icing conditions.

Crash of a Vickers 290 Wellington I in RAF Mount Farm: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 18, 1942 at 1325 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L4265
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Mount Farm - Mount Farm
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Two pilots and one instructor were performing a local training exercise on behalf of the 15 Army Training School. After liftoff, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain height, hit the tail of a parked Lockheed Hudson, stalled and crashed near the runway end, bursting into flames. Both pilots were killed and the gunner was injured.
Crew:
Sgt Robert Harvey Riedy, pilot, †
F/Sgt Charles Gordon Wiley, pilot, †
Sgt W. J. D. Carter, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Poor judgment on part of the crew who was not sufficiently trained and experienced, causing the loss of control of the aircraft just after liftoff.

Crash of a Bristol 152 Beaufort I off Cape Espichel: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 18, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
W6474
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
9479
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane was en route from UK to Gibraltar when it probably crashed in the sea off Cape Espichel. Lost without trace.
Crew:
F/O William Austin Thornton, pilot,
F/O Ernest Peter Brinkworth, navigator,
Sgt Andrew Lawrence Brigstocke, wireless operator,
Sgt Cyril Norman Byron Bohling, air gunner.

Crash of a Vickers 406 Wellington II at RAF Pocklington

Date & Time: Mar 18, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
W5497
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Pocklington - Pocklington
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane was returning to RAF Pocklington following a cross country exercise when it crashed upon landing. Both crew members were injured.
Crew:
Sgt J. R. Baillie,
Sgt F. H. Mitchell.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7B Boston III at RAF Attlebridge

Date & Time: Mar 17, 1942 at 1630 LT
Operator:
Registration:
AL718
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Attlebridge - Attlebridge
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Attlebridge on a local training exercise. Shortly after takeoff, the left engine failed. The airplane lost height, collided with trees and crashed in Weston Longville, nearby the airfield. All three crew members were injured.
Crew:
P/O E. S. A. Sniders,
Sgt F. J. Hind,
Sgt E. H. Dean.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine just after takeoff.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I in Branscombe: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 17, 1942 at 1125 LT
Operator:
Registration:
P1226
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Exeter - Exeter
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Following repairs, the airplane departed Exeter Airfield on a local test flight prior to be delivered to RAF Scampton. While flying in foggy conditions, the airplane impact the slope of hilly terrain and crashed near Branscompe. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Derek Alfred Cook, pilot,
P/O Robert Emmett Manders, observer.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24 Liberator II on Mt Slievenaglogh: 15 killed

Date & Time: Mar 16, 1942 at 0745 LT
Operator:
Registration:
AL577
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
19
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Fayid Airport in Egypt on a liaison flight, carrying 19 crew members. In the early morning, while approaching Dundalk, it impacted the slope of Mt Slievenaglogh and disintegrated. Fourteen crew members were killed and five others were injured. Three days later, one of the survivors died from injuries sustained.
Crew:
W/Cdr Richard John Wells, pilot, †
P/O John Peile Tolson, pilot, †
P/O Wilfred Bertrand Stephens, pilot, †
F/Sgt George Buchanan, pilot, †
Sgt Paul Herrick Morey, observer, †
F/Sgt Carlton Stokes Goodenough, observer, †
F/Sgt Leslie George Jordan, observer, †
P/O George Frederick King, observer, †
Sgt Henry James Gibbons, wireless operator, †
Sgt Charles Joseph Ingram, wireless operator, †
Sgt Walter Paul Brooks, wireless operator, †
F/Lt Francis Charles Barrett, air gunner, †
F/O James Robert Anderson,
Sgt Cyril Rowland Amos,
F/Sgt Lindsay Ross Williams, †
Sgt Thomas Edward Pattison,
Sgt Sydney Frederick Hayden,
Sgt Andrew McMillan Smith Brownlie, †
F/Sgt Herbert William Thornley Sloman. †
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III near Newcastle: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 16, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
X3599
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Feltwell - Belfast
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
En route from RAF Feltwell to Belfast-Aldergrove Airport, the airplane was approaching Belfast from the south when it impacted the slope of Mt Thomas located near Newcastle, about 40 km south of Belfast. Six people were killed and a seventh was injured.
Crew:
F/O Harald Eric Hunter, pilot, †
F/O John William Elliott, observer, †
Sgt William Swordy Taylor, wireless operator and air gunner. †
Passengers:
F/O Hugh Larmour Magee, †
S/O Barbara Kathleen Blakiston-Houston, †
Reverend J. D. Carwford, †
Sgt W. L. Henderson.

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III at RAF Bourn

Date & Time: Mar 15, 1942 at 1530 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
X3651
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bourn - Bourn
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training exercise at RAF Bourn. On final approach, the airplane crashed for unknown reasons just short of runway. All five crew members were rescued, among them four were injured.
Crew:
Sgt Hunt,
Sgt F. R. Artman,
Sgt K. Nisbett,
Sgt F. B. Dauncey,
Sgt E. Goulden.