Date: 23 Mar 1944
Unit: 17 OTU
Type: Wellington X
Serial No.: HE688
Operation: Training
Take Off: RAF Silverstone
Crew:
F/O E N Thompson RNZAF Killed
F/S B J Jones RAAF 424299 Killed Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery
Sgt D L Watson RAAF 430076 Killed Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery
Sgt E P Moore 1586101 Killed Portslade Cemetery
Sgt D G Stephens 3011102 Killed Stand (All Saints) Churchyard
Sgt B Woodhead 1685947 Killed Salford Cemetery
Description: Took off from RAF Silverstone for an evening cross-country. Lost control, due to the port engine failing, and while trying to arrest the steep dive the Wellington broke up and crashed 21:05 to the E of Little Beech Hill near Ellerbeck, about 4 miles ENE of Northallerton, Yorkshire. Funerals for the three Commonwealth members of the crew were conducted, at Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetary, by The Church of England padre from RAF Leeming. The others were taken to their home towns. Sgt Stephens had, until recently, been a member of the Air Training Corps.
Note: A detailed account of the accident was submitted by Headquaters RNZAF London to the Air Department in Wellington on 31 August 1944, paragraph B of the report giving details of the sequence of the structural failure as the Wellington plunged, almost vertically, from the sky. The report times the accident as approximately 2105, but in the letter, dated 5 April 1944, written to the pilot’s mother, by the Officer Commanding RAF Silverstone, the crash is said to have occurred “at 11 o’clock”. Source; Errol Martyn.
Date: 12 Apr 1944
Unit:
Type:
Serial No.:
Operation:
Take Off: RAF Turweston
Crew:
Description: Aircraft crashed at RAF Chipping Warden.
Date: 21 Apr 1944
Unit: 17 OTU
Type: Wellington X
Serial No.: HZ412
Operation:Training
Take Off: RAF Turweston
Crew:
Sgt W L Scott 1435311 Killed Batley Cemetery
Sgt A W Sherry 1586167 Killed Ford Park Cemetery
Sgt T H Stacey 1459796 Killed Bilton (St Peter) Churchyard
Sgt N G Cailes 1605460 Killed Christchurch Cemetery
Sgt Cunnell Injured
Description: Took off at 11:30 from RAF Turweston for a high level bombing exercise. The detail was completed satisfactorily and at 13:25 Sgt Scott was seen, nearing the runway. Just as he was about to land, a red Verey flare soared into the sky. Eyewitnesses report hearing the engine note increase as the bomber climbed away but at around 240 feet a puff of smoke was seen, emitting from the starboard engine. Almost immediately, the motor began to faulter but with the flaps still down, the Wellington continued to climb quite steeply, turning slowly to starboard before stalling and diving back to earth. Those who perished were taken to their home towns for burial.
Note. This Wellington had been involved in a serious crash, while on the strength of 29 OTU, on 22 July 1943. It’s pilot on that occasion had been the late F/O John Howarth Heath RNAF who died a month later, still in the service of 29 OTU. Since undergoing repairs, the Wellington had arrived on 17 OTU as recently as 25 March. The number of flying hours has not been entered on it’s movement card.
Date: 28 May 1944
Unit: 17 OTU
Type: Wellington III
Serial No.: X3445
Operation: RAF Training
Take Off: Turweston
Crew:
F/S D G Haynes RAAF A417579
Description: Took off from RAF Turweston for a high level bombing exercise. Returned to base at approximately 23:15, but overshot after failing to line up with the runway. A second missed approach followed and it was while the crew were going around for the third time that the starboard engine cut. With little height in hand (300 to 350 feet is quoted), F/S Haynes RAAF and little option but to force-land. After coming to a halt, a fire broke out and the Wellington was destroyed. Cat ‘E’.
Date: 6 June 1944
Unit Type: Wellington
Serial No.:
Operation:
Take Off:
Crew:
Description: Wellington made a belly-landing on wrong runway, one ambulance, one fire tender and one medical officer narrowly missed ablation by 15 yards.
