Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Norwich

Date & Time: Feb 28, 1940 at 1100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N6201
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
9300
YOM:
1939
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane crashed upon landing at Norwich Municipal Airport. The pilot was injured.
Crew:
P/O G. H. Pemberton, pilot.

Crash of a Vickers 408 Wellington IA at RAF Marham

Date & Time: Feb 24, 1940 at 1940 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N2948
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Marham - Tewkesbury
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a night training flight. After takeoff, the aircraft failed to climb properly, impacted a tree located 1,500 metres past the runway end, stalled and crashed in a field. All three crewmen were seriously injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Crew (115th Squadron):
F/O E. G. Scott +2.

Crash of a Vickers 408 Wellington IA in Melton Constable

Date & Time: Feb 21, 1940 at 0830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
P2526
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Marham - Marham
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following a reconnaissance mission over the North Sea, the crew was returning to RAF Marham when he lost his orientation. He tried to obtain bearings from Digby but the response was slow in coming and the aircraft ran out of fuel. The captain attempted an emergency landing in a field located in Melton Constable. A crew was injured and five others were unhurt.
Crew (38th Squadron):
F/L M. Nolan,
Sgt Cross,
Sgt Cousens,
LAC Parker,
LAC Clifton,
LAC Webb.
Probable cause:
Emergency landing due to a fuel exhaustion.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I off Great Yarmouth

Date & Time: Jan 16, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
K8833
Flight Phase:
Schedule:
Manston - Manston
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Manston on a maritime patrol flight with three crew members on board. It crashed in unknown circumstances into the North Sea off Great Yarmouth. The crew (48th Squadron) fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF West Raynham

Date & Time: Jan 12, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N6178
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
West Raynham - West Raynham
MSN:
9277
YOM:
1939
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane crashed upon landing for unknown reasons. The pilot, sole on board, was uninjured.
Crew:
P/O J. H. Gilling.

Crash of a Vickers 408 Wellington IA off Cromer: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1939 at 1530 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N2983
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Honington - Honington
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While performing a reconnaissance flight off the German coast, the bomber was attacked by the pilot of a German fighter. The crew was able to leave the combat area and attempted to return to his base in Honington, Suffolk. While approaching the British coast, the crew was forced to ditch the aircraft. The crew of the vessel named 'Erillas' was quickly on the scene and was able to evacuate four injured occupants while the fifth was killed.
Crew (9th Squadron):
Sgt John Richardson Ramshaw, pilot,
Sgt Robert Hewitt, copilot,
LAC D. J. Connolly, wireless operator and air gunner,
LAC Walter Lilley, air gunner, †
AC1 Charles Ronald Driver, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Vickers 408 Wellington IA off Cromer: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1939 at 1505 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N2961
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Mildenhall - Mildenhall
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Took off from RAF Mildenhall at 0927LT. Crippled by enemy fighters and ditched at 1505LT some 40 to 60 miles east of Cromer, Norfolk. As the bomber hit the sea, it turned 90 degrees to starboard with the waves breaking over the fuselage. At least three airmen were seen clinging to the dinghy, but despite an extensive search by the Cromer lifeboat, no survivors were ever found, though two bodies were eventually washed ashore.
Crew (149th Squadron):
F/O Michael Franklin Briden, pilot,
P/O William Stanley Francis Brown, pilot,
Sgt Valentine Henry Garner Richardson,
AC2 Isaac Davidson Leighton,
AC1 Peter John Warren,
AC2 A. G. Foster, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Vickers 290 Wellington I at RAF Methwold: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 13, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
R2699
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Methwold - Methwold
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
On final approach to RAF Methwold, the aircraft went out of control and crashed short of runway, bursting into flames. All three crew members were killed.
Crew (214th Squadron):
P/O William Leonard Colmer, pilot,
P/O Rex Alan Russell-Forbes,
LAC John Thomas Warriner.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF Bircham Newton

Date & Time: Dec 3, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
P6888
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bircham Newton - Bircham Newton
MSN:
9413
YOM:
1939
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed upon landing at RAF Bircham Newton. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and there were no casualties.
Crew:
P/O L. M. Blanckensee.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF West Raynham

Date & Time: Nov 20, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N6158
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
West Raynham - West Raynham
MSN:
9258
YOM:
1939
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft crashed upon takeoff from RAF West Raynham. The pilot Sgt V. McPherson was injured.