Manche | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The crew was taking part to the D-Day over Normandy and left the RAF Merryfield in the evening of June 5. While flying in the region of Carentan, the aircraft was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in a field. All 22 occupants were killed.
Crew (441st TCG):
2nd Lt Eugene Hennig, pilot,
2nd Lt Albert Dorrance, copilot,
T/Sgt Dave Kramer, flight engineer,
Cpl James Davison, radio operator.
Paratroopers (101st Division):
Pfc Chavez San Juan,
Cpl Thomas Harris,
Pvt Claude Hope,
S/Sgt George Hurt,
Pvt William Jacobs,
Sgt Robert Kennel,
T/5 Dale Knight,
T/4 Joseph Liorida,
1st Sgt Fred Moeller,
Pvt Onger Ellsworth,
Pfc James Sheen,
Pvt Clifford Smith,
Pfc Doyce Spruell,
Pvt Robert Vail,
Pvt Zale Wells,
Sgt Louis Wesctcoat,
Pvt Sterling Hammond,
1st Lt Ian Nicholson Ian.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Douglas A-20J-10-DO Havoc in Beauvoir: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 12, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston

Operator:

Registration:

43-10129

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En route, the twin engine aircraft was hit by Flak and caught fire. Out of control, the aircraft dove into the ground and crashed. Two crew members survived (bail out ?) while both others were killed.

Probable cause:

Shot down by Flak.

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

Date & Time: Nov 26, 1943

Type of aircraft:

North American B-25 Mitchell

Operator:

Registration:

FR146

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While on a bombing mission in the region of Cherbourg, the twin engine aircraft was hit by the German Flak. The pilot reduced his altitude and attempted to make an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in an open field. Two crew members were killed while two others were injured.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

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

Date & Time: Oct 28, 1943

Type of aircraft:

North American B-25 Mitchell

Operator:

Registration:

FR174

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

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While taking part to a bombing mission over Cherbourg, the aircraft was hit by the German Flak and crashed in an open field. All four crew were killed.
Crew (320th Squadron):
Cap A. J. van Dieren Bijvoet, pilot,
C. van der Knaap, pilot and navigator,
Pierre Fortunus van Woesik, wireless operator
A. G. van Apeldoorn, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I in Créances: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden

Operator:

Registration:

AE359

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North Luffenham - North Luffenham

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The airplane departed RAF North Luffenham on an operation to Brest and it crashed in unknown circumstances in Créances. A crew was killed and three others became PoW.
Crew:
Sgt Peter Lawrence Edward Le Queux, pilot, †
Sgt John Knight Barron Laing,
Sgt Roland George Saunders,
Sgt Colin McVicar Smart.

Crash of a Vickers 424 Wellington IV in Golleville: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jan 9, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 424 Wellington IV

Operator:

Registration:

R1785

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

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Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Holme-on-Spalding-Moor - Holme-on-Spalding-Moor

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The airplane departed RAF Holme-on-Spalding-Moor at 0435LT on an operation to Cherbourg. After passing over the target area, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in Golleville, about 23 km south-southeast of Cherbourg. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Albert Sydney Austin, wireless operator,
P/O Robert Birnie, observer,
Sgt William Wallace Forgan,
F/O Bernard Peter Hickey,
Sgt Fred Hinton, air gunner,
Sgt Victor William Johnstone.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson V off Cherbourg: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 24, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-414 Hudson

Operator:

Registration:

AM862

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Aerial photography

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Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Thorney Island - Thorney Island

MSN:

414-2944

YOM:

1941

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The airplane departed RAF Thorney Island on a reconnaissance photo operation over Cherbourg. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in the harbor of Cherbourg. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Lt David Adye Buchan, pilot,
Sgt Patrick Godfrey Thompson, observer,
Sgt Richard Elwyd French, wireless operator,
Sgt Arthur Stringer, wireless operator.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax I in Valognes

Date & Time: Sep 11, 1941 at 0615 LT

Type of aircraft:

Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax I

Operator:

Registration:

Z9566

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Stradishall - Stradishall

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The airplane departed RAF Stradishall at 2235LT on September 10 on an operation to Torino. While returning to base the following morning, it crash landed near Valognes and was damaged beyond repair. All seven crew members became PoW.
Crew:
Sgt Ernest Henry Jackson,
Sgt John Edmund Murrell,
Sgt Alexander Osborne,
Sgt Alexander Urquhart,
F/O Gerald Standish Williams,
P/O James Oliver Hedley,
Sgt Charles Frederic Seymour Ryder.

Probable cause:

It is believed that the crew mistook the Cherbourg peninsula for the English coast and turned towards France, instead of maintaining a northerly track.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Cherbourg

Date & Time: Jul 9, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

V6398

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Watton - Watton

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The airplane departed RAF Watton at 1040LT to attacks the docks in Cherbourg. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by enemy fire and crashed. All three crew members became PoW.
Crew:
Sgt William Douglas Barker,
Sgt Cyril Gordon Penn,
S/L Herbert John Charles Tudge.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

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

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden

Operator:

Registration:

AD732

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Hemswell - Hemswell

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The airplane departed RAF Hemswell at 1520LT to attack the airport of Cherbourg. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed east of the airfield. Three crew members were killed and a fourth became PoW.
Crew:
F/Lt Richard Sydney Edward Aldridge, pilot, †
Sgt Arthur Drury, wireless operator, †
P/O Frederick William Holden, observer, †
Sgt Kenneth Downing.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.