Country
code
Groningen
Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I in Nieuwolda: 7 killed
Date & Time:
Apr 23, 1944
Operator:
Registration:
LL892
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Waddington - Waddington
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew left RAF Waddington in the evening on a bombing mission to Braunschweig. While overflying The Netherlands by night, the crew encountered unknown problems and the captain reduced his altitude in attempting an emergency landing. While flying at low height and while in flames, the bomber eventually went out of control and crashed in a huge explosion in a field located in Nieuwolda, east of Groningen. All seven crew members were killed and the aircraft was totally destroyed on impact.
Crew (463rd Squadron):
P/O Charles Schomberg, pilot,
F/L Hubert Petts, navigator,
F/P Leonard Calderwood, mid up gunner,
F/S James Harden, bomb aimer,
F/S Donald McDonald, tail gunner,
F/S Wilfred Millar, wireless operator,
Sgt Harry Steels, engineer.
Crew (463rd Squadron):
P/O Charles Schomberg, pilot,
F/L Hubert Petts, navigator,
F/P Leonard Calderwood, mid up gunner,
F/S James Harden, bomb aimer,
F/S Donald McDonald, tail gunner,
F/S Wilfred Millar, wireless operator,
Sgt Harry Steels, engineer.
Crash of a Boeing B-17F-50-DL Flying Fortress in Bellingwolde: 10 killed
Date & Time:
Oct 8, 1943 at 1508 LT
Operator:
Registration:
42-3386
Survivors:
No
MSN:
8322
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The aircraft left its base in UK in 1153LT on a bombing mission to Bremen. While flying over The Netherlands, the aircraft collided with a German fighter and crashed in a field, killing all ten crew members.
Crew (351st BS):
S/Sgt William A. Avery Jr.,
2nd Lt Edward J. Fox,
1st Lt Raymond J. Gormley,
2nd Lt William J. Heath,
S/Sgt Donald R. Hilton,
T/Sgt Jay B. McPhee,
2nd Lt Peter T. Motta,
S/Sgt Charles Presley,
S/Sgt Clay E. Rife,
T/Sgt Dale A. Von Seggern.
Crew (351st BS):
S/Sgt William A. Avery Jr.,
2nd Lt Edward J. Fox,
1st Lt Raymond J. Gormley,
2nd Lt William J. Heath,
S/Sgt Donald R. Hilton,
T/Sgt Jay B. McPhee,
2nd Lt Peter T. Motta,
S/Sgt Charles Presley,
S/Sgt Clay E. Rife,
T/Sgt Dale A. Von Seggern.
Probable cause:
In flight collision with a German fighter.
Crash of a Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress in Vriescheloo: 3 killed
Date & Time:
Jul 26, 1943 at 1300 LT
Operator:
Registration:
42-30156
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Thurleigh - Thurleigh
MSN:
5270
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The four engine bomber left RAF Thurleigh in the morning on a bombing mission to Hanover, Germany. Following an uneventful mission and while returning to its base, the aircraft was hit by the German Flak and shot down by the pilot of a German fighter. A crew member was killed while nine other occupants bailed out. Unfortunately, two of them were killed as their parachute did not open properly.
Crew (423th Squadron):
Wes Courson, pilot,
Roy Bronson, copilot,
Ted Grezlak, navigator,
Henry Lynch, bombardier,
John Champion, flight engineer,
Cedric White, air gunner,
Bill Lamb, air gunner,
S/Sgt William G. Dayton, radio operator, †
Sgt Dock G. Thomas Jr., air gunner, †
Sgt Robert C. Stevens, air gunner. †
Crew (423th Squadron):
Wes Courson, pilot,
Roy Bronson, copilot,
Ted Grezlak, navigator,
Henry Lynch, bombardier,
John Champion, flight engineer,
Cedric White, air gunner,
Bill Lamb, air gunner,
S/Sgt William G. Dayton, radio operator, †
Sgt Dock G. Thomas Jr., air gunner, †
Sgt Robert C. Stevens, air gunner. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak and a German fighter as well.
Crash of a Dornier DO.217E-4 near Slochteren: 1 killed
Date & Time:
Jan 9, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
U5+CT
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Deelen - Deelen
MSN:
4399
YOM:
1941
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Deelen AFB to lay mines in the Humber mouth. While returning to base, it was mistakenly shot down by the Dutch Marine Flak and crash landed near Slochteren. A crew was killed and three others were injured.
Crew:
Ogfr Müller, pilot,
Uffz A. Ehm, observer,
Ogfr Bein, radio operator,
Ogfr W. Künzer, air gunner. †
Crew:
Ogfr Müller, pilot,
Uffz A. Ehm, observer,
Ogfr Bein, radio operator,
Ogfr W. Künzer, air gunner. †
Probable cause:
Mistakenly shot down by the German Marine Flak.
Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II off Rottumeroog Island: 7 killed
Date & Time:
Nov 8, 1942 at 2242 LT
Operator:
Registration:
DT550
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Linton-on-Ouse - Linton-on-Ouse
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Linton-on-Ouse at 1701LT on a mine laying operation. Approaching the Dutch coast, it was shot down by the German Marine Flak and crashed on a sandbank near Rottumeroog Island. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt George Gerhard Sawatzky, pilot,
Sgt Edward Henry Seares, flight engineer,
F/O William Gustave Barrett, navigator,
Sgt John McGauchie, air bomber,
F/Sgt Clarence Bruce Finley, wireless operator,
Sgt Terence Aloysius Keech, air gunner,
Sgt Ronald Herbert George Bowkett, air gunner.
Crew:
F/Sgt George Gerhard Sawatzky, pilot,
Sgt Edward Henry Seares, flight engineer,
F/O William Gustave Barrett, navigator,
Sgt John McGauchie, air bomber,
F/Sgt Clarence Bruce Finley, wireless operator,
Sgt Terence Aloysius Keech, air gunner,
Sgt Ronald Herbert George Bowkett, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Marine Flak.
Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I in Stadskanaal: 2 killed
Date & Time:
Sep 14, 1942 at 0308 LT
Operator:
Registration:
L4109
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Cottesmore - Cottesmore
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Cottesmore at 2354LT on September 13 on an operation to Bremen. While returning to base the following night, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in Stadskanaal, some 36 km southeast of Groningen. Two crew members were killed and two others became PoW.
Crew:
F/Sgt Roman Grabek, pilot, †
Sgt George Edward Cragg Coldron, observer, †
Sgt Roland Carlson, wireless operator,
Sgt Thomas Francis Needham, air gunner.
Crew:
F/Sgt Roman Grabek, pilot, †
Sgt George Edward Cragg Coldron, observer, †
Sgt Roland Carlson, wireless operator,
Sgt Thomas Francis Needham, air gunner.
Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II into the Lauwersmeer: 1 killed
Date & Time:
Jul 9, 1942 at 0152 LT
Operator:
Registration:
W1107
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Topcliffe - Topcliffe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Topcliffe at 0010LT on an operation to Wilhelmshaven. Over the Netherlands, it was shot down by a German fighter and caught fire. Five crew members were able to bail out and became PoW. The airplane entered a dive and crashed into the Lauwersmeer, bordering the Dutch provinces of Friesland and Groningen. A crew member did not survive.
Crew:
F/Sgt Brian James Treloar, pilot,
Sgt Jack Powell, flight engineer,
Sgt David Boston Patterson, navigator,
Sgt Lleslie Williams, wireless operator,
Sgt Alan George Parrot, air gunner, †
Sgt Albert Geroge Frampton, air gunner.
Crew:
F/Sgt Brian James Treloar, pilot,
Sgt Jack Powell, flight engineer,
Sgt David Boston Patterson, navigator,
Sgt Lleslie Williams, wireless operator,
Sgt Alan George Parrot, air gunner, †
Sgt Albert Geroge Frampton, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.
Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III off Rottumeroog Island: 6 killed
Date & Time:
Jul 9, 1942 at 0130 LT
Operator:
Registration:
X3557
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Feltwell - Feltwell
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Feltwell on an operation to Wilhelmshaven. Approaching the Dutch coast at night, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed into the sea off Rottumeroog Island. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Trevor Harvey Smith, pilot,
P/O Donald Norman Potts, pilot,
P/O Alan Stewart Broun, navigator,
Sgt George Anthony Young, wireless operator,
Sgt Frank Edwin McKenzie, wireless operator,
P/O Jack Ralph Gavegan, air gunner.
Crew:
P/O Trevor Harvey Smith, pilot,
P/O Donald Norman Potts, pilot,
P/O Alan Stewart Broun, navigator,
Sgt George Anthony Young, wireless operator,
Sgt Frank Edwin McKenzie, wireless operator,
P/O Jack Ralph Gavegan, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.
Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling I in Westernieland: 8 killed
Date & Time:
Jul 3, 1942 at 0150 LT
Operator:
Registration:
BF313
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Stradishall - Stradishall
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Stradishall on an operation to Bremen. Over the Netherlands, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed near Westernieland. All eight crew members were killed.
Crew:
W/Cdr Kenneth Duke Knocker, pilot,
Sgt Tristram Edward Leonard Palmer, pilot,
Sgt John William Caddick Underwood, flight engineer,
P/O Daniel Malofie, observer,
F/Sgt Robert Henry Ritchie, wireless operator,
F/Sgt Ernest George Wilson, wireless operator,
Sgt Peter Frederick Inman, air gunner,
Sgt Richard Fairhurst, air gunner.
Crew:
W/Cdr Kenneth Duke Knocker, pilot,
Sgt Tristram Edward Leonard Palmer, pilot,
Sgt John William Caddick Underwood, flight engineer,
P/O Daniel Malofie, observer,
F/Sgt Robert Henry Ritchie, wireless operator,
F/Sgt Ernest George Wilson, wireless operator,
Sgt Peter Frederick Inman, air gunner,
Sgt Richard Fairhurst, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.
