Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Dungeness

Date & Time: May 22, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
P4925
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Wattisham - Wattisham
MSN:
9407
YOM:
1939
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Wattisham at 1615LT to attack German troops advancing to the northern French coast. After being hit by Flak, the crew decided to return to UK with one engine out. Approaching the British coast, the second engine failed and the pilot ditched the airplane about 10 km offshore. All three crew members were rescued about 90 minutes later.
Crew:
P/O J. A. Miller, pilot,
Sgt R. J. Saunders, observer,
LAC W. Stokell, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by Flak.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF Hawkinge

Date & Time: May 22, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
R3596
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Hawkinge - Hawkinge
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After being hit by Flak over the French - Belgian border, the crew returned to his base at RAF Hawkinge when the airplane crashed upon landing. All three crew members survived and LAC A. C. Jeffrey was injured.
Probable cause:
Hit by Flak.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IF in Manston: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 11, 1940 at 2320 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L6682
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Manston - Manston
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
On final approach to Manston Airport at night, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low. The airplane impacted a tree and crashed in a field, bursting into flames. A crew was killed while two others were injured.
Crew:
F/O Anthony Henry Hamilton Tollemach, pilot,
2nd Lt Philip Rowland Sperling, observer, †
LAC Smith, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Too low approach at night.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I on Meopham: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 3, 1940 at 1440 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7334
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Heston - Heston
MSN:
414-1730
YOM:
1940
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The aircraft was tasked with an operation to photograph RAF airfields as part of the recently formed Photographic Development Unit (PDU). The aircraft used for the mission was the first of a number of recently acquired American built Lockheed Hudson twin-engine and twin-rudder airplanes installed with a camera and with the rear gun turret not fitted. It was painted with a camouflage marking scheme that was different to the usual RAF pattern which would have dire consequences for the four man crew. While cruising over the region of Gravesend, the twin engine aircraft was attacked and shot down by the pilots of three RAF Hawker Hurricane, engulfed in flames and dove into the ground. During the descent, the copilot was able to bail out before the aircraft crashed in a field near Meopham. All three other occupants were killed.
Crew:
F/O Sydney Dennis Slocum, pilot, †
Sgt J. A. W. Reid, copilot,
LAC John Ambrose Butcher, wireless operator & photographer, †
LAC Ronald Arno Mutton. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by mistake by three RAF fighters.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I at RAF Detling: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 10, 1939 at 0741 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N5231
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Detling - Detling
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Detling on a maritime patrol flight over The Channel. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing in low clouds, the twin engine airplane impacted trees and crashed. All four crew members were injured. The wireless operator died few hours later from injuries sustained.
Crew:
P/O B. H. Arkell, pilot,
LAC J. Walton,
LAC Henry John Le Gassick, wireless operator, †
Sgt Braybrooks.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I near Benenden: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 7, 1939 at 2040 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N5233
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Detling - Detling
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a coastal patrol mission our from RAF Detling. While flying along the Kent coast in poor weather conditions, one of the engine failed. The crew elected to return to RAF Detling but control was lost. One of the crew member was able to bail out and survived while three other crew members were killed after the aircraft crashed in a pasture located near Benenden.
Crew:
F/O Dennis Guy Mabey, pilot, †
P/O Andrew MacDonald Paterson, copilot, †
Cpl John Francis Drew, wireless operator, †
LAC Frederick Messent, gunner.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I off Seasalter

Date & Time: Sep 9, 1939 at 2245 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N5066
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Detling - Detling
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following a reconnaissance mission over the North Sea, the twin engine airplane was returning to its base in Detling. In poor visibility due to fog, the aircraft ran out of fuel. The pilot attempted to ditch the aircraft off Seasalter, northern Kent. All four crew members were rescued and the airplane sank and was lost.
Crew:
P/O Lane, pilot,
P/O E. N. Harris, copilot,
AC2 Ronald Harold Coomber,
AC2 William Joseph Smith.
Probable cause:
Emergency landing caused by a fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60G Moth in Borough Green: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 18, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
G-ABAM
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
West Malling - West Malling
MSN:
1263
YOM:
1930
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot departed West Malling Airport on a solo training flight. In unknown circumstances, the airplane crashed in a pasture located in Borough Green, Kent. The pilot was killed.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I at RAF Hawkinge

Date & Time: Aug 1, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L1241
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Hawkinge - Hawkinge
MSN:
8524
YOM:
1938
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing at RAF Hawkinge, the airplane encountered difficulties to stop within the remaining distance. It overran and came to rest in a ditch. All three crewmen evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60G Gipsy Moth in Tilmanstone: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 21, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
G-ABJZ
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Bekesbourne - Bekesbourne
MSN:
1842
YOM:
1931
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
A student pilot and an instructor departed Bekesbourne Airfield on a training flight. En route, the airplane collided with a RAF Hawker Hind registered K5418 and carrying one pilot. Following the collision, both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a pasture located in Tilmanstone, west of Deal. All three occupants were killed.