Date: 8 Jun 1944
Unit: 17 OTU
Type: Hurricane II C
Serial No.: LF749
Operation: Training/Affiliation
Take Off: RAF Turwestion
Crew:
W/O A L Terry RAAF A409770 Killed Oxford (Botley) cemetery
Description: Took off from RAF Turweston for a fighter affiliation duty. Eyewitnesses report seeing the Hurricane performing aerobatics, estimated around 2,000 feet, when it dived steeply and crashed 12:29.(+) W/O Terry RAAF rests in Oxford (Botley) Cemetery. His aircraft was the first of its type to be written off in the service of Bomber Command Operational Training Unit.
Note: Tenth production block by Hawker AIrcraft Limited, at Brooklands, and Langley. To contract 62305/39/Vc. Powered by Rolls-Royce Merlin XX, 24, and 27 engines. The aircraft were delivered between the 29th September, 1943 and the 24th May, 1944. The average rate of production was 5-6 aircraft per day.
Court Of Inquiry: Pilot appears to have been doing unauthorised aerobatics. 412: Carrying out aerobatics below a safe altitude and lost control.
Date: 7-8 Jul 1944
Unit: 17 OTU
Type: Wellington
Serial No.: HE325
Operation: Training
Take Off: RAF Turweston
Crew:
F/L J Shaw 70617 Killed Bendochy Parish Churchyard
Sgt W N Mitchell 1290938 Killed Bridge of GairnGraveyard
Sgt W E C Willett 1603136 Killed Towcester Cemetery
Sgt L W Barker 916712 Killed Newcastle-Upon-Tyne Cemetery
Sgt C A Wyatt 1596540 Killed Sheffield (City Rd) Cemetery
Sgt H Kinchin 1596079 Killed Richmond Cemetery
Description: Took off at 23:48 from RAF Turweston for a night exercise. Flown into at 01:28 while at 1,000 feet by a Wellington from the same unit that had taken off six minutes earlier. Both machines went down and on impact burst into flames.(+)
Court Of Inquiry: Pilot and crew failed to keep good look out. Navigation lights would not show up well in full moon. Weather fine Vis excellent. Both crews not keeping proper look out. 412: Impossible to ascertain any technical fault before impact. Sgt Willett of Georgeham in Devon was buried at Towcester Cemetery, the rest being taken to their home towns. It is noted that F/L Shaw, who is the sole service burial in Benochy Parish Churchyard, was a history graduate from Caius College, Cambridge.
This icident was covered in detail in the TV series WWII Air Crash Detectives - Epidsode 3/6: 'Death In The Moonlight'
Date: 8 Jul 1944
Unit: 17 OTU
Type: Wellington III
Serial No.: BK272
Operation: Training
Take Off: RAF Turweston
Crew:
P/O C F Searles 172964 Killed Croydon (Mitcham Rd) Cemetery
F/O W Haraczay RCAF J/29418 Killed Brookwood Military Cemetery
F/O A G Corck RCAF J/39369 Killed Brookwood Military Cemetery
Sgt P J Woods 1581815 Killed Northampton Crematorium
Sgt R F Bradford 1814075 Killed Edmonton cemetery
Sgt J B Lemon 1895244 Killed Slough (Stoke Rd) Cemetery
Sgt B Hadlow 974950 Killed Littlebourne Churchyard
Description: Took off at 01:22 from RAF Turweston for local night flying and lost in the manner described above.(+)
Court Of Inquiry: Pilot and crew failed to keep good look out. Navigation lights would not show up well in full moon. Weather fine Vis excellent. Both crews not keeping proper look out. 412: Impossible to ascertain any technical fault before impact. Similar to those who died in the other Wellington, funeral services were held at various churches across the country, Sgt Woods of Hall Green, Birmingham being cremated at Northampton and Counties Crematorium, Milton.
