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Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I into The Channel: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 11, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden
Operator:
Registration:
AE353
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
North Luffenham - North Luffenham
Location:
The Channel
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF North Luffenham on an operation to Brest. While returning to base, it is believed that it crashed in The Channel of the Sussex coast. Maybe it was damaged over the target area. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Arthur John Benning Monk, pilot,
P/O Christopher Bradley Payne, pilot,
P/O Archibald Locksley Smiley, observer,
P/O John Humphrey Dunn, wireless operator,
Sgt Charles Edward Gailey, wireless operator.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Argostóli: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 11, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
Z7802
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Luqa - Luqa
Location:
Argostóli
Ionian Islands / Ιόνια νησιά
Country:
Greece
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Luqa on an operation to Argostóli. It is believed that it was shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the sea while on approach to the target area. Lost without trace.
Crew:
F/Lt Everest George Edmunds, pilot,
Sgt Sigurd Edgar Hedin, observer,
Sgt Martin John Mills, wireless operator.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24A-CO Liberator near Glendevon: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 10, 1941 at 1830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
AM926
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Aberdeen - Belfast
MSN:
17
YOM:
1940
Location:
Glendevon
Perth and Kinross
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Aberdeen-Dyce Airport on a flight to Belfast-Nutts Corner Airport. While cruising over Scotland in poor weather conditions, it impacted the slope of Mt Tarmangie located in the Ochil Mountain Range, some 2 miles northwest of Glendevon. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and all five occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was poor due to low clouds.
Crew (120th Squadron):
Sgt Roland William Magson, pilot,
F/O James Wood Rae, pilot,
Sgt David Clark, observer,
Sgt Robert Henry Dear, flight engineer,
Sgt Douglas James Bartell, wireless operator.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF Bicester: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 10, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L9383
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bicester - Bicester
Location:
Bicester AFB
Oxfordshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Bicester on a local training exercise. Shortly after takeoff, the airplane stalled and crashed. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt George Howard Schrader, pilot,
Sgt Alfred William Steadman, observer,
Sgt William Dunn, wireless operator.

Crash of a Douglas A-20A Havoc near Taft: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 10, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
AL902
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Mountains
Location:
Taft
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in a mountainous area located 15 miles west of Taft. At least one crew member was killed.
Crew:
William C. Daniel.

Crash of a Blackburn B-26 Botha I on Mt Bleaklow: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 10, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Blackburn B-26 Botha
Operator:
Registration:
W5103
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Sherburn-in-Elmet – Hawarden
MSN:
3241/39
YOM:
1941
Location:
Mt Bleaklow
Derbyshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
En route from Sherburn-in-Elmet to Hawarden, while flying over the Peak District National Park, the twin engine airplane impacted the slope of Mt Bleaklow located east of Manchester. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Crew (6th FPP):
F/O Thomas William Rogers.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined. However, it is believed that it was the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain as the pilot was attempting to establish a visual contact with the ground while flying in clouds.

Crash of a Bristol 152 Beaufort I off Den Helder: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1941 at 1739 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 152 Beaufort
Operator:
Registration:
AW190
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Manston - Manston
MSN:
9897
YOM:
1941
Location:
Den Helder
North Holland
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Manston at 1542LT to attack a convoy sighted off Hoek van Holland. After the attack, the airplane was hit by the blast of its own bombs. The left engine caught fire and the airplane crashed into the sea, killing the entire crew.
Crew:
P/O Mark Lee, pilot,
Sgt Henry Carter,
Sgt John Alfred Chadaway,
F/Sgt John Ansley Foster.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF Upwood

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1941 at 1308 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
R3675
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Upwood - Upwood
Location:
Upwood AFB
Cambridgeshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot departed RAF Upwood at 1304LT on a local solo training exercise. After takeoff, while climbing to a height of 300 feet, the left engine failed. The pilot elected to return for an emergency landing when the airplane crashed near the airbase four minutes after takeoff. The pilot was injured.
Crew:
Sgt S. O. Hill, pilot.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine after takeoff.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IF at RAF Church Fenton

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L8732
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Church Fenton - Acaster Malbis
Location:
Church Fenton AFB
North Yorkshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
For unknown reasons, the airplane crashed just after takeoff from RAF Church Fenton and came to rest in a field 1/4 mile south of the airbase. All three crew members were rescued, among them one was seriously injured.
Crew:
P/O Walter Frame Gibb, pilot,
LAC Clifford Hayden Stephens,
AC1 T. H. Bennison.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I near RAF Saltby: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden
Operator:
Registration:
P1168
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Cottesmore - Cottesmore
Location:
Saltby AFB
Leicestershire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Cottesmore on a training exercise when the airplane crashed for unknown reasons four miles south of RAF Saltby. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Osborne Kirkton Fisher, pilot,
Sgt Kenneth Frederick Thornton, observer.
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