Nord | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The crew was engaged in a local training flight at Lille-Lesquin Airport and was completing several touch-and-go maneuvers. On final approach, just prior to touchdown, the airplane went out of control and crashed onto the runway. It was damaged beyond repair and both pilots were killed.
Crew:
Jean-Claude Timmermans, student pilot,
Étienne Lemmens, instructor.

Probable cause:

It was determined that one of the propeller went into reverse mode just prior to touchdown for undetermined reasons, causing the aircraft to lose speed and height.

Crash of a Miles M.57 Aerovan V in Herzeele

Date & Time: Aug 26, 1956

Type of aircraft:

Miles M.57 Aerovan

Operator:

Air Ads

Registration:

G-AJWD

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

6412

YOM:

1947

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For unknown reason, the pilot was forced to make an emergency landing in a field located in Herzeele, about 20 km south of Dunkerque. The aircraft was written off and the occupant fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Vickers 648 Varsity T.1 in Vicq: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 26, 1955 at 0015 LT

Type of aircraft:

Vickers Varsity

Operator:

Registration:

WF426

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

City

MSN:

569

YOM:

1952

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Parked at RAF Thorney Island, West Sussex, the aircraft was stolen by Manik Agnani, a 22 years old mechanic from the RAF who did not held any pilot licence. Hew flew over the London area for more than three hours and then changed his route and flew to the south, over The Channel and then to France. Shortly past midnight, he lost control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed in flames onto a house located in Vicq, about 9 km northeast of Valenciennes. The pilot was killed and four people in the house as well, two old people and two young girls aged 9 and 10.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I near Dunkirk: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 8, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

MG552

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

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The crew was performing a flight from Knokke le Zoute Airfield, near Zeebrugge, to England. While approaching Dunkirk, the twin engine aircraft was shot down by the German Flak and crashed, killing all four crew members. It appears that the crew was flying too close to the city of Dunkirk which was still occupied by the German forces.
Crew (276th Squadron):
W/Cdr Norman John Starr,
W/Cdr James Heathcote Humphris,
S/L Henry Crawford Haley,
F/O Rowland Baker Moore.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Douglas C-53D-DO Skytrooper in Cambrai

Date & Time: Nov 1, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-53 Skytrooper (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

42-68822

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Creil – Cambrai

MSN:

11749

YOM:

1943

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Crash landed for unknown reason at Cambrai-Niergnies Airfield. No casualties.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7 Boston IIIA in Lille

Date & Time: Jul 26, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston

Operator:

Registration:

BZ399

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Supply

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Swanton Morlay - Swanton Morlay

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Following an uneventful supply mission over Courtrai, Belgium, the twin engine aircraft was returning to its base in Swanton Morlay, when the crew encountered engine problems and was forced to divert to Lille Airport. The crew completed a belly landing and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair while all four crew members were uninjured.
Crew (88th Squadron):
F/O J. B. Wilson,
P/O W. T. MacDonald,
F/L F. J. G. Patridge,
Sgt. T. Hunt.

Probable cause:

Both engine should be cut by the crew for unknown reason.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7B Boston III in Lille

Date & Time: Jul 19, 1942 at 1520 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston

Operator:

Registration:

Z2231

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

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Schedule:

Attlebridge - Attlebridge

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The airplane departed RAF Attlebridge at 1409LT on an operation to Lille. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by the German Flak. The pilot was able to make an emergency landing in a field located nearby the Citadelle de Lille. All three crew members became PoW.
Crew:
P/O Aubrey Kelland Collins Niner, pilot,
F/Lt Phillip Jacobs, observer,
Sgt George Frederick Lawman, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling I in Saint-Remy-du-Nord: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 17, 1942 at 0214 LT

Type of aircraft:

Short S.29 Stirling

Operator:

Registration:

R9324

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Oakington - Oakington

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The airplane departed RAF Oakington at 2337LT on June 16 on an operation to Essen. While returning to base, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in Saint-Remy-du-Nord. Three crew members were killed and five others became PoW.
Crew:
F/Sgt Thomas Templeman, pilot,
F/Lt Henri Hayden Haszard, pilot,
Sgt Leonard Clinton Fenton, flight engineer, †
Sgt Kempton Richard Cooper, navigator,
Sgt John Storey Duckworth, bomb aimer,
Sgt Jimmy E. Thomas, wireless operator,
P/O Donald White, air gunner, †
F/Sgt Thomas Watkins Rayment, air gunner. †

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Vickers 424 Wellington IV in Trelon: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 7, 1942 at 0253 LT

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 424 Wellington IV

Operator:

Registration:

Z1413

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

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Schedule:

Breighton - Breighton

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The airplane departed RAF Breighton at 2130LT on May 6 on an operation to Stuttgart. Passing over France, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in a wooded area named Le Rond Bois, in Trelon. A crew member was killed and five others became PoW.
Crew:
F/O William Joseph Kennedy, pilot, †
P/O Ian Frederick Keys, pilot,
P/O Henry Roland Train, observer,
Sgt Selwyn Hamilton Sharp, bomb aimer,
Sgt Jack Mitchell Stephenson, wireless operator,
P/O Roderick Roland Ferry, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot downy a German fighter.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling I in Moranrieux: 7 killed

Date & Time: May 6, 1942 at 0330 LT

Type of aircraft:

Short S.29 Stirling

Operator:

Registration:

N3710

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Oakington - Oakington

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Oakington at 2133LT on May 5 on an operation to Stuttgart. Approaching the Belgian border, the airplane was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in Moranrieux. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Jeffrey Lewis, pilot,
Sgt Geoffrey Sherwood Markland, pilot,
Sgt Anthony John Higgins, flight engineer,
Sgt John Arthur Edwards, observer,
Sgt Arthur Sylwood Lush, wireless operator,
P/O Robert Leonard Wootley, wireless operator,
F/Sgt Geoffrey Russell Gahan, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

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