Honington - Honington
Flight / Schedule
Honington - Honington
Aircraft
Vickers 416 Wellington ICRegistration
L7799
Operator
Royal Air Force - RAFDate
December 22, 1940 at 12:00 AM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Bombing
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Plain, Valley
Crash Location
Eastbourne East Sussex
Region
Europe • United Kingdom
Coordinates
50.7664°, 0.2782°
Narrative Report
On December 22, 1940 at 12:00 AM, Honington - Honington experienced a crash involving Vickers 416 Wellington IC, operated by Royal Air Force - RAF, with the event recorded near Eastbourne East Sussex.
The flight was categorized as bombing and the reported phase was flight at a plain, valley crash site.
6 people were known to be on board, 6 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.
Crew on board: 6, crew fatalities: 6, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.
The aircraft left RAF Honington at 2015LT on December 21 to bomb an industrial area located in Porto Marghera, near Venice, Italy. While on the return leg the following night, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in a field located in Lullington Court, some 12 km northwest of Eastbourne. All six crew members were killed. Crew (9th Squadron): Sgt Robert Norman Harrison, pilot, Sgt James Frederick Gapp, pilot, Sgt Leslie William Nichols, navigator and observer, Sgt Maurice Holker, wireless operator and air gunner, Sgt William Riley, wireless operator and air gunner, Sgt John Docker, air gunner.
Aircraft reference details include registration L7799.
Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 50.7664°, 0.2782°.
Fatalities
Total
6
Crew
6
Passengers
0
Other
0
Crash Summary
The aircraft left RAF Honington at 2015LT on December 21 to bomb an industrial area located in Porto Marghera, near Venice, Italy. While on the return leg the following night, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in a field located in Lullington Court, some 12 km northwest of Eastbourne. All six crew members were killed. Crew (9th Squadron): Sgt Robert Norman Harrison, pilot, Sgt James Frederick Gapp, pilot, Sgt Leslie William Nichols, navigator and observer, Sgt Maurice Holker, wireless operator and air gunner, Sgt William Riley, wireless operator and air gunner, Sgt John Docker, air gunner.
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
6
Passengers On Board
0
Estimated Survivors
0
Fatality Rate
100.0%
Known people on board: 6
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Honington - Honington
Operator
Royal Air Force - RAFFlight Type
Bombing
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Plain, Valley
Region / Country
Europe • United Kingdom
Aircraft Details
Aircraft
Vickers 416 Wellington ICRegistration
L7799
Similar Plane Crashes
Handley Page Aircraft Company Ltd
Handley Page V/1500
Assembled at Cricklewood Airfield in May 1918, the aircraft departed Cricklewood for its 13th test flight, carrying six crew members. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing to a height of about 700-800 feet, all four engines stopped. The pilot elected to return for an emergency landing when the aircraft stalled and crashed in a field located in front of 21 Garrick Avenue in Golders Green, bursting into flames. Colonel Ogilvie, who was seating in the tail gunner position at the back of the plane, survived, while all five other occupants were killed. Crew: Cpt Vernon Earl George Busby, pilot, † Mr. Bertram G. Cooper, † Mr. R. P. Cooper, † Mr. W. H. Hathaway, † Mr. J. W. Windebank, † Colonel Ogilvie.
Royal Air Force - RAF
Avro 504
The single engine aircraft was completing a local training flight when it stalled and crashed near Abukir. A crew member was killed and the second was injured. Crew: 2nd Lt G. E. Satterthwaite, † 2nd Lt J. Acheson.
Marine Aeroplane Depot
Fairey III
The pilot departed Isle of Grain on a delivery flight to Glasgow-Renfrew Airport. On approach to RAF Usworth (RAF Hylton), he elected to make a go-around when the aircraft lost height and crashed. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, Captain Arthur Leslie Simms, was killed.
Royal Air Force - RAF
De Havilland DH.6
The crew was completing a local training flight at RAF Seaton Carew when the aircraft entered a spin and crashed in a field, bursting into flames. Both occupants were killed. Crew: Cpt Charles David Danby, pilot, 1st Class E. A. Bannister, mechanic.
Royal Air Force - RAF
Handley Page H.P.12
The aircraft departed Castle Bromwich for a test flight, carrying five engineers and two crew members. En route, the twin engine aircraft suffered technical problems with a wing, lost height and crashed in a field located in Maxstoke. The aircraft was destroyed and all seven occupants were killed. Crew: Lt Robert Edward Macbeth, Lt Frederick James Bravery, 1st Air Mechanic James Benjamn May, 2nd Air Mechanic Albert J. Winrow, 2nd Air Mechanic H. Simmonds, 3rd Air Mechanic Charles William Offord, 3rd George Greenland.
Royal Air Force - RAF
Blackburn R.T.1 Kangaroo
On final approach in bad visibility, aircraft was too low. It struck the ground short of runway and crashed. Both occupants were injured. Crew was performing a training flight on behalf of the 246th Squadron.