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

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1941 at 1200 LT
Operator:
Registration:
AE354
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Scampton – Scampton
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew were completing a local training exercise at RAF Scampton. The airplane overshot the runway and crashed at noon. Weather conditions are described as poor at the time of the accident. There were no injuries among the crew.
Crew:
Sgt J. Bow +3.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7B Boston III at RAF Oulton: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1941 at 1045 LT
Operator:
Registration:
V9231
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Oulton - Oulton
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from RAF Oulton, while climbing, the airplane went out of control and crashed. Both crew members were killed. They were engaged in a local training exercise.
Crew.
P/O Charles Richardson Digges, pilot,
Sgt Michael Terence Garfin, wireless operator.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester I at RAF Coningsby: 8 killed

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L7490
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Coningsby - Coningsby
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Coningsby at 0930LT on an operation to Brest. Over the target area, it was hit by the German Flak but the pilot was able to evacuate the zone and to return to base. Nevertheless, on final approach to base, the airplane stalled and crashed, killing the entire crew.
Crew:
W/Cdr Denys Finlay Balsdon, pilot,
Sgt Harold Bischlager, pilot,
F/Sgt George Edward Alfred Pendrill, pilot,
F/Sgt Jack Lloyd Gibson, observer,
F/Lt Robert Alan Wright, observer,
Sgt Ronald Thomas Bray, wireless operator,
Sgt Frank Young Downie Kerr, wireless operator,
F/Sgt Leslie William Jones, air gunner.
Probable cause:
The Flak damage is believed to have been a contributory factor.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling I off Brest: 8 killed

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
W7428
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Wyton - Wyton
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Wyton on an operation to Brest. Over the target area, it was shot down by a Me.109, caught fire and crashed into the sea. All eight crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Gordon Bunce,
P/O Roland Niall Chancellor,
Sgt David Ferguson,
Sgt Kenneth Ainslie Jeffreys,
Sgt Patrick George Osman,
F/Sgt James Lloyd Ruthven,
Sgt Robert Shearer,
F/Sgt Wilfred Wooldridge.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling I near Plouguerneau: 8 killed

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N3665
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Wyton - Wyton
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Wyton at 0950LT on an operation to Brest. Last seen over the target with smoke pouring from one engine and trying to repel a strong fighter attack. Believed to have crashed near Plouguerneau, killing the entire crew.
Crew:
Sgt John Francis Bente,
F/Sgt Raymond Exelby,
F/Sgt Clarence Phillip Goulding,
F/Lt Gilbert Gresley Heathcote,
F/Sgt William Henry O'Neill,
Sgt David Glass Penman,
F/Sgt Jack Peters,
P/O Charles Leslie Smith.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling I Off Brest: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N3680
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Oakington - Oakington
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Oakington at 0940LT on an operation to Brest. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by a Me.109 and crashed into the sea. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Nicholas Frederick Durban,
F/Lt Bernard Parnell,
Sgt John Henry Martin Pulford,
Sgt Maurice Anthony Sullivan,
Sgt Kenneth Roy Taylor,
F/Sgt Ronald Wheatley,
Sgt Terence Patrick Wright.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling I in Plouguerneau: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
W7436
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Oakington - Oakington
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Oakington at 0948LT on an operation to Brest. It was shot down by a Me.109 and crashed in Plouguerneau. Two crew members were killed and five others became PoW.
Crew:
S/L Lionel William Vaughan Jennens, pilot,
F/Sgt Walter Merrill Baker, wireless operator, †
Sgt John Towns, air gunner, †
Sgt Frank Valentine Davis,
Sgt Frank Kendall Lister,
Sgt Edmund Vere Smith,
Sgt John Charles Webb.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V off Spithead

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1941 at 1850 LT
Operator:
Registration:
Z9129
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Croft - Croft
MSN:
2268
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Croft at 1643LT on an operation to Le Havre. While flying at an altitude of 6,500 feet, the starboard engine caught fire. Prompt action by the crew quelled the fire, but the Whitley lost height and crashed off Spithead. All five crew members were rescued.
Crew:
P/O H. G. Bedford,
Sgt Howell,
P/O Ponds,
Sgt Oliver,
Sgt Parks.
Probable cause:
The starboard engine caught fire in flight.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I off Camaret-sur-Mer: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1941
Operator:
Registration:
AD868
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Waddington - Waddington
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Waddington at 1830LT on an operation to Brest. Approaching the French coast, it was shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the sea off Camaret-sur-Mer. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Kenneth Esler Hall,
Sgt John George Henderson,
P/O Therald Lionel Kaschula,
Sgt Edward Wade.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Douglas A-20A Havoc I in Market Deeping: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1941
Operator:
Registration:
BD120
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Wittering - Wittering
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Wittering on a local training exercise. En route, the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in Market Deeping, about 13 km northeast of the airbase. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt James Leslie Sudders, pilot,
Sgt William Arthur Fradley, observer,
Sgt Eric Welch, wireless operator.