Date: 16 Sept 1942
Unit: 12 OTU
Type: Wellington III
Serial No.: BJ728
Operation: Training
Take Off: RAF Chipping Warden
Crew:
Sgt R G McCarthy RNZAF 415072 Killed Little Rissington Churchyard
Sgt W J Ferguson 1387312 Killed Little Rissington Churchyard
Sgt D G W Arnold 1200938 Killed Drybrook Churchyard
Sgt J F S Ritchie 1365387 Killed Cumbusnethan Cemetery
Sgt A Lyon RCAF Injured
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Mr Roberts
Description: Took off from RAF Chipping Warden for a night navigation exercise. At around 06:10, while over the town of Conway in Caernarvonshire, the starboard engine failed. A course for base was set but just over an hour later, the pilot announced he was going to make a precautionary landing at Little Rissington in Gloucestershire. However, soon after entering the circuit, the port engine faltered and at 07:10 the Wellington came down at, Milton-under-Wychwood and burst into flames.(+)
Crash and rescue: A civilian clerk, working near the scene of tail gunner, Sgt Lyons RCAF, lying amidst the wreckage of the rear of the fuselage and pulled him clear. Apparently, he (Sgt Lyon) had been trying to find his colleagues trapped in the shattered aeroplane. Suffering from second degree burns, the young Canadian was taken to SSQ Little Rissington and thence by air ambulance to Princess Mary's Hospital, Halton. Sgt McCarthy RNZAF and Sgt Ferguson rest in Little Rissington (St Peter) churchyard, while Sgt Arnold (he was a schoolmaster) and Sgt Richie were taken to their home towns.
Date: 16-17 Sept
Unit: 12 OTU
Type: Wellington III
Serial No.:BJ730
Operation: Essen
Take Off: RAF Chipping Warden
Crew:
F/L M B Mallet 41939 Killed Eindhoven General Cemetery
Sgt J H Evans 1048732 Killed Eindhoven General Cemetery
Sgt S C Wedgewood Killed Eindhoven General Cemetery
Sgt V F Vinnicombe 1188483 Killed Groesbeek
Sgt J L La Bossiere RCAF Killed Groesbeek
Description: Took off from RAF Chipping Warden. Intercepted by a night-fighter and sent down to crash in a swimming pool at Veldhoven, Holland. Their eta at Essen had been scheduled for 22:20.
Date: 16-17 sept 1942
Unit: 12 OTU
Type: Wellington III
Serial No.: BJ730
Operation: Essen
Take Off: RAF Chipping Warden
Crew:
WO2 C W Hall RCAF R/74348 Killed Rheinberg War Cemetery
Sgt D C Marsh 1384344 Killed Rheinberg War Cemetery
P/O F J adams 117416 Killed Rheinberg War Cemetery
Sgt N Whitfield 1115657 Killed Rheinberg War Cemetery
Sgt G M Caldwell RCAF R/127719 Killed Rheinberg War Cemetery
Description: Took off from RAF Chipping Warden scheduled to reach the target by 22:22. Eighteen year old Sgt Marsh was the stepson of Wilfred Charles Girdler of Ashtead in Surrey.
Date: 26 Sept 1942
Unit: 12 OTU
Type: Wellington III
Serial No.: BJ697
Operation: Training
Take Off: RAF Chipping Warden
Crew:
F/S K S H Bird Injured Cliddesden Churchyard (29 Sept 1942)
Sgt W D Barr Injured
Sgt W A Fairweather Injured
Sgt J Head Injured
Description
Took off from RAF Chipping Warden for a night cross-country. The aircraft was reported to have flown into high ground at 00:30 in the Black Mountains.(+) F/S Bird succumbed to his injuries on 29 Sept; he is buried in Cliddesden (St Leonard) Churchyard.
Date: 1 Oct 1942
Unit: 12 OTU
Type: Wellington III
Serial No.: BJ692
Operation: Training
Take Off: RAF Chipping Warden
Crew:
Sgt R A Williams
Description: Took off from RAF Chipping warden for night flying. Shortly before 00:05, the port engine began to vibrate, quite alarmingly, and when an explosion ocured in the exhaust system, the motor cut completely. An emergency landing was made on Wheaton Aston Relief Landing Ground but before coming to a stop, the Wellington ran into Oxford I EB720 belonging 10 11 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit, wrecking both aircraft.
