Northamptonshire | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The airplane departed RAF Hemswell on March 20 to lay mines off Brest. While returning to base the following night, it collided with a barrage balloon cable. The crew abandoned the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed in Chelveston. All four crew members were uninjured.
Crew:
P/O R. N. Harrison,
Sgt E. W. Smith,
Sgt H. E. Turner,
Sgt A. R. Simmons.

Probable cause:

Collision with a barrage balloon cable.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I at RAF Polebrook

Date & Time: Mar 8, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L6692

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Polebrook - Polebrook

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot departed RAF Polebrook on a local solo training exercise. Shortly after takeoff, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed near the airfield. The pilot was injured.
Crew:
Sgt J. H. Tolman, pilot.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF Polebrook

Date & Time: Mar 5, 1941 at 1445 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

V5562

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Polebrook - Polebrook

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a local training exercise at RAF Polebrook. While circling in the vicinity of the airbase, one of the engine failed. The crew elected to return but was forced to make an emergency landing. The aircraft belly landed in a field and was damaged beyond repair. All three crew members were injured.
Crew:
Sgt G. H. Wood, pilot,
Sgt L. C. Crossley, observer,
Sgt T. Collier, wireless operator.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of a Dornier DO.17Z-2 in Weldon: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 4, 1941 at 2145 LT

Type of aircraft:

Dornier DO.17

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Cambrai - Cambrai

Location:

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Region:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed Cambrai Airfield to attack the Rolls Royce Factory in Derby. Approaching Corby, it was shot down by the pilot of a British fighter and crashed in Weldon. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Fw Horst Bahr, pilot,
Oblt Hubert Krisch, observer,
Fw Heinz Uehlemann, flight engineer.
Uffz Helmut Klein, wireless operator.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a British fighter.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Corby

Date & Time: Jan 10, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

L7958

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Collided with a hedge and crashed five km northeast of Corby. There were no casualties.

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

Date & Time: Oct 2, 1940 at 0300 LT

Type of aircraft:

Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden

Operator:

Registration:

P1324

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Waddington - Waddington

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Waddington in the evening of October 1st on a mine laying sortie off Bordeaux. On return at night, upon landing at RAF Turweston, the undercarriage collapsed and the airplane came to rest. All four crew members evacuated safely and the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
S/L H. P. Broad +3.

Probable cause:

The undercarriage collapsed upon landing.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Burton Latimer: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 4, 1940 at 0025 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

R3769

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Wyton - Wyton

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Wyton in the evening of September 3 on a mission over Saint-Omer. At 0025LT, it crashed in Burton Latimer, bursting into flames. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Douglas Eric Charles Myland, pilot,
Sgt Hugh Arthur Powys-Jones, observer,
Sgt Peter John Petrie, wireless operator and air gunner.

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

Date & Time: Jul 27, 1940 at 1700 LT

Type of aircraft:

Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden

Operator:

Registration:

P1180

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Croughton - Croughton

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

The pilot departed RAF Croughton on a local solo training flight. After takeoff, he initiated a turn to the left when the airplane impacted trees and crashed, bursting into flames. The pilot P/O David Michael March was killed.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Newnham

Date & Time: Jul 20, 1940 at 1230 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L8844

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Upwood - Upwood

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

The crew departed RAF Upwood on a navigation exercice. An engine failed in flight, forcing the pilot to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in a field located in Newnham and was damaged beyond repair. All three crew members were injured.
Crew:
Sgt E. Kibble,
Sgt H. C. Downes,
Sgt D. Gooding.

Probable cause:

Engine failure in flight.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Towcester

Date & Time: Jun 5, 1940 at 1130 LT

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

N5112

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Upwood - Upwood

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in a training exercise and departed RAF Upwood in the morning. En route, an engine failed, forcing the crew to attempt an emergency landing in an open field. After touchdown, the aircraft hit a hedge and came to rest. All four occupants were unhurt and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Crew (17th OTU):
Sgt M. H. Farmer +3.

Probable cause:

Engine failure in flight.