Cambridgeshire

Flight Type:

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Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Waterbeach - Waterbeach

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The airplane departed RAF Waterbeach at 2116LT on an operation to Kiel. It turned back due to severe icing conditions and while preparing to land, it crash landed at Wilburton. All six crew members were injured.
Crew:
Sgt J. H. Russell,
Sgt R. A. Innes,
Sgt J. D. May,
Sgt Dipple,
Sgt K. E. G. Swann,
Sgt W. S. Humphreys.

Probable cause:

It is believed that the icing effected the instruments and the altimeter was showing a false reading.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling I at RAF Oakington: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 15, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Short S.29 Stirling

Operator:

Registration:

W7445

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

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Schedule:

Oakington - Oakington

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The airplane departed RAF Oakington on an operation to Kiel. Almost immediately after takeoff, it went out of control and crashed onto a house. A crew was killed and six other occupants were injured. Few hours later, the pilot died from injuries sustained.
Crew:
Sgt Ian Hamish Hunter, pilot, †
Sgt Arthur Charles Bennett, †
Sgt W. D. Topping,
Sgt A. J. Ansell,
Sgt W. P. Hudson,
Sgt W. Helliwell,
Sgt T. Bentham.

Probable cause:

Glazed ice on the windscreen was a contributory factor in the crash.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF Upwood

Date & Time: Nov 12, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

T1793

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

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Schedule:

Upwood - Upwood

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The pilot was completing a local solo training flight at RAF Upwood. On final approach, at a height of about 20 feet, the airplane stalled and crash landed, causing the undercarriage to be torn off. The airplane was damaged beyond repair and the pilot escaped uninjured.
Crew:
P/O Thomas Burrell Skinner, pilot.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF Upwood

Date & Time: Nov 9, 1941 at 1240 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

Z6359

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Upwood - Upwood

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Circumstances:

The pilot was completing a solo training flight at RAF Upwood. Upon takeoff, he retracted the undercarriage prematurely, causing the airplane to sink back onto the runway. He continued his mission and while returning to base after noon, the airplane crashed upon landing and caught fire. The pilot escaped uninjured.
Crew:
Sgt J. A. C. Scott, pilot.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling I at RAF Oakington

Date & Time: Oct 31, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Short S.29 Stirling

Operator:

Registration:

W7444

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

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Site:

Vickers 406 Wellington II

Schedule:

Oakington - Oakington

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The airplane departed RAF Oakington at 1752LT on an operation to Bremen. It returned early due to oxygen failure and crashed while trying to land at base. All seven crew members escaped uninjured.
Crew:
P/O N. E. Winch,
Sgt L. Norvell,
Sgt S. J. McNamara,
Sgt N. F. Durban,
Sgt G. R. Wood,
Sgt H. Paul,
Sgt N. J. Stronell.

Crash of a Vickers 406 Wellington II near RAF Waterbeach: 6 killed

Date & Time: Oct 22, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

W5454

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

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Schedule:

Waterbeach - Waterbeach

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The airplane departed RAF Waterbeach at 1758LT on an operation to Mannheim. It was heard on w/t indicating that the aircraft was returning to base after suffering an engine fire. The airplane crashed, killing the entire crew.
Crew:
Sgt John Hampson Kay,
Sgt John David Henry Lewis,
Sgt Theophilos Harry Cardew Mahon,
Sgt Robert Douglas Partridge,
Sgt Denis William Soden,
Sgt Stanley Gordon Westbrook.

Probable cause:

Engine fire.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I at RAF Upwood

Date & Time: Oct 10, 1941 at 1600 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

K7048

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Upwood - Upwood

MSN:

8001

YOM:

1937

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The pilot was completing a solo training exercise at RAF Upwood. On final approach, the left engine failed. The pilot lost control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed near the airfield. The pilot was injured.
Crew:
Sgt P. A. Paquet, pilot.

Probable cause:

Failure of the left engine on approach.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling I near RAF Bourn: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 3, 1941 at 2230 LT

Type of aircraft:

Short S.29 Stirling

Operator:

Registration:

N6085

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Vickers 416 Wellington IC

Schedule:

Oakington - Oakington

Location:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Oakington on an operation to Brest. While returning to base in the late evening, it was shot down by a JU.88C and crashed near RAF Bourn. Five crew members were killed and two others bailed out from an altitude of 700 feet and landed safely.
Crew:
Sgt Jack Allan Marshall, wireless operator, †
S/L Donald Ian McLeod, pilot, †
F/Lt Sidney George Stock, air gunner, †
F/Sgt James Rankin Walker, flight engineer, †
F/Sgt Harold Watson, wireless operator, †
Sgt I. H. Hunter,
P/O J. R. Alverson.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC at RAF Waterbeach

Date & Time: Sep 13, 1941 at 2222 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

X9703

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site: