Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V off Terschelling: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1942 at 2145 LT
Operator:
Registration:
Z9301
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Dishforth – Dishforth
MSN:
2365
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Dishforth at 1720LT on an operation to Emden. Flying along the Dutch coast, it was shot down by a Me.110 and crashed into the sea off Terschelling. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt James Thomas Thom, pilot,
Sgt Bertie Bowring,
P/O George Thomas Ellis,
Sgt Frederick Ralph Isaacs,
Sgt John Mayes,
Sgt William John Sullivan.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC near King's Bromley: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1942 at 2105 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
X9706
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Lichfield - Lichfield
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Lichfield on a night training bombing exercise. While circling in the vicinity of the airbase, the pilot became disoriented following the failure of instruments. The airplane crashed in a pasture at Echilles Farm, near King's Bromley. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Jack Stephen Richards Woolnough, pilot,
Sgt Evan Frederick Webb, pilot,
Sgt Frederick Ernest Williams, pilot,
Sgt Joseph Henry Rogerson, observer,
Sgt Wilfred Roy Beeton, wireless operator,
Sgt Malcolm Hunter Welch, wireless operator,
Sgt Arthur Wilson Savage, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Loss of control after the pilot became disoriented following the failure of instruments.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling I near RAF Oakington

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1942 at 1950 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N6120
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Oakington - Oakington
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Oakington at 1755LT to attack the airfield of Soesterberg in the Netherlands. While outbound, the airplane overflew an Allied convoy and was promptly fired upon. The crew decided to return to base with the port outer engine damaged when the airplane crash landed while on approach to RAF Oakington. All seven crew members escaped uninjured.
Crew:
P/O J. D. Hart,
Sgt J. Davies,
Sgt G. Rhodes,
Sgt W. Green,
Sgt F. L. Pool,
Lt H. N. Denny,
Sgt L. C. Young.
Probable cause:
Failure of the port outer engine after being hit by Allied fire.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling in Earith: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1942 at 1540 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
W7467
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Oakington - Oakington
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Oakington on a cross-country training exercise. Following an unauthorized attack from a Hurricane I V6865 from 56 OTU, both airplanes collided and crashed in Earith. All eight crew members on board the Stirling and the pilot of the Hurricane were killed.
Crew:
S/L John Noel Mahler, pilot,
P/O Ronald Wilkins Taylor, pilot,
Sgt Edward Blacklaw, flight engineer,
P/O James Douglas Waddell, navigator,
Sgt Francis Joseph Lloyd, wireless operator,
P/O Alan John Low, air gunner,
Sgt Walter James Mankelow, air gunner,
Sgt James McCarley, air gunner.
Probable cause:
The pilot of the fighter misjudged his closing speed and collided with the bomber.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II at RAF Middleton St George

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1942 at 1100 LT
Operator:
Registration:
L9611
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Middleton St George - Middleton St George
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
For unknown reasons, the airplane crashed almost immediately after takeoff from RAF Middleton St George. All crew members were injured.
Crew:
Sgt F. W. Anderson.

Crash of a Vickers 406 Wellington II into the North Sea: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
Z8329
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Pocklington - Pocklington
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Pocklington at 1713LT on an operation to Bremen. About an hour into the flight, the crew indicated he was returning to base due to engine trouble. Later, the starboard engine caught fire and the airplane crashed into the sea. Four crew members were killed and two others were rescued.
Crew:
Sgt Paul Arthur Gale, †
F/Sgt Gordon Frederick Gurr, †
S/L Walter Bernard Keddy, †
F/Sgt George Joseph Masse, †
F/Lt D. R. S. Scrivens,
Sgt R. L. Turnbull.
Probable cause:
Engine fire in flight.

Crash of a Vickers 424 Wellington IV off Bridlington: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
Z1330
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Grimsby - Grimsby
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Grimsby at 1740LT on an operation to Bremen. Believed to have crashed into the sea off Bridlington. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Daniel Joseph Clifford,
F/Sgt Robert Bell Glover,
F/Sgt James Benona Harvey Hill,
Sgt Ronald John Kennedy,
Sgt Robert Charles Mellings,
P/O Astley Cleveland Pickett.

Crash of a Blackburn B-26 Botha into the Irish Sea: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L6213
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
7866/10
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane failed to return to base following a maritime patrol flight over the Codling Bank and is believed to have crashed somewhere in the Irish Sea. Lost without trace.
Crew:
W/O W. J. Jewell,
F/O M. Prusek,
F/O S. Gruszecki,
AC1 J. W. March.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I at RAF Catfoss

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L1183
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Catfoss - Catfoss
MSN:
8466
YOM:
1938
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot departed RAF Catfoss on a local solo training flight. Just after liftoff, the airplane went out of control and crashed. The pilot escaped uninjured.
Crew:
P/O R. Rose, pilot.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I near West Burton: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 16, 1942 at 0300 LT
Operator:
Registration:
AE393
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Balderton - Balderton
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Balderton at 1715LT on January 15 on an operation to Hamburg. While returning to base the following night, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. At night and in low visibility due to clouds, the airplane impacted the slope of a hilly terrain in Dalefoot, near West Burton. Three crew members were killed and the pilot was injured.
Crew:
S/L W. J. Burnett, pilot,
F/Sgt James Arthur Bunting, observer, †
Sgt John Robinson Appleby, wireless operator, †
Sgt Maurice Jones, air gunner. †
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.