Country
code

Oxfordshire

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V near RAF Stanton Harcourt: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 11, 1942 at 0200 LT
Operator:
Registration:
BD193
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Stanton Harcourt - Stanton Harcourt
MSN:
2513
YOM:
1942
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Stanton Harcourt in the evening of September 10 on an operation to Düsseldorf. While returning to base the following night, it crashed for unknown reasons on approach, killing all four crew members.
Crew:
Sgt Alfred Joseph Adams, pilot,
Sgt Ian Leslie Wethered, observer,
Sgt James Sweeney, navigator,
Sgt Frank Brenner Byron Bayly, air gunner.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7A Boston II in Thame

Date & Time: Sep 7, 1942 at 2200 LT
Operator:
Registration:
AH492
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Hunsdon - Hunsdon
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training sortie out from RAF Hunsdon when both engines failed in flight. Two crew members bailed out and the pilot completed an emergency landing in a pasture located 1,5 km west of Thame. There were no casualties and the airplane was destroyed by a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC in Stratton Audley: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 7, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HF865
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Wellesbourne Mountford - Wellesbourne Mountford
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Wellesbourne Mountford on a night navigation exercise. While completing a sharp turn, the airplane stalled and crashed in a pasture near Stratton Audley. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Pat Neff Templeton, pilot,
Sgt Albert John Temple, navigator,
F/Sgt George Barclay Robb, bomb aimer,
Sgt Frederick Henry Dowland, wireless operator,
Sgt Ronald Adey Jackson, air gunner.
Probable cause:
The airplane stalled following a loss of engine power while performing a sharp turn.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling I at RAF Abingdon

Date & Time: Aug 25, 1942 at 0041 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
BF335
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Oakington - Oakington
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Oakington at 2019LT on August 24 on an operation to Frankfurt. It was badly shit about by a German fighter and later crashed while trying to land at RAF Abingdon. All seven crew members escaped with minor injuries.
Crew:
Sgt James Edward Land, pilot,
Sgt S. A. Pearce, flight engineer,
Sgt George Hayes, navigator,
Sgt L. J. Walter, bomb aimer,
Sgt Frank Edward Davidson, wireless operator,
Sgt Gordon Frederick Eldridge, air gunner,
F/Sgt Charles Robert Bee, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Badly shot about by a German fighter.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC near Chipping Norton: 6 killed

Date & Time: Aug 21, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
T2557
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Harwell - Harwell
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Harwell on a night navigation exercise. While cruising northwest of Chipping Norton, the bomber collided with a RAF Airspeed AS.10 Oxford registered T1339 that was also performing a training flight with two pilots on board. Following the collision, the Oxford exploded in mid-air while the bomber crashed onto a garage. All eight crew members were killed. There were no injuries on the ground.
Crew:
P/O Albert Wyndham Stilwell, pilot,
P/O Alan MacDonald Henderson, pilot,
Sgt Patrick O'Brien, observer,
Sgt Noel Francis Boxwell, wireless operator,
Sgt Malcolm Stevenson Haynes, wireless operator,
Sgt Frank Gillard, air gunner.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford II near Chipping Norton: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 21, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
T1339
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Little Rissington - Little Rissington
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Little Rissington on a night navigation exercise. While cruising northwest of Chipping Norton, the twin engine airplane collided with a RAF Vickers 416 Wellington IC registered T2557 that was also performing a training flight with a crew of six on board. Following the collision, the Oxford exploded in mid-air while the bomber crashed onto a garage. All eight crew members were killed. There were no injuries on the ground.
Crew:
Sgt Stanley Edmund Downs, pilot,
Sgt John MacDonald Rankin, pilot.

Crash of a Bristol 152 Beaufort IIA at RAF Brize Norton: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 20, 1942 at 0958 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
DD938
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Brize Norton - Brize Norton
MSN:
11015
YOM:
1942
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local flight at RAF Brize Norton on behalf of the 6th Maintenance Unit. For unknown reasons, the airplane swung to port on takeoff and crashed onto a hangar. All three occupants were killed, among them two civilians.
Crew:
W/Cdr Josef Ocelka, pilot,
Mr. Henry Fowler,
Mr. J. O. Mabbutt, mechanic.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC in Waterstock: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jun 24, 1942 at 1835 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L7891
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Pershore - Pershore
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Pershore at 1655LT on a cross country training exercise. While cruising at an altitude of 3,000 feet, the pilot lost control of the airplane that entered a dive and crashed in an open field. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (23rd OTU):
F/Sgt Charles George MacDonald, pilot,
P/O Cyril Dinham Chant, navigator,
P/O Arthur Walter Smith, wireless operator and air gunner,
P/O Lloyd George Morrison, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Francis William Sims.
Probable cause:
The accident was a consequence of the dinghy breaking from its stowage and fouling the controls.

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III near Steventon: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 24, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
X3423
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Honington - Honington
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Honington at 2325LT on June 23 on an operation to Saint-Nazaire. While returning to base the following night, it crashed in unknown circumstances near Steventon. Four crew members were killed and a fifth was injured. Shortly before the crash, other aircraft in the area heard the Wellington making 'Darky' calls.
Crew:
Sgt John Daniel Kingdon, pilot, †
F/Sgt George Allen Morley, observer, †
F/Sgt Archibald Bernard MacDonell, wireless operator, †
F/Sgt Frederick Henry Eubank, air gunner, †
Sgt P. J. George, air gunner.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Kingham: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 21, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N5259
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Moreton-in-Marsh - Moreton-in-Marsh
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Moreton-in-Marsh on a training sortie on behalf of the 21 OTU. While cruising at low height, the twin engine airplane collided with power cables, stalled and crashed in a field. Two crew members were killed while three other occupants were injured.
Crew:
Sgt Ernest Brocklebank, †
F/Sgt Edmund Verner Shaw, †
Sgt W. H. Watkins,
F/Sgt T. W. Townsend,
Sgt F. Dadd.