Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V in Aldbourne

Date & Time: Jul 24, 1941 at 0450 LT
Operator:
Registration:
Z6643
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Topcliffe - Topcliffe
MSN:
2077
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Topcliffe at 2157LT on July 23 on an operation to La Pallice, west of La Rochelle. While returning to base the following night, it crashed in unknown circumstances in Aldbourne. All four crew members were injured.
Crew:
F/L F. A. Dury,
Sgt D. R. Brown,
Sgt D. V. Flavell,
Sgt Whittam.

Crash of a Stinson SR-9C Reliant in Old Sarum

Date & Time: Jul 12, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
W7983
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
5160
YOM:
1937
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane crashed for unknown reasons while taking off from Old Sarum Airfield. The pilot, sole on board, was uninjured and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.

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

Date & Time: Jul 2, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
R1516
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
East Wretham - East Wretham
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF East Wretham at 2202LT on July 1st on an operation to Cherbourg. While returning to base the following night, it was mistakenly shot down by the pilot of a British fighter and crashed in Mere. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Adolf Dolejs,
P/O Richard Hapala,
Sgt Oldrich Helma,
Sgt Jaroslav Lancik,
Sgt Jaroslav Petrucha,
Sgt Antonin Plocek.
Probable cause:
Mistakenly shot down by a British fighter.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.90 Dragonfly at RAF Old Sarum

Date & Time: Jun 24, 1941
Operator:
Registration:
X9337
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Old Sarum - Witney
MSN:
7521
YOM:
1936
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
One of the undercarriage collapse during the takeoff roll at RAF Old Sarum. The airplane came to rest and was damaged beyond repair. The pilot was unhurt. He was supposed to ferry the airplane to RAF Witney for a major inspection.
Probable cause:
Undercarriage failure upon takeoff.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth in South Marston

Date & Time: Jun 18, 1941
Operator:
Registration:
AX870
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
White Waltham - South Marston
MSN:
2045
YOM:
1930
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing at South Marston Airfield, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway and collided with a parked tar-sprayer vehicle. The pilot was uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dominie in Bishops Cannings: 7 killed

Date & Time: May 27, 1941
Operator:
Registration:
R5929
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Yatesbury - Yatesbury
MSN:
6466
YOM:
1939
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing a training flight on behalf of the 2nd Signal School at RAF Yatesbury. While performing manoeuvres at low height, the pilot lost control of the aircraft that crashed in a field. All seven occupants were killed.
Crew:
Frederick J. O’Connor, pilot,
AC2 Frank Billingham, wireless operator,
AC2 Arthur S. Butcher, wireless operator,
Cpl Victor C. Chittock, wireless operator,
AC2 John Booth, wireless operator,
AC2 Ivor C. Burgess, wireless operator,
AC2 John Bates, wireless operator.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24A-CO Liberator at RAF Boscombe Down

Date & Time: May 16, 1941
Operator:
Registration:
AM912
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Boscombe Down - Boscombe Down
MSN:
3
YOM:
1940
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training cession at RAF Boscombe Down, when the nose gear collapsed upon landing. There were no casualties and the airplane was not repaired.
Probable cause:
Nose gear failure upon landing.

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

Date & Time: Apr 22, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
T2560
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Marham - Marham
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Marham at 2004LT on an operation to Brest then crashed in unknown circumstances near Swindon. The pilot was killed and five others were uninjured.
Crew:
Sgt Francis Elliott Shaw, pilot, †
Sgt C. J. Palmer,
Sgt H. C. Bowes,
Sgt Lewis,
Sgt Webb,
Sgt R. W. R. Kerruish.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89 Dominie at RAF Yatesbury

Date & Time: Apr 22, 1941
Operator:
Registration:
R5923
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
6459
YOM:
1939
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While taking off from RAF Yatesbury, the airplane swerved on runway then collided with a fence and came to rest. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I in Aldbourne

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1941
Operator:
Registration:
AD825
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Hemswell - Hemswell
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Hemswell at 1535LT on an operation to Brest. Hit by the German Flak, the crew returning to base and eventually abandoned the airplane that crashed in Aldbourne, southeast of Swindon. All five crew members were rescued, among them one was injured by enemy fire.
Crew:
Sgt .L .W Metcalfe,
Sgt F. A. Armstrong,
Sgt O. W. J. Pearce,
Sgt W. Butler.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.