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Norfolk

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I at RAF Langham: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jan 1, 1941 at 1448 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
T9287
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bircham Newton - Langham
MSN:
414-2322
YOM:
1940
Location:
Langham AFB
Norfolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Bircham Newton on a transfer flight to RAF Langham, carrying three crew members, two pilots being given local familiarization and three ground crew who were lifted to RAF Langham. Approaching RAF Langham, the pilot was demonstrating dive-bombing techniques and descended too low when the left wing collided with a barn. The airplane went out of control and crashed, killing all eight occupants.
Crew:
F/O Henry Edward Middleton Featherstone, pilot,
P/O John Buttemer Allen, pilot,
P/O Roy McKenzie Mansell, pilot,
F/O Dennis Maurice Gerald Kiralfry, pilot,
Sgt Robert Arthur Plowright, wireless operator and air gunner.
Passengers:
LAC Kenneth Charles George Gilder,
AC1 George Alexander Meridew,
LAC William Arthur Meller.
Probable cause:
The pilot misjudged the distance between the airplane and the barn while completing a demonstration at low height.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC off Winterton: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1940 at 0230 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 416 Wellington IC
Operator:
Registration:
L7849
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Stradishall - Stradishall
Location:
Winterton-on-Sea
Norfolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The bomber departed RAF Stradishall at 1606LT on December 27 on an operation to Le Havre. While returning to base the following night, it crashed in unknown circumstances off Winterton. Three crew members were killed while three others drowned. At the time of the accident, the wireless was unserviceable.
Crew (214th Squadron):
Sgt Edward Bertram Douglas Jenkins, pilot, †
Sgt F. W. Alleway,
Sgt John Francis Huxtable, †
P/O J. A. Temperley,
Sgt W. B. Vaughan-Davies,
Sgt Albert William Hodgson, wireless operator and air gunner. †

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Little Plumstead: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1940 at 1959 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L9183
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Horsham - Horsham
Location:
Little Plumstead
Norfolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Horsham at 1835LT on an operation to Ostend. It crashed at 1959LT at Manor Farm, Little Plumstead. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Nigel Clifford Ashley, pilot,
Sgt Alfred Robert Clarke, observer,
Sgt Alfred Edward Harrison, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Eye witnesses reported that just prior to the crash, the crew released a flare and as the Blenheim circled, so it collided with the tops of some trees.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Norwich

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1940 at 2150 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
R3744
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
City
Schedule:
Norwich - Norwich
Location:
Norwich
Norfolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Norwich Airport on an operation to Mannheim. Soon after takeoff, the crew encountered difficulties and jettisoned the bomb load that fell into Bond Street in Norwich. At 2150LT, the airplane crashed near the white House at Sprowston in the northeastern suburbs of the city. Two crews were injured and the third was unhurt.
Crew:
Sgt T. E. Barnes,
Sgt H. S. Seward,
Sgt L. B. Walsh.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC at RAF East Wretham: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1940 at 1807 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 416 Wellington IC
Operator:
Registration:
T2577
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
East Wretham - East Wretham
Location:
East Wretham AFB
Norfolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF East Wretham at 1800LT on an operation to Mannheim. After takeoff, the crew encountered technical problems with the engine and decided to return to base. On final approach, approximately 1 km short of runway, the bomber clip a tree with its left wing and crashed, bursting into flames. Three crew members were rescued while three others were killed.
Crew (311th Squadron):
Sgt Jan Křivda, †
Sgt Josef Pavelka,
P/O Vladimir Nedved,
P/O Joseph Doubrava,
Sgt Jiri Janousek, †
P/O Jaromir Toul. †
Testimony from the crew on http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=16278
Probable cause:
Engine problems.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V off Great Yarmouth: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1940 at 2200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley
Operator:
Registration:
T4292
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Topcliffe - Topcliffe
MSN:
1945
YOM:
1940
Location:
Great Yarmouth
Norfolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Topcliffe at 1708LT on an operation to Berlin. It was heard on w/t at 1933LT indicating the airplane had developed a severe engine problem and the operation was being terminated. At 2200LT, the bomber crashed in the North Sea some 30 miles east of Great Yarmouth. No trace of the airplane nor the crew was ever found.
Crew:
P/O Neil Anzac Svenson,
Sgt Edward Frank Wilson,
Sgt Joseph Beattie,
Sgt John Erik Campbell,
Sgt Alfred Russell Fox.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF Oulton: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 11, 1940 at 1100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
R3672
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Oulton - Oulton
Location:
Oulton AFB
Norfolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at RAF Oulton. On final approach, the airplane crashed short of runway. A crew was killed and a second was injured.
Crew:
Sgt M. G. Jackson,
Sgt Eric George Fisher. †

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV near Hemsby: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1940 at 2130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
N3617
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Hemsby
Norfolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The bomber was completing a training sortie when it was mistakenly shot down by friendly fire and crashed in Bridge Farm, near Hemsby. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O William Ross Watson, pilot,
Sgt Gordon Boulton, observer,
Sgt Derek Arthur Shildrick, wireless operator.
Probable cause:
Mistakenly shot down by friendly fire.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Downham Market

Date & Time: Dec 4, 1940 at 0745 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
T1813
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
City
Schedule:
Bodney - Bodney
Location:
Downham Market AFB
Norfolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Bodney in the evening of December 3 on an operation to Essen. While returning to base the following morning, the crew encountered poor weather conditions over East Anglia. Unable to find a gap, the crew decided to abandon the aircraft at an altitude of 6,000 feet in the vicinity of Bircham Newton. The aircraft entered a dive and crashed on Denver Sluice in Downham Market, bursting into flames. All three crew members were uninjured.
Crew:
S/L J. H. McMichael,
Sgt T. C. P. Hodges,
Sgt L. A. Lawrence.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF Oulton

Date & Time: Dec 4, 1940 at 0205 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
T2279
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Oulton - Oulton
Location:
Oulton AFB
Norfolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
At 0205LT, the airplane took off from RAF Oulton on an operation to Germany. It failed to gain sufficient flying speed during the takeoff attempt and crashed into trees on the airfield boundary. All three crew members evacuated safely.
Crew:
F/L D. C. Smythe +2.
Probable cause:
The cause of the accident was attributed to a severe frost which had left a considerable accumulation of ice on the upper surface of the wings.
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