Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Hilborough: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 12, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L9258
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances one mile west of Hilborough, while completing a training mission. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Frederick Alan Smith Fletcher, pilot,
Sgt Lloyd Albert Winston Matthews, observer.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I in Gayton

Date & Time: Jun 8, 1940 at 0325 LT
Operator:
Registration:
P4349
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Hemswell - Hemswell
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Hemswell on a bombing mission over Hanover. On the return trip, while cruising at night, the pilot was forced to attempt an emergency landing due to fuel exhaustion. In limited visibility due to fog, the aircraft crashed in a ploughed field near Gayton. All four crew members escaped uninjured and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
P/O A. Webster,
P/O P. Turnstall,
Sgt R. Jones,
Sgt W. Bissett.
Probable cause:
Fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC in Thetford: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 30, 1940 at 0300 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
P9241
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Newmarket - Newmarket
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Following a mission over Saint-Omer, the crew was returning to his base at night when the airplane ran out of fuel. Four crew members bailed out and the pilot attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed. The pilot was killed while all four other occupants were found safe.
Crew:
P/O James Cameron Young, pilot,
P/O Gordon,
Sgt Little,
AC2 Gale,
LAC Lewis,
AC1 Stock.
Probable cause:
Ran out of fuel.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC off Great Yarmouth

Date & Time: May 20, 1940 at 0320 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
R3200
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Newmarket - Newmarket
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Newmarket at 2212LT on May 19 to bomb Hamburg and with Mannheim as secondary target. It was hit by Flak and the crew was able to evacuate the area to return to his base. Approaching the British coast with both engines malfunctioning, the captain ditched the airplane some 30 miles off Great Yarmouth. All six crew members were rescued.
Crew:
F/Lt P. C. Pickard, pilot,
P/O Thomas, pilot,
Sgt Alan Broadley, observer,
Sgt Hannigan,
Sgt Harniman, wireless operator,
Sgt Mills, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF Bodney

Date & Time: May 14, 1940 at 2015 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
P6890
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bodney - Bodney
MSN:
9415
YOM:
1939
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Bodney to bomb German positions in Sedan. Approaching the target, the aircraft was hit by enemy fire. The pilot decided to evacuate the area and to return to his base. On final approach to RAF Bodney, the airplane crashed in a field. All three crew members were rescued, among them one was injured.
Crew:
S/L J. C. G. Sarll, pilot,
Sgt Jennings, observer,
AC1 Lionel Harvey Lightfoot, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

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

Date & Time: May 11, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
P6886
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Watton - Watton
MSN:
9411
YOM:
1939
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While overflying Belgium at an altitude of 15,000 on a reconnaissance mission, the airplane was hit by Flak. The crew decided to return to RAF Watton when the airplane crashed on approach. A crewman was killed and two other occupants were injured.
Crew:
P/O P. MacDonald's, pilot +1,
AC1 Robert Charleton, wireless operator and air gunner. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

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

Date & Time: Apr 8, 1940 at 1045 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
P4855
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
9370
YOM:
1939
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While cruising in clouds, the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent during which the pilot was able to bail out before the airplane crashed in a field. All three other crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Bennett, pilot,
Sgt Ian Nairne Murdoch, observer,
Sgt George Chapman, observer,
AC2 John William Kempton, wireless operator and air gunner.

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

Date & Time: Apr 6, 1940 at 0405 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L8740
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Watton - Watton
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Watton at 0400LT on an anti-submarine patrol mission. Five minutes after takeoff, while climbing at night, the airplane went out of control and crashed in Attleborough, about 10 km southeast of the airbase. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Ian Stapledon, pilot,
Sgt Walter Jonathan Wetton, observer,
LAC John Brayfield Ball, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF Watton

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1940 at 0906 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
P6887
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Watton - Watton
MSN:
9412
YOM:
1939
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During initial climb out from RAF Watton, the airplane impacted a tree located past the runway end, stalled and crashed, one minute after takeoff. All three crew members were rescued, among them one was injured.
Crew:
S/L G. A. M. Pryde,
Sgt Jennings,
AC1 O'Connor.

Crash of a Vickers 408 Wellington IA in RAF Marham

Date & Time: Mar 23, 1940 at 2010 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N2950
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Marham - Marham
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from RAF Marham, while climbing, the pilot informed ATC about engine problems and attempted to make an emergency landing. The aircraft stalled and crashed in flames in a field. All five crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was wrecked.
Crew (115th Squadron):
F/S G. A. Powell 4.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.