Country
code

Nord

Crash of a Swearingen SA226T Merlin IIIA in Lille: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 16, 1980
Operator:
Registration:
CF-03
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Lille - Lille
MSN:
T-262
YOM:
1976
Flight number:
BAF53
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
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:
Operator:
Registration:
G-AJWD
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
MSN:
6412
YOM:
1947
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
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:
Operator:
Registration:
WF426
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
569
YOM:
1952
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
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:
Operator:
Registration:
MG552
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
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
Operator:
Registration:
42-68822
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Creil – Cambrai
MSN:
11749
YOM:
1943
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
22
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
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
Operator:
Registration:
BZ399
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Swanton Morlay - Swanton Morlay
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
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 Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II in Bergues: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 28, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
R9528
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Dalton - Dalton
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Dalton at 2206LT on an operation to Dunkirk. Over the target area, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in Bergues. Three crew members were killed and four others became PoW.
Crew:
Sgt John Wallace Barber, pilot, †
Sgt Frederick A. Barker, flight engineer,
Sgt George William Butterworth, navigator, †
Sgt T. G. Johnson, observer,
Sgt William Nicoll, wireless operator, †
Sgt G. V. Long, air gunner,
Sgt A. R. Evans, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II near Dunkirk: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 28, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
W1017
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Middleton Saint George - Middleton Saint George
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Middleton St George on an operation to Dunkirk. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed. Four crew members were killed and three others became PoW.
Crew:
Sgt Peter Cant Morris, pilot, †
Sgt Gerald Anthony Simpson, pilot, †
P/O William Alexander Trickett, navigator,
Sgt John Potts, wireless operator, †
P/O W. A. Shiells, wireless operator,
Sgt J. W. Brown, air gunner,
F/Sgt George Sanderson, air gunner. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7 Bostson III near Bourbourg

Date & Time: Apr 27, 1942 at 1550 LT
Operator:
Registration:
Z2194
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Great Massingham - Great Massingham
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Great Massingham at 1422LT on an operation to Lille. Southwest of Dunkirk, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed near Bourbourg. All three crew members became PoW.
Crew:
Sgt Kenneth Nicholas Carpenter, pilot,
F/Lt John Francis Williams, observer,
Sgt Gordon Samuel Gay Black, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7 Boston III off Dunkirk: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 25, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
Z2265
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Swanton Morley - Swanton Morley
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Swanton Morley at 0935LT to bomb a dry dock at Dunkirk. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed into the sea off Dunkirk. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O William Ernest Newton Pasterfield, pilot,
Sgt Edmund Ronald Baird, navigator,
Sgt Joseph Morris, wireless operator,
Sgt Reginald Clifden Darnell, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.