Crash of a Douglas DB-7B Boston III in Flitcham: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1942 at 1100 LT
Operator:
Registration:
W8319
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Great Massingham - Great Massingham
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Great Massingham at 1050LT for a formation flying exercise. After takeoff, he lagged behind the rest of the flight and at an altitude of 800 feet, the airplane was seen to turn back to towards the airfield. Moments later, the Boston banked steeply and crashed at 1100LT and crashed into a wood located southeast of Flitcham. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Silas Harry Bridge, pilot,
Sgt Thomas Frederick Peter Poole, observer,
Sgt Crawford Christie Wilson, wireless operator and air gunner.

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

Date & Time: Feb 16, 1942 at 2123 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
V6454
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Bodney - Bodney
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Bodney on a training exercise. While flying at cruising speed at night, the airplane impacted the ground and crashed north of Swaffham. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Kenneth Hulbert Bottrill, pilot,
Sgt John Milroy Ambler, observer,
Sgt John Morton Roberts, wireless operator.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain following a probable incorrect altimeter setting.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I at RAF Horsham St Faith: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 12, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
AE141
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
North Luffenham - North Luffenham
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF North Luffenham on 'Operation Fuller'. Approaching the target, it was shot down by the German Flak. The pilot was able to return to England and diverted to RAF Horsham St Faith (Norwich) where the airplane crashed upon landing. A crew was killed and four others were injured.
Crew:
Sgt Ernest Ivo Nightingale, pilot, †
Sgt Edward Sparks, navigator,
Sgt L. Ward, wireless operator,
Sgt R. S. Cole, air gunner,
Sgt L. G. Hewlett, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester I near RAF Horsham St Faith

Date & Time: Feb 10, 1942 at 0755 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
R5834
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Woolf
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Woolfox Lodge at 0220LT on an operation to Brest. It was hit by the German Flak over the target area, resulting in a loss of power on the starboard engine. The crew was returning to base when the port engine stopped through lack of petrol and the bomber crash landed near RAF Horsham St Faith in Norwich. All seven crew members escaped uninjured.
Crew:
F/Sgt J. B. Underwood, pilot,
Sgt B. Usher, copilot,
W/O Scott, observer,
F/Sgt R. G. Fawkes, wireless operator,
F/O P. F. B. Bluett, air gunner,
F/Sgt J. D. Patey, air gunner,
Sgt Graham, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Fuel exhaustion and engine failure after being attacked by enemy fire.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson III in Norwich

Date & Time: Feb 9, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AE516
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Norwich - Norwich
MSN:
414-3871
YOM:
1941
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Horsham St Faith on a training flight. Two minutes after takeoff, the airplane suffered a double engine failure and crashed in the district of Lakenham, south of the city. Both crew members were injured.
Crew:
P/O P. H. Lowther,
P/O J. M. MacDonald.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure after takeoff.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF West Raynham

Date & Time: Feb 8, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
V6397
Flight Phase:
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:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane crashed almost immediately after takeoff from RAF West Raynham after colliding with a storage shed. All three crew members were injured.
Crew:
Sgt A. T. Woodfield,
Sgt Matthews,
Sgt Harris.

Crash of a Junkers JU.88D-1 off Cromer: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 30, 1942 at 0901 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
S4+CK
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Leeuwarden - Leeuwarden
MSN:
1159
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Leeuwarden Airport on an operation to England. Approximately 20 miles northeast off the coast of Norfolk, while flying in heavy snow falls, it was approaching the HMT Flydea that was on patrol when it crashed into the sea. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Uffz Alois Orth, pilot,
Ogfr Fritz Eckhardt, observer,
Uffz Adolf Betz, radio operator,
Ogfr Gerhard Bardeleben, air gunner.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson III at RAF Oulton

Date & Time: Jan 28, 1942 at 1805 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
V9098
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Oulton - Oulton
MSN:
414-2622
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Oulton on a training exercise. At takeoff, it failed to gain height and crashed, injuring both crew members.
Crew:
F/Sgt S. J. M. Smith,
F/O P. L. Keeble.
Probable cause:
Loss of control at takeoff because the wings were contaminated with ice.

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

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1942 at 0430 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
V5769
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bodney - Bodney
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Bodney on a night training exercise. During the takeoff roll in dark conditions, while trying to gain speed, it flew into trees bordering the airfield and crashed. Two crew members were killed and a third was injured.
Crew:
Sgt Alfred Ronald Cheadle, pilot, †
Sgt Joseph Alban Eckersley, observer, †
Sgt H. Hargreaves, wireless operator.

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III near Thetford: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 19, 1942 at 1050 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
X3370
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
While on a training flight, the airplane suffered a structural failure at 250 feet of the outer section of the starboard wing. It went out of control and crashed in a field at Folly Farm, north of Thetford, bursting into flames. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Robert Douglas Telling, pilot,
Sgt John Amphlett, observer,
Sgt Thomas Frederick Greenwood, observer,
P/O Harry Lionel Tarbitten, observer,
F/Lt Philip Henry Creswell, navigator,
Sgt Robert Smiles Aitchison, air gunner,
Sgt Thomas George Banks, wireless operator.
Probable cause:
Structural failure of the outer section of the starboard wing in flight.