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Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I in Gaanderen: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1941 at 2311 LT
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden
Operator:
Registration:
AD804
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
North Luffenham - North Luffenham
Location:
Gaanderen
Gelderland
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF North Luffenham on an operation to Hüls. Damaged by a German fighter, it crash landed in Gaanderen, southeast of Doetinchem. A crew was killed and three others became PoW.
Crew:
Sgt William Rowland Cheesman, wireless operator, †
Sgt Thomas Edwin Barnett,
Sgt William Gilbey,
Sgt Thomas Samuel Jones.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I in Winterswijk: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1941 at 2240 LT
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden
Operator:
Registration:
P1165
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Balderton - Balderton
Location:
Winterswijk
Gelderland
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Balderton at 1855LT on an operation to Hüls. It was shot down by a Me.110 and crashed in Winterswijk. Three crew members were killed and the pilot became PoW.
Crew:
P/O Stuart Bruce Keith Brackenbury, pilot,
Sgt Desmond William Thane, observer, †
Sgt Peter Frederick Issac, wireless operator, †
Sgt Douglas Theodore Williams, air gunner. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC into the North Sea: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1941 at 2110 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 416 Wellington IC
Operator:
Registration:
T2553
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
East Wretham - East Wretham
Location:
North Sea
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF East Wretham at 1716LT on an operation to Wilhelmshaven. Approaching the target area, it was damaged by the German Flak. The crew returned to base when the left engine caught fire, causing the propeller to fell off. The airplane went out of control and crash landed in the North Sea some 100 km west of Petten. Three crew members were killed and three others were rescued and became PoW.
Crew:
Sgt Alois Šiška, pilot,
Sgt Josef Tomanek, pilot, †
F/O Josef Mohr, observer, †
F/O Josef Šcerba, wireless operator,
Sgt Pavel Svoboda, air gunner,
Sgt Rudolf Skalicky, air gunner. †
Probable cause:
Engine fire in flight after being damaged by the German Flak.

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

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1941 at 2104 LT
Type of aircraft:
Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley
Operator:
Registration:
Z9202
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Dishforth – Dishforth
MSN:
2307
YOM:
1941
Location:
Texel Island
North Holland
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 Dishforth at 1724LT on an operation to Emden. While flying along the Dutch coast and returning to base, it was shot down by a Me.110 and crashed into the sea 10 km west of Texel Island. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Orval Henry Burchell,
Sgt Joseph Hermile Durning,
Sgt Henry John Groom,
Sgt Ronald Albert Priestley,
Sgt Frank Gordon Warwick Roberts,
Sgt Ernest Alfred Spicer.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Vickers 406 Wellington II in Engerhafe: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1941 at 2012 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 406 Wellington II
Operator:
Registration:
W5561
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Pocklington - Pocklington
Location:
Engerhafe
Lower Saxony
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Pocklington at 1705LT on an operation to Emden. It was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in Engerhafe, killing the entire crew.
Crew:
Sgt Edwin John Williams, pilot,
Sgt Donald Kenneth Gordon, pilot,
F/Sgt Jack Cecil Donkin, observer,
Sgt Ronald James, wireless operator,
Sgt Willis Langhorne, wireless operator,
F/Sgt Joseph Raymond Frederick Bourgeau, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV near King's Lynn: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1941 at 1505 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
Z5984
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Upwood - Upwood
Location:
King's Lynn
Norfolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Upwood on a training operation consisting with practice landings and bombing training over The Wash. While diving towards the intended target, the starboard engine surged and the airplane crashed in the North Wooton Range, about 4 miles north of King's Lynn. A crew was killed and two others were injured.
Crew:
Sgt H. S. Thomas, pilot,
Sgt G. Owen, observer,
Sgt James Edward Wilson, wireless operator. †

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson V in Maryport: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1941 at 1112 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
AM786
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
414-2868
YOM:
1941
Location:
Maryport
Cumbria
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While performing a practice bombing exercise, the crew encountered unknown technical problems and attempted to divert to Maryport Airport. On final approach, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed few km from the airfield, bursting into flames. All four occupants were killed.
Crew (1st OTU):
Sgt Harold Puusepp, pilot,
Sgt Robert Gillespie Luke, observer,
Sgt Richard Wyke Allsop, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Gerald Ian Dacres Backhouse, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I into the North Sea: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden
Operator:
Registration:
P1295
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
North Luffenham - North Luffenham
Location:
North Sea
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF North Luffenham on an operation to Hüls. It failed to return to base and is believed to have crashed somewhere in the North Sea. Lost without trace.
Crew:
Sgt Edward Boyce Whitaker, pilot,
Sgt Alfred Collier,
Sgt John Frederick Skingsley, wireless operator,
Sgt Jack William Woodall.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I into the North Sea: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden
Operator:
Registration:
AE419
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Scampton – Scampton
Location:
North Sea
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Scampton at 1741LT on an operation to Hüls. It failed to return to base and is believed to have crashed somewhere in the North Sea. Lost without trace.
Crew:
F/Sgt Ernest Charles Atkinson,
Sgt Edward George Sawdy,
Sgt Archibald Campbell Watt,
Sgt Henry William Wisdom.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Gibraltar: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
Z7294
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Gibraltar - Luqa
Location:
Gibraltar
All United Kingdom
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew departed Gibraltar on a ferry flight to Luqa. Shortly after takeoff, one of the engine failed. The crew decided to return for an emergency landing but on final approach, the airplane stalled and crashed into the sea. Two crew members were killed and two others were injured.
Crew:
P/O Andrew Thomas Lawson-Tancred, pilot,
Sgt D. R. McKinnon, observer,
Sgt Robert Sangster, wireless operator. †
Passenger:
Cpl William Harry Wallett. †
Probable cause:
Engine failure after takeoff. It is believed that on approach, the crew mistakenly raised the landing gear and mispositioned the flaps.
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