Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley

Royal Air Force - RAF

The crew was completing a night training flight and was returning to his base in Belfast-Aldergrove when the pilot in command lost his orientation and continued to the northeast to Scotland. While running out of fuel in low visibility, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located in the Fathan Glinne Mountain Range, near the village of Balquhidder, by the Loch Voil. A crew member was seriously injured while five others were killed. Crew: Sgt John James Westoby, pilot, † Sgt William John Barnfather, pilot, † Sgt John Whitsed, observer, † Sgt James Gerrard Curtis, wireless operator and air gunner, † Sgt Jack Perfect, wireless operator and air gunner, † Sgt W. S. Hamilton, air gunner.

Royal Air Force - RAF

On a night training flight, the aircraft hit a hill located southwest of Nairn. Three crew members were seriously injured while four others were killed. Two days later, one of the survivor died from his injuries. Crew (19th OTU): F/Lt Raymond Wilson Pitts McFarland, pilot, Sgt Kenneth Johnson Sampson, pilot, † F/O Alexander Chalmers Barrie, navigator, † Sgt Ronald Hartley, air bomber, † F/Sgt Arthur Thomas Hawkins, wireless operator and air gunner, † Sgt Ronald Alfred Hartwell, wireless operator and air gunner, † Sgt Padley, air gunner.

British Overseas Airways Corporation - BOAC

Shortly after take off from Gibraltar-North Front Airport, while in initial climb, the aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea. The aircraft was destroyed and all four crew members were killed. They were involved in a test flight following a maintenance operation. Crew: Sgt Samuel D. J. Cunrock, P/O Philip R. Dean, Cpt Charles G. K. Browne, Ronald S. Mallett.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The aircraft left RAF Leeming in the morning on a bombing mission to Wilhelmshaven. While overflying The Netherlands, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter, dove into the ground and crashed in an open field located in Driezum. Four crew members were killed while the fifth occupant was seriously injured. Crew (77th Squadron): S/L Leslie E. W. Parkin, pilot, † Sgt Douglas J. Sandlin, pilot, † Sgt Robert C. S. Hancock, radio navigator, Sgt Edmund S. Ayton, air gunner, † Sgt Wilfred Whittam, wireless operator. †

Royal Air Force - RAF

The crew was engaged in a bombing mission to Brest, France, and left RAF Linton-on-Ouse at the end of the day. En route, the crew was advised that due to deterioration of the weather conditions, he should return to England. On approach to RAF Acklington, the crew did not realize his altitude was too low. By night and poor visibility, the aircraft hit tree tops 1 mile short of runway, stalled and crashed in a wooded area. Four crew members were killed while the fifth occupant was seriously injured. The mission of the crew was to attack German ships parked in the harbor of Brest. Crew (58th Squadron): P/O Andrew Allison Law, pilot 4.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The crew left RAF Dishforth at 2200LT on June 8 on a bombing mission to Dortmund. On the return flight in the next early morning, the crew lost his orientation when the aircraft hit a hill located in Bank Foot, near Ingleby Greenhow. All five crew members were killed. Crew (51st Squadron): F/Sgt Gordon Stubbs, pilot, P/O James Raymond Pertwee, pilot, Sgt William Charles Goy Roper, observer, Sgt Charles Frederick Ranson, wireless operator and air gunner, Sgt James Cousins, rear gunner.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The aircraft left RAF Topcliffe at 1629LT on December 27 to bomb an aircraft factory based in Mérignac, Bordeaux. Following the mission, the aircraft was returning to its base. On touchdown, it went out of control, veered off runway and collided with another Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley parked on the ramp. All five occupants were injured while both aircraft were destroyed. Crew (77th Squadron): Sgt Harold Joseph Dowling, pilot, P/O Leonard Edward Pearson, pilot, Sgt John Stafford Bools, observer, Sgt Gill, wireless operator, Sgt Alfred John Hurlston, air gunner.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The crew left RAF Linton-on-Ouse at 1725LT on a mission to Boulogne, France. One hour into the flight, the crew encountered technical problems with some instruments and decided to return to his base. After touchdown, the aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and collided with a parked Westland Lysander. An explosion occurred and both aircraft were destroyed. A crew member was killed while all four others were injured. Crew (58th Squadron): F/O Cresswell Montagu Clementi, pilot, Sgt Walter Thomas W. Large, pilot, Sgt James Wilfred Henry Brown, observer, Sgt Herbert Frederick Jennings, wireless operator and air gunner, Sgt Irwin Geoffrey Johnson, wireless operator and air gunner. † Source and photo: http://www.yorkshire-aircraft.co.uk/aircraft/yorkshire/york40/p5098.html

Royal Air Force - RAF

Shortly after take off, while in initial climb, the bomber stalled and crashed in flames on a farm located near the airport. The captain was killed while all four other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed. Crew (10th Squadron): P/O Peter Beckford Gough, pilot P/O Ross Leslie Flewelling, pilot, † Sgt John Thomas Evans, wireless operator, Sgt Ronald Leslie Somerville, wireless operator, Sgt Edward Peter Hogan, wireless operator.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The aircraft left RAF Topcliffe at 1641LT on a bombing mission to Berlin. Few minutes after take off, an engine fired and forced the crew to return to his base. While approaching the airbase, the aircraft hit a hill located near Osmotherly and was wrecked. One of the wireless operator was killed. Crew (77th Squadron): P/O Hayden Hugh James Miller, pilot, Sgt Douglas Henry Gilbert, copilot, Sgt G. Thorpe, observer, Sgt Cyril Williams, wireless operator and air gunner, † Sgt Albert Edward Hammond, wireless operator and air gunner.