Similar incidents
The crash of Wellington T2802 was the first of at least 20 incidents of the same kind. Listed below are details of some of these crashes.
Wellington III Z1747
Flying from RAF Marham, Norfolk on 30th March 1943 the aircraft of 1483 Gunnery Flight (3 Group) suffered an unexpected structural failure when the main spar assembly failed outboard of the starboard engine causeing the starboard wing to break away while on a cine camera gun affiliation exercise.
Z1747 crashed between Marham and Barton Bendish with the loss of nine airmen.
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Wellington X 3704
On the 29th May 1943, the aircraft took off from Stratford upon Avon for an organised fly past arranged by the Commander of RAF Pershore during Pershore's Wings for Victory and fund raising activities in which 11 Wellington Bomber crews took part. The Starboard wing fell off, taking the engine with it.Control of the aircraft was lost and it crashed into the back garden of the Brandy Cask Hotel. The plane burst into flames and all 5 crew members perished.
Hynam G S (F/O) DFC (RCAF)
Zoeller P E (Sgt) (RAF)
Allan H (Cpl) (RAFVR)
Band G R (AC2) (RAFVR)
Gravell W A (AC2) (RAFVR)
Wellington BJ981
The aircraft of 16 OTU A Flight flying from RAF Brackley on 8th June 1943 suffered a catastrophic structural failure and spiralled into the ground north of Towcester near Blisworth killing all five crew members.
Barber F A (F/O) (Flying Instructor) RAFVR no 133831 Age 31
Daniels S T (F/O) (Navigator) RAFVR no 132723 Age 21
Tremble F J M (Sgt) (Air Bomber) RAFVR no 1600600 Age 20
Lyle L H (Sgt) (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) RAFVR no. 1231203 Age 21
Robbins G A (Sgt) (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) no.906980 Age 28
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Wellington 1C BJ984
On 6th July 1943, the aircraft of 16 OTU was flying from RAF Upper Heyford on a test flight when the outer section of the port wing came off. The aeroplane spiralled in and crashed although the Pilot, Flying Officer H.E. Fryer DFC AFC, was thrown clear and parachuted safely to the ground. A ground crew fitter who was also in the plane was killed.
HAND, Charles Fenton AFM Corporal 942217 age 42
Wellington BK235
On 18th July 1943 the aircraft of 1485 Target Towing and Gunnery Flight from RAF Fulbeck on a fighter affiliation exercise with a Martinet took off at 1542 hours. The pilot began a corkscrew and when changing to climb to port the starboard outer mainplane became detached. The aircraft then rolled to starboard and crashed to the ground. All six crew were killed.
Heard, John William (Warrant Officer) (Pilot)) No 1169045 RAFVR aged 21
Breslin, Daniel DFM (Flight Sergeant) (Air Gunner) No 1561437 RAFVR aged 20
Matheson, Alister William Stewart (Wing Commander) (Pilot) No 29258 RAF aged 33
Lowe, Brian Everard (Group Captain) (Pilot) No 28252 RAF aged 32
Odbert, Reginald Vere Massey (Group Captain (Passenger) RAF aged 39
Brandon-Trye, Philip (Squadron Leader) (Pilot) No 42792 RAF aged 24
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The aircraft took off at 1125 on 29th August 1943 from Bruntlingthorpe for an air firing detail. it had only been in the air for 10-15 minutes when the port wing folded upwards whilst pulling out of a dive, the lower port wing spar failed and the plane crashed near Oakham, Rutland, killing all seven on board.
Heath John Hawarth (Flying Officer) (Pilot) No 41903 RNZAF aged 24
Gibbons, William John Patrick {Warrant Officer) (Wireless Operator) No 1493165 RAFVR age 23
Godson, Samuel DFM (Sergeant) (Air Gunnery Instructor) No 1576836 RAFVR age 32
Fairhurst, James Albert (Sergeant) (Air Gunner) No 1493165 RAFVR age 26
Graham, Vickers (Sergeant) (Air Gunner) No 1025312 RAFVR age 23
Salmon, Laurence Cyril (Sergeant) (Air Gunner) No 1416753 RAFVR age 22
Woodward, John Derek (Cadet) (Passenger) Air Training Corps (1434 Squadron) age 16
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On September 23rd 1943. Wellington HZ251 was on a training flight from RAF Silloth in Cumbria, when the port wing spar failed and the wing detached. The Wellington crashed beside the Leeds Liverpool Canal killing all seven Polish crew on board.
Ciaston, Franciszek (Kpl ) (Pilot) P/792374 PAF aged 27
Ostrowski, Wladyslaw (Sierz) (Pilot) P/792053 PAF aged 27
Wolnik, Jozef (F/Lt) (Navigator) P/1145 PAF aged 31
Swieca, Boleslaw Josef (Kpl) (Wireless Operator / Air Gunner) P/703105 PAF aged 28
Rychel, Boleslaw (Kpl) (Wireless Operator / Air Gunner) P/784756 PAF aged 21
Czyzewski, Jan (Kpl) (Air Gunner) P/780669 PAF aged 23
Kawenocki, Abram (Sierz) (Wireless Operator / Air Gunner) P/794155 PAF aged 22
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Wellington X HZ262
On 22nd July 1944, the aircraft took off from RAF Lossiemouth at 1153 hours to carry out a fighter affiliation exercise. At approximately 1230 hours, the aircraft was sighted, flying at an estimated 2,500 feet over the local golf course when the starboard wing suddenly came off. Totally out of control, the bomber plunged into Lossiemouth Harbour. All on board were killed.
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The crew members of HZ262 were:
Flight Sergeant Allan Joseph Grigg (427901) (Pilot)
Flight Sergeant David Bernard Barry (428291) (Wireless Operator Air)
Sergeant John Kirk (1827419) (RAFVR) (Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant Edmond William O’Dwyer (429200) (Navigator Air Bomber)
Sergeant Albert George Pring (913891) (RAFVR) (Air Gunner)
Pilot Officer Arnold Sunter (154310) (RAFVR) (Air Bomber)
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Mr H Woodcock a 23 year old civilian drowned while endeavouring to rescue crew from the crashed aircraft.
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