Country
United Kingdom
Operator Image

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I in Alor Setar: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L1134
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Butterworth - Butterworth
MSN:
8417
YOM:
1938
Location:
Alor Setar
Kedah
Country:
Malaysia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Butterworth to attack Japanese positions at Singora. The airplane was attacked by enemy fire and the Squadron Leader was killed. The crew elected to return to base but the airplane crash landed in Alor Setar and was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
S/L Arthur Stewart King Scarf, pilot, †
F/Sgt G. W. Calder,
F/Sgt C. G. Rich.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V at RAF Leeming

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1941 at 2240 LT
Type of aircraft:
Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley
Operator:
Registration:
Z9162
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Leeming - Leeming
Location:
Leeming AFB
North Yorkshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Leeming at 1659LT on an operation to Dunkirk. While returning to base in the late evening, it crashed while trying to avoid a collision with a 77 Squadron Whitley. The airplane smashed through the roof of a house at Londonderry on the western edge of the airfield, bursting into flames. All five crew members escaped with minor injuries.
Crew:
Sgt J. W. Barber, pilot,
Sgt R. W. B. Blanchard,
Sgt W. Archer,
Sgt J. Waterworth,
Sgt A. Brewer.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IF in Sungai Petani: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1941 at 0710 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L6669
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Sungai Petani - Sungai Petani
Location:
Sungai Petani
Kedah
Country:
Malaysia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Sungai Petani Airport on an operation off Kota Bharu. It crashed shortly after takeoff, killing both crew members.
Crew:
Sgt Ronald Mckenzie Rhodes,
Sgt Michael Ransford Willows.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I off Vlissingen: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1941 at 0640 LT
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden
Operator:
Registration:
AE191
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Scampton – Scampton
Location:
Vlissingen
Zeeland
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Scampton at 0213LT on an operation to Aachen. While returning to base at the end of the night, it was shot down by the German Flak and is believed to have crashed into the sea off Vlissingen. Two crew members were killed and two others became PoW.
Crew:
Sgt Bernard Athelstan Basevi, †
P/O Derek Jacobs, †
P/O Anthony Leslie Parsons,
Sgt George Wiscombe.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I in Oteppe: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1941 at 0515 LT
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden
Operator:
Registration:
AD791
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
North Luffenham - North Luffenham
Location:
Oteppe
Liège
Country:
Belgium
Region:
Europe
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 Aachen. Over Belgium, it was shot down by a Me.110 and crashed in Oteppe, west of Liège. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Frank Kert Calcutt, pilot,
F/Sgt Arthur Henry Lawrence, observer,
Sgt Richard Eric Hirons, wireless operator,
Sgt Geoffrey Barnes, wireless operator.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC at RAF Waterbeach: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1941 at 0241 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 416 Wellington IC
Operator:
Registration:
Z8958
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Waterbeach - Waterbeach
Location:
Waterbeach AFB
Cambridgeshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Waterbeach at 0225LT on an operation to Aachen. Shortly after takeoff, the starboard engine caught fire. The crew elected to return for an emergency landing when the airplane crashed 16 minutes later on final approach. Five crew members were injured and the air gunner was killed.
Crew:
Sgt Victor Lawrence Lloyd, air gunner, †
Sgt A. Firth,
Sgt G. Collins,
Sgt B. A. Jarvis,
Sgt J. Machonichie,
Sgt J. M. Macdonald.
Probable cause:
The right engine caught fire shortly after takeoff.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Ostend: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1941 at 0139 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
V5876
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
Bodney - Bodney
Location:
Ostend
West Flanders
Country:
Belgium
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Bodney on an operation to Ostend. While approaching the target area, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Thomas McSkimming Wilson, pilot,
Sgt Robert Johnston, observer,
Sgt Frederick Charles Hubbard, wireless operator.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Vickers 406 Wellington II into the North Sea: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 406 Wellington II
Operator:
Registration:
Z8426
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Driffield - Driffield
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:
6
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Driffield at 2005LT on an operation to Dunkirk. It failed to return to base and is believed to have crashed somewhere in the North Sea. Lost without trace.
Crew:
Sgt Reginald Kenneth Anson,
Sgt William Walter Covey,
P/O William Keith Hayne,
P/O Bernard Norris Murdoch,
F/Sgt Henry Brodie McGarrow,
Sgt Raymond Turner.

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

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
Z9719
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Luqa - Luqa
Location:
Catania
Sicily
Country:
Italy
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 off Sicily. In unknown circumstances, it collided with a second RAF Blenheim registered Z7613. Both airplanes crashed into the sea off the harbor of Catania, killing all six crew members.
Crew:
Sgt William John Cuming, pilot,
Sgt John Herbert Pilley, observer,
Sgt Ralph Tollett, wireless operator.

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

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
Z7613
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Luqa - Luqa
Location:
Catania
Sicily
Country:
Italy
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 off Sicily. In unknown circumstances, it collided with a second RAF Blenheim registered Z9713. Both airplanes crashed into the sea off the harbor of Catania, killing all six crew members.
Crew:
P/O James Arthur Barclay, pilot,
Sgt Harold Benjamin Lee, observer,
Sgt William Brian Allan, wireless operator.
Subscribe to Royal Air Force - RAF