Military aircraft crashes in the north west Midlands - 1943

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.

1 January 1943 (01/01/1943) Oxford V3841 of 11 Pilots Advanced Flying Unit crashed at Wheaton Aston after hitting trees in the circuit. Pilot Sgt James Murray Gilmour was killed.

11 January 1943 (11/01/1943) Wellington III HZ104 of 22 Operational Training Unit Hit a telegraph pole and crashed on approach to Cosford Aerodrome. The pilot, P/O E E Fisher RCAF died of his injuries.

15 January 1943 (15/01/1943) Oxford N4832 of 11 Pilots Advanced Training Unit crashed on overshoot at Wheaton Aston. Crew names unknown.

15 January 1943 (15/01/1943) Wellington III BK512 of 23 Operational Training Unit suffered engine failure while engaged on night flying exercises and crashed near Orton on the Hill, 4½ miles east of Tamworth, Staffordshire. The pilot, P/O A M H Gain RCAF, was killed. Sgt E A Antrobus, Sgt V M White RCAF, Sgt V M Caplin and Sgt D J Burge parachuted safely.

21 January 1943 (21/01/1943) Tiger Moth BB816 of 28 Elementary Flying Training School collided in mid air with Tiger Moth T5101 near Stafford. LAC Stanley Albert De’ath in BB816 and 2nd Lt Ali Aksu (Turkish Air Force) in T5101 were both killed.

29 January 1943 (29/01/1943) Master W8731 of 16 PFTS crashed at Lichfield. The pilot became lost and decided to make a precautionary landing, but forgot to lower the flaps so touched down at a higher than normal speed. The aircraft swung and turned over.

5 February 1943 (5/02/1943) Tiger Moth T7971 swung on landing at Wolverhampton and hit Tiger Moth N6875  which was taking off. Both aircraft belonged to 28 Elementary Flying Training School. W/O J D Loach in T7971 was seriously injured and his student was less seriously hurt.

7 February 1943 (07/02/1943) Wellington BK434 of 30 Operational Training Unit crashed at Ingestre. Sgt Robert Driscoll Lewis RAAF, Sgt K H Austin, Sgt J McGinnes, Sgt J J Kenny and Sgt D C Rowse RNZAF were killed.

10 February 1943 (10/02/43) Master W8478 of 5 Pilots Advanced Flying Unit force landed in bad weather and crashed at Price Hill, Aston, Stafford. Names of crew not yet traced.

17 February 1943 (17/02/1943) Tiger Moth T5629 of 28 Elementary Flying Training School was abandoned near Aldridge, Walsall. The pilot, F/O Tomley is believed to have survived.

1 March 1943 (01/03/1943) Wellington III Z1681 of 27 Operational Training Unit crashed on approach to Lichfield aerodrome. P/O W W Alexander RAAF, Sgt J Denyer, P/O A R Heins RAAF were killed. P/O G A McCreath RAAF, P/O W J R Vincent and Sgt Woodhouse were injured.

11 March 1943 (11/03/1943) Wellington III BJ835 of 27 Operational Training Unit Crashed in a forced landing at Gnosall. The crew were unhurt.

4 April 1943 (04/04/1943) Wellington III BK508 of 27 Operational Training Unit crashed near Church Broughton. Sgt P A White was killed but the pilot, Sgt Law survived.

5 April 1943 (05/04/1943) Beaufighter IIF T3049 of 51 Maintenance Unit crashed at Yoxall. No details of the crew have been found.

6 April 1943 (06/04/1943) Wellington X HE210 of 27 Operational Training Unit was destroyed in a take off accident at Lichfield. W/O A G Gross RAAF and his crew were unhurt.

10 April 1943 (10/04/1943) Wellington BK179 of 30 Operational Training Unit crashed near Seighford aerodrome. F/O R Haynes, F/Sgt J F Jervis, Sgt L K Bray, Sgt R F Knight and Sgt F Yates were all killed.

12 April 1943 (12/04/1943) Tiger Moth N9214 of 7 Elementary Flying Training School struck a private house and injured a civilian at Tamworth. Sgt Ivan Judd and P/O Robert Leslie Corrie were both killed.

7 May 1943 (07/05/1943) Ansons EG185 and N4925 of 3 Observers Advanced Flying Unit were involved in a mid-air collision over Pattingham while flying in formation and they crashed at  Patshull Park. Pilot F/Sgt T J Beresford and WO/AG Sgt F H Scanlan died in EG185. Pilot Sgt H J Kelly and WO/AG Sgt E Fenwick died in N4925.

