Military aircraft crashes in the north west Midlands - 1938 to 1941

Details of the crashes and the names of the aircrew involved appear on this page. Please contact us if you are related to somebody on the list, or know of a photograph of them. If original photographs or papers are still in the family, we can help to caption photographs and explain the codes and nicknames that were used at the time. We appreciate the opportunity to copy original material for the museum's archive.

The Midland Aircraft Recovery Group has found the sites of many of the crashes, but we are still looking for a significant number, so we'd like to hear from anyone who can pinpoint a crash that we've listed. We are always looking for photographs, log books and anecdotes relevant to the units based in the Midlands.

The details below are have been compiled from numerous sources of information in the public domain over many years. We've done our best, but errors are inevitable. Please contact us if you have more accurate information on any of the crashes or people listed, or can add the names of crew that we haven't traced. Thank you.

12 November 1938, Bristol Blenheim I , L1208 of 139 Squadron crashed at Rugeley following a fire in the air. The pilot, Flying Officer R.D. Tate and the two other crew members were killed.

28 April 1939, North American Harvard, N7019 of 10 Flying Training School crashed at Gailey after stalling during a forced landing.

20 November 1939, Bristol Blenheim L4887 of 101 Squadron crashed whilst making a forced landing 2.5 miles s.w. of R.A.F. Lichfield. The crew of three: Pilot Officer C.P.N. Newman, Leading Aircraftsman Johnson and Leading Aircraftsman F.J. Mantle were unhurt.

1 January 1940, DeHaviland Tiger Moth N6447 of 14 Elementary Training School, Elmdon, struck electricity cables near Tamworth.

1 March 1940, Avro Tutor K3249 of 219 Squadron crashed after running out of fuel at Rugeley.

8 June 1940, Airspeed Oxford R6246 of 11 Flying Training School, Wheaton Aston crashed on landing at Lichfield.

26 October 1940, DeHaviland Tiger Moth L6920 of 2 Elementary Training School crashed at Kinver. The pilot, Leading Aircraftsman J.S. Bunbury was injured.

12 January 1941, Bristol Beaufighter R2089 of 51 Maintenance Unit, Lichfield Hit a hut on the airfield the circumstances of the incident and fate of the crew are at present unknown.

7 February 1941, DeHaviland Tiger Moth T7216 of 14 Elementary Flying Training School, Elmdon, Hit a tree whilst making a forced landing at Aldridge.

13 February 1941, Boulton Paul Defiant N3518  of 2 Ferry Pilots Pool, Whitchurch stalled on approach to Cosford. The pilot was injured.

24 February 1942, Handley Page Hampden X3142 of 83 Squadron, Scampton, flew into the ground at Derrington Cross whilst on a bombing mission to Koln. The crew:Wing Commander W.W. Stainthorp AFC, Pilot Officer A. McD. Melville, Sergeant L. Emmerson and Sergeant D.V. Weaving were killed.

11 April 1941, Boulton Paul Defiant N3460 of 256 Squadron, Squires Gate, was on a defensive patrol over Birmingham when an alternator failure caused loss of the flying instruments. As they were unable to radio for assistance, the aircraft was abandoned by its crew and crashed near Cheslyn Hay. The pilot, Sergeant R. Dean broke his ankle on landing, but his gunner, Sergeant Robinson was uninjured.Sergeant Dean was killed 19 July 1943 when the aircraft he was flying, Oxford HN772 broke up in the air over West Bromwich.

24 April 1941, Miles Magister N3789 of 16 Elementary Flying Training School stalled on approach to Burton-Upon-Trent Relief Landing Ground.

26 April 1941, Miles Master I, T8757 of 5 Flying Training School, Tern Hill stalled whilst taking off from Cosford.

25 June 1941, Heinkel He111 WNr3839, of 3/KG4  was on abombing mission to Liverpool when it was shot down by a Beaufighter of 25 Squadron, crewed by Pilot officer L.D. Britain and Pilot Officer D.W.Thompson. The aircraft was abandoned and crashed at Lullington. Obl J. Schwartz was killed when his parachute failed to open, St Fw H. Glowski, Obergefr F. Ertzinger and Fw W. Koller were injured.

