Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V at RAF Bircham Newton: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 8, 1940
Operator:
Registration:
T4137
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Linton-on-Ouse - Lonton-on-Ouse
MSN:
1830
YOM:
1940
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Linton-on-Ouse at 1825LT on October 7 on an operation to Gelsenkirchen. Following a successful attack, the crew returned to his base but reported problems with the left engine. On final approach to RAF Bircham Newton, the airplane crashed, killing the entire crew.
Crew:
P/O Ronald Arnold Hadley, pilot,
Sgt Charles Austin Wright, pilot,
P/O Richard Arthur Phillips, observer,
Sgt George Edgar Hall, wireless operator,
Sgt James Munro Ramsay.
Probable cause:
Engine problems.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I at RAF Bircham Newton

Date & Time: Oct 1, 1940
Operator:
Registration:
P4411
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bircham Newton - Bircham Newton
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Bircham Newton at 2315LT on September 30 on an operation to Berlin. Due to intense antiaircraft fire over the target area, the crew attacked another target then returned to his base at the end of the night. While overflying Terschelling, in the Netherlands, the left engine caught fire due to an oil leak and failed. Nevertheless, the crew was able to continue to RAF Bircham Newton but on short final at dawn, the airplane crash in Docking, north of the airfield. All four crew members were uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed.
Crew:
P/O D. E. F. Powell,
Sgt Martin,
Sgt R. E. Drake,
Sgt Green.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I at RAF Bircham Newton

Date & Time: Sep 30, 1940 at 2300 LT
Operator:
Registration:
P4395
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bircham Newton - Bircham Newton
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after a night takeoff from RAF Bircham Newton, the airplane suffered an engine failure and crashed. All four crew members escaped unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
S/L Oxley,
P/O Hook,
P/O Pichel-Juan,
Sgt Fullerton.
Probable cause:
Engine failure upon takeoff.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V in Wells-next-the-Sea

Date & Time: Sep 8, 1940 at 0100 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N1414
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1568
YOM:
1939
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane took off at 2350LT on September 7 to reconnoitre the French and Belgian coastline. 51 Squadron ORB indicates an engine failed while the crew were outbound and despite jettisoning the bomb-load, the pilot was unable to maintain height and subsequently a crash landing was made at 0100LT near Wells, Norfolk. A reliable private source reports that the incident occurred at 0350LT at Hindringham, 4 miles southeast of Wells-next-the-Sea, suggesting the possibility that the crew may have been on the return part of their operation.
Crew:
S/L J. B. Tait,
P/O A. G. Davies,
Sgt T. Gray,
Sgt A. E. Creswell,
Sgt Short.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

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

Date & Time: Sep 6, 1940
Operator:
Registration:
X2894
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Hemswell - Hemswell
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Hemswell on an operation to Szczecin (Stettin). On the return flight, out of fuel, it crashed in an open field located in Stradsett. A crew member was killed and three others were injured.
Crew:
F/L D. J. How, pilot,
Sgt A. A. Brooker,
Sgt C. Dickinson,
Sgt Charles John Knight, wireless operator and air gunner. †
Probable cause:
Emergency landing due to fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF Great Massingham: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 4, 1940 at 0100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L9188
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
West Raynham - West Raynham
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF West Raynham in the evening of September 3 on a mission over northwest Germany. On the return flight at night, it crashed upon landing at RAF Great Massingham for unknown reasons. Two crew members were killed and a third was injured.
Crew:
Sgt John Wollaston Keith Allen, pilot, †
Sgt Edmond Ernest Raymond Walsh, observer, †
Sgt J. Kane, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC at RAF East Wretham

Date & Time: Sep 2, 1940 at 0438 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
R3159
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Mildenhall - East Wretham
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed RAF Mildenhall at 2050LT on September 1st on a bombing mission over Hanover. On the return trip, while completing a last turn on approach to RAF East Wretham, the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed, bursting into flames. A fire broke out, followed by an explosion that totally wrecked the aircraft. All six crew members were injured.
Crew (75th Squadron):
P/O N. R. Peel,
P/O J. L. Sharp,
Sgt R. C. Lord,
Sgt P. Crossley,
Sgt P. W. G. Lester,
Sgt R. A. Newton.
Probable cause:
The cause of the crash was attributed to the pilot losing sight of the flare-path while turning in poor visibility.

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

Date & Time: Sep 2, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L8796
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Wyton - Wyton
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Wyton on a mission over Northwest Germany. While returning, it crashed upon landing at RAF West Raynham. A crew was killed and two others were injured.
Crew:
P/O R. V. Whitehead,
Sgt J. E. Robbins,
Sgt Alfred Robert Coburn. †

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I off Cromer

Date & Time: Sep 1, 1940 at 0535 LT
Operator:
Registration:
P2123
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Waddington - Waddington
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Waddington at 2005LT on August 31 on a bombing mission over Berlin. While returning to its base, it was ditched at 0535LT off the beach at Cromer. All four crew members were uninjured and quickly came ashore by dinghy.
Crew:
P/O D. Romans,
P/O D. E. Stewart,
Sgt H. Logan,
Sgt Mandale.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Weasenham: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 31, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L9378
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
West Raynham - West Raynham
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF West Raynham on an operation to Northwest Germany. While cruising in bad visibility, it crashed in unknown circumstances one mile southeast of Weasenham. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Leslie Arthur Williams, pilot,
Sgt Aubrey Ernest Owles, observer,
Sgt Ralph Henderson Goff Jones, wireless operator and air gunner.