This icident was covered in detail in the TV series WWII Air Crash Detectives - Epidsode 3/6: 'Death In The Moonlight'
Date: 18 Aug 1944
Unit: 17 OTU
Type: Wellington X
Serial No.: HE502
Operation: Training
Take Off: RAF Turweston
Crew:
F/O W J Lambert
Description: Took off from RAF Turweston for a cross-country. While flying over eastern England at 15,000 feet, the port engine failed. A coarse was set for Grimsby airfield, but the crew were unable to get the undercarriage to lock down. On touch down at around 14:00, the undercarriage collapsed and the bomber slid to a halt and a fire broke out. All six members of crew vacated the aircraft without injury.
Date: 26 Aug 1944
Unit: 17 OTU
Type Wellington X
Serial No.: LP340
Operation: Training
Take Off: RAF Turweston
Crew:
F/S C D Pauline RAAF
Description: Took off from RAF Turweston for night cross-country exercise, during which the port engine stopped at 12,000 feet, forcing the crew to put their aircraft down at 01:00 in Cardigan Bay (5243N 0047W being quoted as the position) and take to their dingy. Having survived this alarming experience, it is sad to report that F/O Pauline RAAF was killed during operations to Lutzkendorf on 14-15 March 1945 (see BCL, Vol 6, p126). At the time he was serving with 57 Squadron.
Date: 7 Sept 1944
Unit: 17 OTU
Type: Wellington
Serial No.: HE982
Operation: Training
Take Off: RAF Silverstone (originally listed as RAF Turweston)
Crew:
F/S A A South Killed
Sgt P A Anderson 1566518 Killed Banchor Burial Ground
Sgt D S Norman 1614469 Killed Hornchurch Cemetery
Sgt D Sheen 1812007 Killed Towcester Cemetery
Sgt R R Hesketh 1897455 Killed Towcester Cemetery
Sgt D J Fortune 1898863 Killed Towcester Cemetery
Description: Took off from RAF Silverstone to practice night circuits and landings. The aircraft overshot at 23:53, climbed steeply and then dived into trees, bursting into flames. Three were buried at Towcester Cemetary, while the others were claimed by their next of kin, including Sgt Anderson who died within 48 hours.
Date: 6 Oct 1944
Unit: 17 OTU
Type: Wellington X
Serial No.: ME996
Operation: Training
Take Off: RAF Silverstone
Crew:
F/S McKindlay
Description: Took off from RAF Silverstone but before becoming fully airborne the undercarriage was raised. Sinking back onto the runway, the Wellington slid at high speed and when finally coming to a stop, it caught fire. None of the seven-man crew were hurt.
Date: 22 Nov 1944
Unit: 17 OTU
Type: Wellington
Serial No.: MF705
Operation: Training
Take Off: RAF Silverstone
Crew:
F/S P D Jones
Description: Took off from RAF Silverstone for a cross-country, during which the port engine failed. Then, having lost height to around 8,000 feet, the starboard engine began to faulter. At 11:45 the bomber came down amongst trees.(+) One airman from the six-man crew is reported to have been slightly injured. F/S Jones joined the air force in 1941, either in Rhodesia or South Africa.
Date: 12 Dec 1944
Unit: 17 OTU
Type: Wellington
Serial No.: LN934
Operation:
Take Off:
Crew:
Description: Crashed at Castle Donnington. Cat ‘AC’
Date: 17 Dec 1944
Unit: 17 OTU
Type: Wellington
Serial No.: LP306
Operation: Training
Take Off: RAF Turweston
Crew:
Sgt G A Caton 1808380 Killed Orpington Churchyard
Sgt J Hartley 1620932 Killed Ince-in-Makerfield Cemetery
Sgt R G Miller 1604765 Killed Liverpool (Anfield) Cemetery
Sgt W Kennedy 2212847 Killed Newcastle-Upon-tyne cemetery
Sgt R P H Fernie 1568204 Killed Edinburgh Cemetery
Sgt M E Griffiths 1813603 Killed Harrow (Pinner) New cemetery
Description: Took off from RAF Turweston for local flying practice, but crashed at 14:04, off a starboard turn, after overshooting the runway and attempting to go round again. All buried at various United Kingdon Churchyards.
Court Of Inquiry: Probable cause was uneven flap retraction. Cannot be proven due to wreckage. Cat ‘E’. Burnt out.