Country
code

West Sussex

Crash of a Douglas A-20A Havoc at RAF Ford: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 9, 1941
Operator:
Registration:
BJ485
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Ford - Ford
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training exercise at RAF Ford. On approach, one of the engine failed and the airplane crashed near the airfield. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Robert Gordon Denyer, pilot,
F/Sgt Donald Clinton Charles Graham, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Junkers JU.88A-5 off Selsey: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 10, 1941 at 0012 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
V4+KT
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
3217
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The bomber failed to return from operation to Brighton and crashed in the sea some three miles off Selsey. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Fw Paul Schuckleis, pilot,
Oblt Otto Weickhardt, observer,
Fw Heinz Jütte, radio operator,
Ofw Karl Rogoss, mechanic.

Crash of a Heinkel He.111P-2 near Worthing: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 1, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
1G+HM
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
2604
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The bomber was shot down by a British fighter and crashed 8 km south of Worthing. Three crew members were killed and the pilot became PoW after he bailed out.
Crew:
Lt Helmut Ballauf, pilot,
Fw Franz Foerster, bomb aimer, †
Uffz Rolf Averberg, radio operator, †
Fw Heinrich Platt, mechanic. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by a British fighter.

Crash of a Junkers JU.88A-5 at RAF Thorney Island: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
B3+GK
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
6025
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane was shot down by ground fire and crashed near the RAF Thorney Island. All four crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

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

Date & Time: Apr 11, 1941 at 0320 LT
Operator:
Registration:
T4165
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Tangmere - Tangmere
MSN:
1858
YOM:
1940
Region:
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:
Operator:
Registration:
G1+HK
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Dreux - Dreux
MSN:
2976
Region:
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
Operator:
Registration:
Z6583
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Topcliffe - Topcliffe
MSN:
2054
YOM:
1941
Region:
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:
Operator:
Registration:
T2803
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Newmarket - Newmarket
Region:
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
Operator:
Registration:
AW397
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Region:
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:
Operator:
Registration:
L6721
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Ford - Ford
Region:
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.