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West Sussex

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V at RAF Tangmere: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 11, 1941 at 0320 LT
Type of aircraft:
Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley
Operator:
Registration:
T4165
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Tangmere - Tangmere
MSN:
1858
YOM:
1940
Location:
Tangmere AFB
West Sussex
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Tangmere on April 10 on a special duty to Passac with six Polish saboteurs on board. While over the River Loire, the airplane developed an electrical fault and the crew decided to return to base. On final approach, the airplane stalled and crashed. Two crew members were killed and four others were injured.
Crew:
Sgt Alfred uliusJ Cowan, observer, †
Sgt Lloyd George Morris, wireless operator, †
F/Lt A. J. Oettle,
P/O J. E. Willson
Sgt Briscoe,
Sgt Pacy.
Probable cause:
Failure of the electrical system.

Crash of a Heinkel He.111P-4 off Worthing: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 8, 1941 at 0037 LT
Type of aircraft:
Heinkel He.111
Operator:
Registration:
G1+HK
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Dreux - Dreux
MSN:
2976
Location:
Worthing
West Sussex
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Dreux on an operation to England. Approaching the British coast, it was shot down by the pilot of a Beaufighter and crashed into the sea off Worthing. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Ofw H. K. Schwiering, pilot,
Fw W. Ehrlich, observer,
Fw W. Letzius, radio operator,
Fw E. Nottmeier, mechanic.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a British fighter.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V in Eartham: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 4, 1941 at 0049 LT
Type of aircraft:
Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley
Operator:
Registration:
Z6583
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Topcliffe - Topcliffe
MSN:
2054
YOM:
1941
Location:
Eartham
West Sussex
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Topcliffe at 1901LT on March 3 on an operation to Brest. While returning to base the following night, the crew was instructed to divert to RAF Tangmere. While circling on approach, the airplane crashed in a wooded area located in Eartham, northeast of the airfield. Three crew members were killed and two others were injured.
Crew:
P/O Geoffrey Moir Bussy, pilot, †
Sgt Harold Joseph Dowling, pilot, †
Sgt Willlam George Rawkins, observer, †
Sgt E. C. Pryor,
Sgt A. R. Keseon.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the pilot became disoriented when the airfield lights were suddenly extinguished.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC off Thorney Island: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 19, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 416 Wellington IC
Operator:
Registration:
T2803
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Newmarket - Newmarket
Location:
Thorney Island AFB
West Sussex
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Newmarket at 2118LT on December 18 on an operation to Mannheim. While returning to base the following night, it ditched in the sea off Thorney Island. The pilot was killed and five other crew members were rescued.
Crew:
S/L Charles John Scott Dickins, pilot, †
P/O J. E. H. Marshall,
P/O P. I. W. Pemberton,
Sgt C. J. Fry,
Sgt C. T. S. Maunsell,
Sgt J. S. Gale.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7 Boston at RAF Ford

Date & Time: Nov 23, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
AW397
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Ford AFB
West Sussex
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane crashed for unknown reasons upon landing at RAF Ford. There were no casualties.

Crash of Bristol 142 Blenheim IF in South Bersted: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 30, 1940 at 2030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L6721
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Ford - Ford
Location:
South Bersted
West Sussex
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Ford on a routine night patrol. While returning to base, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. With the radio unserviceable, the crew lost control of the airplane that crashed in South Bersted, in the suburb of Bognor Regis. All three crew members were killed. The accident occurred about 5 km west of RAF Ford.
Crew:
F/O Herbert John Woodward, pilot,
Sgt Harry Thomas Perry, observer,
P/O Allan Arthur Atkinson, air gunner.

Crash of a Junkers JU.88A-1 in Gatwick

Date & Time: Sep 30, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.88
Operator:
Registration:
3Z+DK
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
2142
Location:
London-Gatwick
West Sussex
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shot down by enemy fire and crashed in Gatwick. Crew fate unknown.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Dornier DO.17Z in Shoreham: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 15, 1940 at 1210 LT
Type of aircraft:
Dornier DO.17
Operator:
Registration:
F1+FS
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
2361
Location:
Shoreham-by-Sea
West Sussex
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane was attacked by the pilots of two Spitfires and crashed at Castle Farm by Shoreham. A crew died and three other became PoW.
Crew:
Fw Heitsch, pilot,
Fw Pfeiffer, observer,
Fw Stephan Schmidt, wireless operator, †
Fw Sauter, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a British fighter.

Crash of a Junkers JU.88A-1 in Nuthurst

Date & Time: Sep 9, 1940 at 1800 LT
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.88
Operator:
Registration:
4D+AA
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Eindhoven - Eindhoven
MSN:
0274
Location:
Nuthurst
West Sussex
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Eindhoven Airport at 1530LT to bomb the London Docks. It was shot down by Spitfires and crash landed in Nuthurst. All four crew members became PoW.
Crew:
Oblt Rolf Heim, pilot,
Uffz Josef Beck, observer,
Fw A Fuhs, radio operator,
Uffz Walter Baustian, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a British fighter.

Crash of a Heinkel He.111P off Bracklesham Bay: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 26, 1940 at 1630 LT
Type of aircraft:
Heinkel He.111
Operator:
Registration:
G1+DM
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Chartres - Chartres
MSN:
2124
Location:
Bracklesham Bay
West Sussex
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Chartres to attack Portsmouth harbor. Approaching the British coast, it was shot down by the pilot of a Spitfire and crashed into the sea off Bracklesham Bay. Four crew members were killed and a fifth became PoW.
Crew:
Lt Albert Metzger, pilot,
Uffz Rolf Schandner, observer, †
Uffz Rudi Paas, radio operator, †
Fw Julius Urhahn, flight engineer, †
Fg Rudolf Fessel, air gunner. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by a British fighter.
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