Leeming - Leeming
Flight / Schedule
Leeming - Leeming
Aircraft
Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 WhitleyRegistration
T4143
Operator
Royal Air Force - RAFDate
October 15, 1940 at 04:30 AM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Bombing
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Crash Location
Topcliffe AFB North Yorkshire
Region
Europe • United Kingdom
Crash Cause
Technical failure
Narrative Report
On October 15, 1940 at 04:30 AM, Leeming - Leeming experienced a crash involving Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley, operated by Royal Air Force - RAF, with the event recorded near Topcliffe AFB North Yorkshire.
The flight was categorized as bombing and the reported phase was flight at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.
5 people were known to be on board, 2 fatalities were recorded, 3 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 40.0%.
Crew on board: 5, crew fatalities: 2, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is technical failure. The aircraft left RAF Leeming at 1727LT on October 14 on a bombing mission over a synthetic oil plant located in Szczecin, Poland. While returning to his base in the next early morning, the crew was unable to determine his exact position in low visibility and thick cloud. Due to fuel exhaustion, the captain decided to attempt an emergency landing in a field. The aircraft eventually crashed and burnt. Two crew members were killed while all three others were seriously injured. Crew (10th Squadron): F/Lt Dennis Brendon Geoffrey Tomlinson, pilot, Sgt Byrne, pilot, P/O Robert James Dickinson, observer, † Sgt Leslie Peter Neville, wireless operator, † Sgt Somerville, air gunner.
Aircraft reference details include registration T4143.
Fatalities
Total
2
Crew
2
Passengers
0
Other
0
Crash Summary
The aircraft left RAF Leeming at 1727LT on October 14 on a bombing mission over a synthetic oil plant located in Szczecin, Poland. While returning to his base in the next early morning, the crew was unable to determine his exact position in low visibility and thick cloud. Due to fuel exhaustion, the captain decided to attempt an emergency landing in a field. The aircraft eventually crashed and burnt. Two crew members were killed while all three others were seriously injured. Crew (10th Squadron): F/Lt Dennis Brendon Geoffrey Tomlinson, pilot, Sgt Byrne, pilot, P/O Robert James Dickinson, observer, † Sgt Leslie Peter Neville, wireless operator, † Sgt Somerville, air gunner.
Cause: Technical failure
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
5
Passengers On Board
0
Estimated Survivors
3
Fatality Rate
40.0%
Known people on board: 5
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Leeming - Leeming
Operator
Royal Air Force - RAFFlight Type
Bombing
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Region / Country
Europe • United Kingdom
Aircraft Details
Aircraft
Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 WhitleyRegistration
T4143
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