Date: 9 Nov 1942
Unit: 12 OTU
Type: Wellington III
Serial No.: Z1731
Operation: Training
Take Off: RAF Chipping Warden
Crew:
F/S W J Lovejoy 1376578 Killed Runnymede Memorial
Sgt W J Brown 1321471 Killed Runnymede Memorial
Sgt F J Frayne 1271712 Killed Runnymede Memorial
Sgt W A Smith 1325041 Killed Runnymede Memorial
Sgt R Walker 1147944 Killed Runnymede Memorial
Description: Took off from RAF Chipping Warden for a night navigation exercise. Last heard on the wireless at 01:28. All are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Date: 22 Nov 1942
Unit: 12 OTU
Type: Wellington III
Serial No.: BK261
Operation: Training
Take Off: RAF Chipping Warden
Crew:
Sgt R H Church 1272476 Killed Colney (St Andrew) Churchyard
Sgt H W S Bristow 1337646 Killed Brookwood Cemetery
Sgt F P Nettleton 1452530 Killed Wakefield Cemetery
Sgt T W Haver 1293324 Killed Dagenham Cemetery
Sgt B Hillberg 1410534 Killed Barry Burial Ground
Description: Took off from RAF Chipping Warden for night bombing. While flying at 5,000 feet, the photoflash exploded in the flare 'chute, the effect of the blast being sufficient to cause structural failure and at 23:30 debris fell at Shotteswell a Warwickshire village close to the border with Oxfordshire and about 4 miles NNW from the centre of Banbury. All were buried in various United Kingdom cemeteries.
Date: 1 Dec 1942
Unit: 12 OTU
Type: Wellington III
Serial No.: BK250
Operation: Training
Take Off: RAF Chipping warden
Crew:
Sgt B F McMurchy
Sgt H Walters Injured Middlesbrough Cemetery (2 Dec 1942)
Sgt E T J O'Donoghue Injured Banbury Cemetery (2 Dec 1942)
F/S D J Phillips RCAF Injured
Sgt G A Hutchinson Injured
-
F/O Gaudin
Description: Took off from RAF Chipping Warden in a strong cross-wind and within moments the Wellington had swung out of control and was heading towards the fire tender bay. Somehow, Sgt McMurchy RCAF managed to avoid a group of civilian workers, but he was unable to prevent his aircraft from hurtling, at speed, into control tower. With its momentum barely diminished, the bomber ran over a civilian owned car before finishing up against one the the hangers, where it began to burn with some intensity.
Crash and Rescue: An assistant Medical Officer, was quickly on the scene, preceded by the Station Medical Officer (unnamed), and along with the Dental Officer and nursing staff, commenced giving first aid to the more severely injured. The crew were dragged to safety, though two sustained very severe burns. Subsequently, following local treatment, they were taken by ambulance to Horton general Hospital, along with two other members of crew who were not quite so badly injured. A WAAF (unnamed), who had been on duty in the Control Tower, was also admitted to the same hospital, having suffered burns to her face, hands and legs. Not surprisingly, she was also in a severe state of deep shock. Later a civilian worker was also taken to Horton General Hospital with an incised facial injury. Very sadly, two of the aircrew died the next day; Sgt Walters and Sgt O'Donoghue. The former was taken to Middlesbrough (Aklam) Cemetery, the latter to nearby Banbury Cemetery. It is further indicated that two civilians perished, struck down near the hanger before they could make good their escape. It is thought that around twenty-four persons were hurt.
Date: 11 Dec 1942
Unit: 12 OTU
Type: Wellington III
Serial No.: BK243
Operation: Training
Take Off: RAF Turweston
Crew:
Sgt R B Lapsley RNZAF 416122 Injured Banbury Cemetery (12 Dec 1942)
F/S D H Fryer Injured High Wycombe Cemetery (11 Dec 1942)
Sgt M H Pierson Injured
Sgt P H Sharpe Injured
Sgt G A Furste RCAF Injured
Sgt J R Nash Injured
-
LAC Chapman
LAC Hansford
LAC B V Icke
LAC D L Jenkins
Description: Took off from RAF Turweston for a night exercise. the aircraft crashed while flying a low curcuit, having broken out of cloud, described as having a base between a thousand and 200 feet. Sgt Furste was an American serving with the RCAF; he was very seriously injured.
Crash and rescue: These four airman were soon on the scene and equipped with crowbars and metal cutting sheers they set about freeing the trapped crew. Two, the pilot and F/S Fryer, were in a critical state and F/S Fryer (it is believed) died at the scene. He is buried in High Wycombe Cemetery, though, it is noted that his parents address is given as Freshwater on the Isle of Wight. Sgt Lapsley RNZAF was taken to Northampton General Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries the next day; he rests in Banbury Cemetery, Later the Station Commander at Turweston complimented on the four airmen, principally involved in the rescue, for their prompt action.