Flemish Brabant | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Shortly after a night takeoff, while in initial climb, the aircraft stalled and crashed on the roof of a hangar. A crew member was killed while six other occupants were injured.

Probable cause:

Aerodynamic stall after rotation due to insufficient speed. The reason of the loss of speed could not be determined with certainty.

Crash of a Consolidated LB-30 Liberator VI in Brussels: 31 killed

Date & Time: Oct 13, 1945 at 2045 LT

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated LB-30 Liberator

Operator:

Registration:

KL595

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

London – Brussels – New Delhi

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Following a long takeoff roll, the aircraft rotated but failed to gain sufficient height. At the end of the runway, the four engine aircraft hit a mound, nosed down and crashed in a huge explosion. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire. All 31 occupants were killed.
Crew (206th Squadron):
F/Lt Peter Green, pilot,
F/O John Dolphin Freckleton, pilot,
F/Sgt Dennis George Nightall, flight engineer,
F/O Bernard Connor, navigator,
F/O Harry Thomas Walter Alderton, wireless operator and air gunner.
Passengers:
S/Ldr Richard Charles Rivaz,
Dvr Rowland George Ashton,
Dvr William George Bayfeild,
Dvr George Henry Bowyer,
Dvr Leslie John Brannon,
Cpl Frederick John Edwin Cooper,
Cpt Philip Brian Crosby,
Dvr Sydney Crouch,
Pvt Cecil Henry Ellis,
Pvt Eric Joshua Ellis,
Pvt James Etheridge,
Pvt Cyril James Evans,
Pvt Richard Evans,
Pvt Bernard Fannon,
Pvt Thomas Fleming,
Pvt Thomas Henry Forsyth,
Dvr Albert Garner,
Dvr George Gibson,
Dvr Albert Edward Hubble,
Dvr William James Keeley,
Dvr Kenneth Mann,
Dvr Derick Moore,
Dvr Charles Mark,
Cpl Reginald Walter Pluck,
Dvr Reginald Pritchard,
Pvt Geoffrey Jack Withers.

Probable cause:

The rotation was attempted at an insufficient speed and the aircraft was in stall condition after liftoff.

Crash of a North American B-25 Mitchell in Tienen: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 9, 1945

Type of aircraft:

North American B-25 Mitchell

Operator:

Registration:

FW212

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

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In flight, the B-25 Mitchell registered FR165 collided with another MLD B-25 Mitchell registered FW212 and carrying a crew of four. Both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a field located in Tienen. All four crew from FW212 were killed while on FR165, two crewmen were killed and two others were seriously injured.

Crash of a North American B-25 Mitchell in Tienen: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 9, 1945

Type of aircraft:

North American B-25 Mitchell

Operator:

Registration:

FR165

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Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V in Molenstede: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 1, 1941 at 0008 LT

Type of aircraft:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley

Operator:

Registration:

Z6837

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Topcliffe - Topcliffe

MSN:

2197

YOM:

1941

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The airplane departed RAF Topcliffe at 1950LT on August 31 on an operation to Essen. While returning to base the following night, it was shot down by a Me.110 and crashed in Molenstede. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Edwin Graham Milton Anderson, pilot,
Sgt Thomas Hunter Wood, pilot,
Sgt Thomas Charles Boyle, observer,
Sgt Nicholas Cecil James Carter, wireless operator,
Sgt Morley Sidney Humphrey, wireless operator.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

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

Date & Time: Aug 25, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden

Operator:

Registration:

AD918

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

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Schedule:

North Luffenham - North Luffenham

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The airplane departed RAF North Luffenham in the evening of August 25 on an operation to Mannheim. Over Belgium, it was shot down by enemy fire and crashed in Pepingen. Three crew members were killed and a fourth became PoW.
Crew:
Sgt Donald Arthur Whiting, pilot, †
Sgt Gordon Charles Smith, wireless operator, †
Sgt John Christie, air gunner, †
P/O Antony Edwin Hayward.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Diest

Date & Time: Aug 12, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

V6423

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

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Schedule:

Norwich - Norwich

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The airplane departed RAF Horsham St Faith (Norwich) to attack the Knapsack Power Station in Cologne. Over Belgium, it was shot down by enemy fire and crashed in Diest. All three crew members were injured and became PoW.
Crew:
P/O George Henry Hill,
Sgt Lawrence George Frank Parrish,
P/O William Charles Chadwick.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC in Glabbeek

Date & Time: Aug 6, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 416 Wellington IC

Operator:

Registration:

R1471

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Marham - Marham

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The airplane departed RAF Marham at 2247LT on August 5 on an operation to Mannheim. Passing over Belgium, it was shot down by enemy fire and crashed in Glabbeek. All six crew members were injured, some seriously, and became PoW.
Crew:
Sgt Donald Arthur Boutle,
Sgt Richard Hanmer Hilton-Jones,
Sgt Edward Frank Lambert,
Sgt Alexander Scott Lawson,
F/Lt Frederick Lome Litchfield,
Sgt James Ian Bradley Walker.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax I in Glabbeek: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 6, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax I

Operator:

Registration:

L9516

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

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Site:

Schedule:

Middleton St George - Middleton St George

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The airplane departed RAF Middleton St George in the evening of August 5 on an operation to Karlsruhe. Passing over Belgium, it was shot down by enemy fire and crashed in Glabbeek. Two crew members were killed and five others became PoW.
Crew:
F/Lt Thomas Barker Leigh, air gunner, †
Sgt Robert Brown, wireless operator, †
Sgt Thomas Augustine Byrne,
Sgt John Henry Pitt,
Sgt George William Scardifield Taylor,
Sgt Leonard Arthur Thomson,
Sgt Cyril Bruce Flockhart.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Fiat BR.20M Cigogna in Brussels: 6 killed

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Fiat BR.20 Cigogna

Operator:

Registration:

MM21908

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

City

Schedule:

Brussels - Brussels

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The Italian bomber departed Melsbroek AFB in Brussels between 1745LT and 1830LT with nine other similar airplanes on an operation to England - Harwich, Ipswich, Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth. Over the target area, the airplane was hit by enemy fire and the crew was able to evacuate the combat zone and to fly back to Belgium. On final approach at night, the airplane went out of control and crashed onto several houses located in Diegem, short of runway. All six crew members were killed. It is believed that people on the ground were also killed.
Crew (13th Squadron):
2nd Lt Talete Rebuscini, pilot,
2nd Lt S/T Luigi Dal Forno,
FM Elvio Romito,
1Av Giuseppe Maruelli,
1Av Mario Cini,
1Av Giacomo Columbano.

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