Royal Air Force - RAF

Schedule:

Chivenor - Chivenor

MSN:

9049

YOM:

1940

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Shortly after a night takeoff from RAF Chivenor, while climbing, the pilot initiated a turn to the left when the airplane stalled and crashed one mile east of the airfield. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Victor Meldrum, pilot,
Sgt Clarence Colville McLennan, observer,
Sgt George Alexander Blackwood, wireless operator,
Sgt Norman Battram, air gunner.

Crash of a Blackburn B-26 Botha I in New Brighton

Date & Time: Feb 7, 1942 at 1920 LT

Type of aircraft:

Blackburn B-26 Botha

Operator:

Registration:

L6249

Flight Phase:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

North Coates - Squires Gate

MSN:

7866/46

YOM:

1940

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The airplane was on a reconnaissance flight from RAF North Coates to RAF Squires Gate. After passing Liverpool, while flying over the Mersey River, it collided with the cable of a barrage balloon and crash landed in New Brighton. Both crew members were injured.
Crew:
F/O Jackson-Smith,
P/O Griffin.

Probable cause:

Collision with the cable of a barrage balloon.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I off Terschelling: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 7, 1942 at 1604 LT

Type of aircraft:

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Registration:

AE306

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Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Skellingthorpe - Skellingthorpe

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The airplane departed RAF Skellingthorpe at 1211LT on a mine laying operation off the Dutch coast. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by a Me.109 and crashed into the sea off Terschelling. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Reginald Newbald Smith, pilot,
F/Sgt Charles Edward Carroll, observer,
Sgt Arnold Geoffrey Bocock, radio operator,
F/Sgt John Stables, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I off Terschelling: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 7, 1942 at 1509 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

AD824

Flight Phase:

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Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

North Luffenham - North Luffenham

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The airplane departed RAF North Luffenham on a mine laying operation off the Dutch coast. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by a Me.109 and crashed into the sea off Terschelling. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Ronald Norman Thompson, pilot,
Sgt Roy Furnivall Thompson,
Sgt Robert Rowell, radio operator,
Sgt Lambert Philip Bow, air gunner,
Sgt Cyril Cubitt Duce, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I off Terschelling: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 7, 1942 at 1502 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

AE392

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Landing (descent or approach)

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

North Luffenham - North Luffenham

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The airplane departed RAF North Luffenham on a mine laying operation off the Dutch coast. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by a Me.109 and crashed into the sea off Terschelling. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Lt William John Wesley Kingston, pilot,
Sgt Robert Cecil William De Courcy, observer,
Sgt Alfred Gibson, radio operator,
Sgt Andrew Fulton, air gunner,
Sgt Joseph Arthur Tobin, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I at RAF Skellingthorpe

Date & Time: Feb 7, 1942 at 1440 LT

Type of aircraft:

Avro 683 Lancaster

Operator:

Registration:

L7542

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Skellingthorpe - Skellingthorpe

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On final approach to RAF Skellingthorpe, the captain misinterpreted the wind sock's position. During the last segment, he realized he was approaching the wrong runway and decided to make a sharp turn to land on another runway more suitable according to the wind component. This caused the airplane to struck violently the runway surface. Upon impact, it lost its undercarriage and slid for several yards before coming to rest. All eight crew members escaped uninjured and the airplane was damaged beyond repair. Brand new, it accumulated six flying hours only. First accident involving an Avro 683 Lancaster.
Crew (44th Squadron):
F/Sgt D. F. Nicholson +7.

Probable cause:

Misinterpretation of the wind sock on part of the captain.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I at RAF Scampton

Date & Time: Feb 7, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

L4125

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

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Site:

Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston

Schedule:

Scampton – Scampton

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The airplane struck a large bank of frozen snow and crashed upon takeoff. There were no injuries among the crew.
Crew:
Sgt Reid +3.

Crash of a Douglas A-20 Havoc I at RAF Cranfield

Date & Time: Feb 7, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

AE467

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site: