Suffolk

Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley

Operator:

Registration:

W5722

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Schedule:

Snaith - Snaith

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The airplane departed RAF Snaith at 2045LT on an operation to Mannheim. While returning to base the following night, the crew tried to land at RAF Martlesham Heath but was unable to do so due to poor weather conditions over the area. Three crew members bailed out and the pilot made an emergency landing in Levington, on the River Orwell. All five crew members were uninjured.
Crew:
Sgt E. R. Nicholson,
Sgt Wiseman,
Sgt D. Sidebotham,
Sgt R. W. Martin,
Sgt J. Smith.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V in Laxfield: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 19, 1941 at 0315 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

Z6731

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

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Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Dishforth – Dishforth

MSN:

2119

YOM:

1941

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The airplane departed RAF Dishforth at 2129LT on August 18 on an operation to Cologne. While returning to base the following night, it crashed at 0315LT on the B1116 road near Crouches Farm at Laxfield. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Richard Edward Bennett, observer,
Sgt John Leonard Gilman, pilot,
P/O Wellington James Loney, pilot,
Sgt Ernest John Lowater,
Sgt John Taylor, wireless operator.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC in Elveden: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 13, 1941 at 0520 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

T2716

Flight Phase:

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Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Mildenhall - Mildenhall

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The airplane departed RAF Mildenhall at 2114LT on August 12 on an operation to Hanover. Over the target area, the airplane was hit by the German Flak then severely damaged by a German fighter. While returning to base the following morning, the airplane crashed upon landing. Two crew members were killed and four others were injured.
Crew:
Sgt Gerald Morris, †
Sgt Arthur Noel Hampson, wireless operator, †
P/O D. P. Foxm,
Sgt G. H. R. Woodhouse,
F/Sgt D. E. Batten,
Sgt A. Jones.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

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

Date & Time: Aug 13, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Short S.29 Stirling

Operator:

Registration:

N3656

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Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

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Schedule:

Wyton - Wyton

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The airplane departed RAF Wyton in the evening of August 12 on an operation to Berlin. It was badly damaged by enemy action and the crew diverted to RAF Honington for an emergency landing. With unserviceable hydraulics and a propeller shot away, the airplane crashed upon landing and was damaged beyond repair. All seven crew members escaped uninjured.
Crew:
P/O J. E. M. Conran,
P/O S.P. Edgehill,
Sgt Spicer,
P/O H. V. D. Bonney,
F/Sgt Munns,
Sgt Ward,
Sgt McMahon.

Probable cause:

Damaged by enemy action.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V near RAF Newmarket

Date & Time: Jul 25, 1941 at 1525 LT

Type of aircraft:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley

Operator:

Registration:

Z6727

Flight Phase:

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MSN:

2115

YOM:

1941

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The airplane was engaged in an operation for testing secret equipment when engines failed. The crew made an emergency landing then the airplane collided with a telegraph pole and crashed near RAF Newmarket. All eight occupants were injured.
Crew:
F/Lt A. D. Jackson,
Sgt L. R. Burgan,
Sgt R. J. Bramley,
Sgt A. Hughes,
2nd Lt Helat,
Sgt Laverdet,
Lt Baessonas,
Lt Stewart.

Probable cause:

Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC near Cockfield: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 18, 1941 at 0105 LT

Type of aircraft:

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Registration:

N2853

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Mildenhall - Mildenhall

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The airplane departed RAF Mildenhall at 2341LT on July 17 on an operation to Cologne. After being hit by the German Flak, the crew was returning to base when the pilot decided to make an emergency landing. While doing so, he was blinded by a searchlight team stationed at Cockfield, 9 miles north-northeast of Sudbury, Suffolk. With his night vision lost, the pilot crashed through a line of trees, near the Moat, between Oldhall Green and Cross Green, bursting into flames. The wireless operator was killed and five other occupants were injured.
Crew:
Sgt P. Gibbins,
Sgt D. C. Stewart,
Sgt H. F. Jordan,
Sgt J. R. Main,
Sgt J. M. Dixon,
Sgt Peter Gibbins, wireless operator. †

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC in Brandon: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jul 16, 1941 at 0340 LT

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Registration:

N2784

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Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Feltwell - Feltwell

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The airplane departed RAF Feltwell at 2255LT on July 15 on an operation to Duisburg. While returning to base the following night, the crew encountered heavy rain upon arrival and the airplane crashed 800 yards from the Q site at Brandon, southeast of the airbase. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Stuart William Jackson, pilot,
Sgt Sidney Richard Rishworth, pilot,
Sgt William Frederick Archer, observer,
Sgt Hugh Wright Hardie, wireless operator,
Sgt James Murray Smith, wireless operator,
Sgt S. D. Lane.

Probable cause:

Heavy rain was a contributory factor in the cause of this accident.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC off Corton: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 14, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

X9634

Flight Phase:

Flight

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Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Feltwell - Feltwell

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The airplane departed RAF Feltwell in the evening of July 13 on an operation to Bremen. While climbing on course on crossing the east coast at an altitude of 6,000 feet, the starboard engine failed. The pilot immediately turned about but was unable to prevent the airplane to crash into the sea off Corton. Four crew members were killed and both pilots were injured and rescued some two hours later.
Crew:
Sgt Henry Paul Clarkson, †
Sgt Ernest Fox, †
P/O John Trelawney Leacock, †
Sgt Frederick Joseph Edward Price, wireless operator, †
Sgt F. T. Minikin,
Sgt L. Gilding.

Probable cause:

Failure of the right engine in flight.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC at RAF Debach: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 24, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

T2963

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