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Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V in Rottevalle: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 15, 1942 at 2215 LT
Type of aircraft:
Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley
Operator:
Registration:
Z9424
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Dishforth – Dishforth
MSN:
2403
YOM:
1942
Location:
Rottevalle
Friesland
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Dishforth at 1758LT on an operation to Emden. It was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in Rottevalle. Three crew members were killed and three others became PoW.
Crew:
Sgt Eric John Richards, pilot, †
Sgt Henry Conway Needham, copilot,
F/Sgt Sydney Clarence Camp, observer, †
Sgt Gerard Sinclair Booth, wireless operator,
Sgt William Douglas Muirhead, wireless operator,
Sgt Reginald James White, air gunner. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I in Hostrup

Date & Time: Jan 15, 1942 at 2150 LT
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden
Operator:
Registration:
P1341
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Coningsby - Coningsby
Location:
Hostrup
Syddanmark
Country:
Denmark
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Coningsby at 1710LT on an operation to Hamburg. Passing off Wilhelmshaven, it was hit by the German Flak. With the starboard engine on fire, the crew evacuated the area bound for Sweden. Eventually, the crew bailed out and abandoned the airplane that crashed in Hostrup, south Denmark. All four crew members became PoW.
Crew:
Sgt William Storrier Dashwood,
Sgt Arthur William Horseman,
Sgt Ernest Arthur Moore,
Sgt Roger Odilon Charles Rousseau.
Probable cause:
Hit by the German Flak.

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III at RAF Marham: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jan 15, 1942 at 2111 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 417 Wellington III
Operator:
Registration:
Z1563
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Marham - Marham
Location:
Marham AFB
Norfolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local night training exercise at RAF Marham. Following several circuits, the crew initiated the approach when he encountered adverse weather and severe icing conditions. Control was lost and the airplane crashed near the airbase, killing the entire crew.
Crew:
Sgt Donald Hewett Faith, pilot,
F/Sgt Donald Joseph Maskill, pilot,
Sgt Robert Miller Shaw, observer,
Sgt Ronald Frederick Bishop, wireless operator,
Sgt Stanley Arthur Orford, wireless operator,
F/Sgt Sidney Carl Lester, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Severe icing, leading to almost total glazing of the windscreen, was a contributory factor.

Crash of a Vickers 406 Wellington II off Ameland Island: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jan 15, 1942 at 2046 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 406 Wellington II
Operator:
Registration:
W5417
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Driffield - Driffield
Location:
Ameland Island
Friesland
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Driffield at 1838LT on an operation to Emden. While flying along the Dutch coast, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed into the sea off Ameland Island. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Basil Andrew Adams,
Sgt Reginald Cooke,
Sgt Charles Kenneth German,
P/O Royal George Lindsay,
Sgt Reginald Philip Henry Sperring,
Sgt Walter George Tate.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I near RAF Langham

Date & Time: Jan 15, 1942 at 0045 LT
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden
Operator:
Registration:
AE441
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
North Luffenham - North Luffenham
Location:
Langham AFB
Norfolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF North Luffenham on January 14 on an operation to Hamburg. While returning to base the following night, it ran out fuel. The crew diverted to RAF Langham but the airplane crashed on approach near the airfield. All four crew members escaped uninjured.
Crew:
F/L W. J. W. Kingston,
Sgt R. C. W. de Courcy,
Sgt J. A. Tobin,
Sgt A. Gibson.
Probable cause:
Fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV into the North Sea: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 15, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
V6378
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Bodney - Bodney
Location:
North Sea
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Bodney at 1812LT on an operation to Soesterberg AFB. It failed to return to base and is believed to have crashed somewhere in the North Sea. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Edward William Maitland Garstin,
F/O Richard Harding-Browne,
P/O William George Scarlett.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I at Theale RLG

Date & Time: Jan 15, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
N5075
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Chipping Warden - Chipping Warden
Location:
Theale
Berkshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Chipping Warden on a training exercise. Weather conditions deteriorated with low visibility caused by heavy snow falls. In icing conditions, both engines failed and the crew attempted to divert to Theale Reserve Landing Ground. Unfortunately, the airplane overshot and crashed in trees. All four crew members escaped uninjured.
Crew:
F/Sgt Raymond Peter Edwin North, pilot +3.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure in icing conditions.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax I at RAF Middleton Saint George

Date & Time: Jan 15, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax I
Operator:
Registration:
L9578
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Middleton St George - Middleton St George
Location:
Middleton St George AFB
Durham
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in a local training exercise at RAF Middleton St George. After landing, the undercarriage collapsed and the airplane was damaged beyond repair. There were no injuries among the crew.
Crew:
Sgt J. B. Stark +3.
Probable cause:
The undercarriage collapsed upon landing.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC near RAF Honington

Date & Time: Jan 14, 1942 at 2235 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 416 Wellington IC
Operator:
Registration:
Z9847
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Waterbeach - Waterbeach
Location:
Honington AFB
Suffolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Waterbeach at 1710LT on an operation to Emden. Badly shot about a night fighter, it crash landed near RAF Honington. All six crew members were rescued, among them one was injured.
Crew:
F/Sgt T. Dignan,
Sgt K. S. W. Norman,
Sgt Seymour,
Sgt Carter,
F/Sgt Hood,
F/Sgt Green.
Probable cause:
Hit by enemy fire.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester I near Jever AFB: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 14, 1942 at 2120 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 679 Manchester
Operator:
Registration:
L7309
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bottesford - Bottesford
Location:
Jever AFB
Lower Saxony
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Bottesford at 1709LT on an operation to Hamburg. While approaching the German coast, it was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter. The captain reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing in a field. The aircraft crash landed near Jever AFB and was damaged beyond repair. Five crew members were injured and a sixth was killed.
Crew (207th Squadron):
Sgt James Wilfred Cadman, wireless operator, †
Sgt Geoffrey Ernest Allen,
Sgt Emmanuel George Robert Bestel,
F/O Gerald Bryan Dawkins,
F/Lt Patrick James Edwards,
Sgt John Mercer.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.
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