Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson V at RAF Kirkbride

Date & Time: Mar 15, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AM774
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kirkbride - Kirkbride
MSN:
414-2856
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training exercise at RAF Kirkbride. After touchdown, the crew encountered unknown problems. The airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and collided with obstacles. The airplane was damaged beyond repair and both pilots were uninjured.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V at RAF Croft: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 14, 1942 at 0040 LT
Operator:
Registration:
Z9389
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Croft - Croft
MSN:
2396
YOM:
1942
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Croft at 1809LT on March 13 on an operation to Boulogne. While returning to base the following night, the pilot encountered difficulties. On the fifth attempt to land, the airplane overshot, impacted trees and crashed, bursting into flames. Three crew members were killed and two others were injured. One of the survivors died the next day from injuries sustained.
Crew:
P/O Cecil Frank Ferris, pilot, †
Sgt Robert Curragh Bell, copilot, †
Sgt Noel Thomas Gander, observer, †
Sgt John Ivor Evans Davies, wireless operator, †
Sgt Maurice Arthur Hentall, air gunner.

Crash of a Vickers 406 Wellington II at RAF Lindholme: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 14, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
Z8438
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Lindholme - Lindholme
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Lindholme at 1922LT on an operation to Cologne. It was hit by the German Flak over the target area but was able to return to base. Upon landing, the airplane overshot and crashed on a building belonging to the airfield's rifle range. Five crew members were killed and a sixth was injured.
Crew:
F/O Czesław Rymkiewicz, pilot, †
P/O Mieczysław Kazimierz Dranicki, pilot, †
F/O Stansław Marian Ostaszewski, navigator, †
Sgt Eugeniusz Bala, wireless operator, †
Sgt Wacław Sasin, air gunner, †
Sgt Mieczysław Kazimierz Galas, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Hit by the German Flak.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V into the North Sea: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 14, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
Z9214
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Croft - Croft
MSN:
2319
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Croft at 1808LT on an operation to Cologne. It failed to return to base and is believed to have crashed somewhere in the North Sea. Lost without trace.
Crew:
Sgt Richard Derrick Ash,
Sgt Peter Windermere Bland,
P/O Dennis Richard Hockaday,
Sgt Alexander MacLeod,
Sgt Hugh Davison McColl.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester I near RAF Wittering

Date & Time: Mar 14, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L7395
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Woolfox Lodge - Woolfox Lodge
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Woolfox Lodge at 1930LT on March 13 on an operation to Cologne. Following an uneventful mission and while returning to base, an engine failed. The crew decided to abandon the aircraft and bailed out. Out of control, the bomber dove into the ground and crashed in a field located two miles south of RAF Wittering. The airplane was destroyed while all seven crew members were uninjured.
Crew (61st Squadron):
P/O John Ralph Hubbard, pilot,
Sgt P. C. V. Joslin,
P/O Robert Heggie, observer,
F/Sgt John George Clelland, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Albert Wallace Baker, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt T. C. Stanley,
Sgt P. Jones.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight. Fuel exhaustion suspected.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V at RAF Leeming: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 13, 1942 at 2325 LT
Operator:
Registration:
Z6975
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Leeming - Leeming
MSN:
2257
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Leeming at 1816LT on an operation to Boulogne. While returning to base in the late evening, it stalled on final approach and crashed onto a house. Four crew members were killed while the wireless operator was seriously injured. He later died from injuries sustained. There were no casualties on the ground.
Crew:
F/Sgt John Lyndon Moore, pilot,
Sgt James Ernest Church, copilot,
Sgt Kenneth Clarence Edward Corke, observer,
F/Sgt Richard James Lewis, wireless operator,
Sgt Neil Shaw Smith, air gunner.
Probable cause:
It is believed that icing conditions acting on the airframe may have given wrong airspeed readings and the pilot was unaware that the airplane was about to stall. Ice formations on the windscreen were also to blame which limited the pilot's visibility.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II at RAF Linton-on-Ouse

Date & Time: Mar 13, 1942 at 2305 LT
Operator:
Registration:
R9440
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Linton-on-Ouse - Linton-on-Ouse
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Linton-on-Ouse at 1914LT on an operation to Cologne. Following the failure of the starboard inner engine, the crew was unable to reach the target area and opted to attack Amsterdam instead. In the late evening, the crew returned to base but the airplane landed fast and was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overshot the runway and came to rest. All seven crew members escaped uninjured and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
F/Sgt William Bruce Archibald, pilot,
Sgt Leslie John Nelmes, pilot,
Sgt Geoffrey Hillam Gurr Murray, navigator,
Sgt Samuel Palmer, flight engineer,
Sgt Archibald McCulloch McLaren, wireless operator,
Sgt James Frederick Staff, wireless operator,
Sgt Douglas Francis, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Failure of the starboard inner engine after takeoff.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester I in Nijmegen: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 13, 1942 at 2240 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L7423
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Scampton - Scampton
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Scampton at 2030LT on an operation to Cologne. While passing over the Netherlands at night, it was shot down by a Me.110. Out of control, it entered a dive and crashed in a field, bursting into flames. Five crew members were killed and two others became PoW.
Crew (83rd Squadron):
F/O J. L. Bromiley, pilot,
Sgt Peter Hollowell Foster, pilot, †
P/O John Rowland Feirn, air bomber, †
Sgt James Patrick Dowd, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Leonard Frank Rogers Davis, wireless operator and air gunner, †
Sgt Eric Rose 954204, wireless operator and air gunner, †
F/Sgt Joseph Michael Thompson, wireless operator and air gunner. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Boston Spa: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 13, 1942 at 0927 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N3538
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Upwood - Upwood
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Upwood on a cross country exercise. While cruising at night, the airplane collided with high tension cables and crashed in Boston Spa, bursting into flames. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt William Curlet, pilot,
P/O John Douglas Lamb McColl, observer,
Sgt Eric Johnson, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III at RAF Bodney

Date & Time: Mar 13, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
X3603
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Honingt
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Honington at 1934LT on March 12 on an operation to Kiel. It is believed that it was hit by the German Flak, damaging the starboard engine. On return, the crew tried to land at RAF Bodney but the airplane crashed short of runway. All six crew members were rescued.
Crew:
Sgt Webb,
Sgt Vickers,
P/O V. W. Saul,
Sgt A. Swiderski,
Sgt J. Rutherford,
Sgt F. C. Evans.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right engine after being hit by enemy fire.