Vickers 440 Wellington X

Royal Air Force - RAF

The crew was engaged in a test flight at RAF Finningley. Enroute, both engines failed simultaneously. The captain elected to return to the airbase but on approach, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a field located five miles from the runway threshold. On ground, the aircraft hit an embankment located near a railway, sheared off some road signs and came to rest in flames. The pilot was killed while both other occupants were injured.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The crew was performing a training sortie from RAF Bovingdon. Enroute, the pilot encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions and was unable to locate the destination airfield. Eventually, he ordered his crew to bail out and attempted to make a solo approach to RAF Bovingdon. Due to fog, he decided to reduce his altitude in an attempt to establish a visual contact with the ground when the airplane hit tree tops and crashed in Garston, east of the airfield. The pilot was killed while all five other crew members were later rescued.

Royal Air Force - RAF

Enroute from Londonderry to RAF Andreas, while overflying the Irish Sea, the aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea. Both crew members were killed.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The crew was completing a training sortie, simulating an aerial attack with a RAF Spitfire. While cruising at a height between 4,000 and 5,000 feet, the aircraft banked 20° to the left then dove into the ground and crashed in the center of the city. The aircraft exploded on impact and damages on ground were so heavy with several houses destroyed. All four crew members were killed plus 16 people on the ground. Several others were injured, some of them seriously.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The aircraft left RAF Lichfield at 1830LT on a training exercise. In flight, while cruising at an altitude of 9,000 feet, a propeller blade broke off from the starboard engine. Severe vibrations developed on the engine that fell off shortly later. The crew decided to abandon the aircraft and bailed out. Out of control, the aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a field located in Marchington, some 3 miles southeast of Uttoxeter. It was destroyed while all five crew members were unhurt. Crew (27th OTU): F/Sgt John Sutherland Walker, pilot, P/O John Strange East, navigator, Sgt Joseph Arthur Barnard, bomb aimer, F/Sgt Harry Kearsley Chamberlain, wireless operator and air gunner, Sgt Brian Joseph Mordecai, air gunner.

Royal Air Force - RAF

Twenty-five minutes after its take off from RAF Castle Donington, the aircraft entered in a thunderstorm area and went out of control. It dove into the ground and crashed in a field, killing all six occupants. Crew (28th OTU): F/O Joseph Starr, pilot, F/O George David Wills Buchanan, navigator, Sgt William Corley Davis, air bomber, Sgt William George Paterson, air gunner, Sgt James Joseph Urban Stevens, air gunner, Sgt Richard John Taylor, air gunner.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The crew was performing a training exercise on behalf of the 77th OTU in RAF Qastina, Palestine. En route, while flying together with a Bristol Beaufighter of the 46th Squadron, both aircraft collided and crashed near Nabatieh, south of Lebanon. All seven occupants on both aircraft were killed. The exact circumstances of the collision remains unknown.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The aircraft left RAF Westcott at 1235LT on a training mission on behalf of the 11th OTU. En route, a technical failure occurred and the right wing was on fire. Crew attempted to divert to Milton and crew tried to extinguish the fire without success. On approach, the aircraft dove into the ground and crashed near the church of Rothersthorpe. The aircraft christened 'Bertie' was totally wrecked and all six occupants were killed. Crew (11th OTU): Sgt Norman H. Hewett, pilot, Sgt Colin J. Mowatt, navigator, Sgt John A. Freeman, air bomber P/O Donald McTeer, wireless operator and air gunner, Sgt Joseph R. Dowling, air gunner, Sgt Ernest V. Waller, air gunner.

Royal Air Force - RAF

Shortly after takeoff from RAF Lichtfield, while in initial climb, the aircraft collided with a flock of birds. Some of them hit the left engine that failed. Captain decided to return but few seconds later, the aircraft stalled and crashed in flames in a field near the airport. While all 7 occupants escaped unhurt, the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire. The crew was conducting a training flight on behalf of the 27th OTU.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The aircraft left RAF Dishforth in the evening of May 23 on a bombing mission over Dortmund. While overflying The Netherlands by night, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter and crashed in a field. All five crew members were killed. Crew (426th Squadron): Sgt L. G. Sutherland 4.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The aircraft left RAF Kirmington in the evening of May 23 on a bombing mission over Dortmund. While cruising at an altitude of 5,000 metres over The Netherlands by night, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter and crashed in flames in a field located in Buurse, south of Enschede. All five crew members were killed. Crew (166th Squadron): Sgt J. R. Stewart 4.

Royal Air Force - RAF

While performing a night training mission from RAF Hixon, the aircraft hit the slope of Mt Foel Grach, southeast of Bangor, north of Wales. All five crew members were killed. Crew (30th OTU): Sgt Edward Gerrard Frezell, pilot, P/O Frederick Keith Thorogood, navigator, Sgt Cecil Gordon Bennett, bomb aimer, Sgt George Newton Rafferty, wireless operator, Sgt Edwin Towler, air gunner.