6 July 1941, Miles Magister N3812 of 5 Elementary Training School, dived into the ground at Wombourne.

10 July 1941, Vickers Wellington Ic T2467 of 27 Operational Training Unit, Lichfield suffered a burst tyre on take off, overshot and hit an obstruction. The crew were unhurt.

19 July 1941, Vickers Wellington Ic, R1366 of 27 Operational Training Unit, Lichfield suffered an engine failure and hit a hangar. The crew: Sgt R.L.Cox and his two companions were injured

30 July 1941, Spitfire II, P7825 of 403 Squadron dived into the ground near Cosford following loss of control in cloud.

10 August 1941, Vickers Wellington Ic, R1086 of 27 Operational Training Unit reported destroyed in an accident at Lichfield Aerodrome. There is no indication of casualties.

17 August 1941. DeHaviland Leopard Moth DB169 crashed on landing at Halfpenny Green Aerodrome. Fate of crew unknown.

25 August 1941, Vickers Wellington Ic, X9600 of 27 Operational Training Unit hit an armoured car after overshooting on landing. The pilot, Sgt J.A. Lancaster and his crew were unhurt.

28th August 1941, Miles Master I, N7935 of 5 Flying Training School, Tern Hill crashed near Gnosell. The fate of the crew is, at present unknown.

7 September 1941, Avro Anson I, K6190 of 27 Operational Training Unit, hit trees and farm buildings near Lichfield Aerodrome whilst overshooting. The crew were unhurt.

11 September 1941, Vickers Wellington Ic R1460 of 27 Operational Training Unit suffered a burst tyre on landing at Lichfield. Sergeant H.F.H Taylor and his crew were unhurt.

27 September 1941, Vickers Wellington Ia, P9216 of 27 Operational Training Unit caught fire after crash landing on Lichfield Aerodrome.The pupil pilot, Sergeant Ashwood, was killed but The Instructor, Flight Lieutenant L.B. Slade and the rest of the crew were unhurt.

30 September 1941, Avro Anson N5133 of 3 Air Observers Navigation School was destroyed by fire in ground accident at Halfpenny Green Aerodrome. There were no casualties reported.

18 October 1941, Vickers Wellington Ic, X9821 of 27 Operational Training Unit crashed whilst turning to the north of the Aerodrome. The crew: Sgt L.A. Hill, Sgt J.A. Gilleapie, Sgt C.U. Irish and Sgt P. Walker were killed.

22 October 1941, Miles Master N7485 of 5 Flying Training School, Tern Hill, dived into the ground at Gnosall. The pilot, Sgt Maurice Délécray of the Free French Airforce, was killed.  (Délécray was his nom de guerre; his French name was Armand Paul Bayard.)

28 October 1941, Bristol Blenheim IV, V6013 of 17 Operational Training Unit, Upwood crashed in a forced landing near Gayton. The crew: Sgt H.W. Taylor, Sgt F.R. Bayliss and Sgt J.A. Hedley were killed.

8 November 1941, Handley Page Hampden, AE238 of 144 Squadron, North Luffenham crash landed on Lichfield Aerodrome after being damaged by Flak. The crew: Sgt Woodhall, Sgt Pomroy, Sgt Tod and Sgt Lynch were unhurt.

8 December 1941, Miles Magister, L5964 of 16 Elementary Flying Training School crashed at Walton On Trent following a structural failure in flight. The fate of the crew is unknown at present.

15 December 1941, Vickers Wellington Ic, R1283 of 27 Operational Training Unit crashed at Chetwynd, near Lichfield Aerodrome after hitting trees whilst attempting a forced landing.Sgt B. Poupard was killed, Sgt T. Riordan, Sgt Kitson and Ggt Gaffney were injured. Riordan was killed on 7 January 1944 whilst flying with 98 Squadron. 

29 December 1941, Vickers Wellington Ic T2899 of 27 Operational Training Unit was destroyed by fire at its dispersal on Lichfield Aerodrome. There were no casualties.