15 May 1943 (15/05/1943) Wellington X HE468 of 30 Operational Training Unit crashed at Salt Heath. All on board were killed: F/O J H G Watson, Sgt G A Cure, P/O E G Farrow, Sgt T J Campbell, F/Sgt D P Boyle RAAF, Sgt J Hedge, Lt P A Roberts of 80 Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery.

5 June 1943 (05/06/43) Master T8769 of 5 Pilots Advanced Flying Unit suffered an engine failure, attempted a forced landing, but crashed after overshooting the field, 2 miles N.E. of Lichfield.  Names of crew not yet traced.

27 June 1943 (27/06/1943) Wellington III BK453 of 27 Operational Training Unit crashed at Church Broughton airfield. P/O D W Laufer RAAF and his crew were unhurt.

7 July 1943 (07/07/1943) Wellington X HE238 of 30 Operational Training Unit Crashed 1.5 miles from Hixon aerodrome killing all on board. F/O A Beare, Sgt J I Middleton, Sgt G D Barker, Sgt J E Ratcliffe, Sgt V C Cummins RCAF and 2Lt T E  Fenwick RA.

19 July 1943 (19/07/1943) Oxford HN772 of 285 Squadron broke up recovering from a dive during anti-aircraft co-operation and crashed at Frier Park, West Bromwich. Sgt R Dean was killed.

21 July 1943 (21/07/1943) Oxford P1889 of 11 Pilots Advanced Flying Unit collided in cloud with Oxford V4222 of the same unit and crashed at Gailey near Penkridge. Pilot Sgt H Dickinson RCAF was the instructor in P1889 and was killed but his student survived. V4222 landed safely without injury to its crew.

1 August 1943 (01/08/1943) Wellington X HE917 of 30 Operational Training Unit overshot the runway at Hixon aerodrome. The crew were all injured: F/Sgt P J Clifton, Sgt C M Carr RCAF, Sgt A E Dimock RCAF, Sgt A L Rookes, Sgt J A Johnstone.

3 August 1943 (03/08/1943) Anson EG170 of 3 (Observers) Advanced Flying Unit flew into a hill in cloud at Kinver. Sgt Wlodzimierz Marian Paluch, Polish Air Force, died of his injuries and four other crew members were injured

11 August 1943 (11/08/1943) Master II W9073 of 5 Flying Training School collided in mid air with Wellington HE390 near Seighford Aerodrome killing F/Sgt Simmons and Sgt Mudie RAAF.  The crew of the Wellington were all killed as well: Sgt S G Cochrane, Sgt F Powis, Sgt C Yates, Sgt E W C Bryant, F/Lt L W Metcalf DFC.

16 August 1943 (16/08/1943) Wellington X HE178 of 27 Operational Training Unit crashed whilst making a forced landing 3 miles N.E. of Tamworth. The pilot, Sgt R W Jarvis survived but Sgt R Taltersall was killed.

16 August 1943 (16/08/1943) Wellington X MS475 of 27 Operational Training Unit overshot Lichfield aerodrome following an engine failure. Sgt D O Clindening was injured, the rest of the crew escaped unhurt.

18 August 1943 (18/08/1943) Wellington X LN432 of 27 Operational Training Unit crashed during take off from Lichfield aerodrome. S/Ldr C E Payne and three other crew members suffered minor injuries.

21 August 1943 (21/08/1943) Master  I N7943 of 5 Pilots Advanced Flying Unit crashed during a forced landing at Lichfield aerodrome. Despite being dragged clear of the burning wreck by Aircraftsman Bigg, both Sgt Fentiman and his pupil, P/O Falkner died of their injuries.

26 August 1943 (26/08/1943) Wellington III BK359 of 30 Operational Training Unit swung on take off and collided with a contractor’s lorry. P/O Vernon and his crew were unhurt, the lorry driver suffered minor injuries.

31 August 1943 (31/08/1943) Anson K8731 of 3 Observers Advanced Flying Unit crashed on overshooting Halfpenny Green Aerodrome. The crew and two air cadet passengers were injured.

5 September 1943 (05/09/1943) Master DK862 of 17 Pilots Advanced Flying Unit was abandoned at Edingale. Crew details unknown.

7 September 1943 (07/09/1943) Mosquito DD685 of 60 Operational Training Unit flew into the ground during a night exercise, at Hales. F/O E Harbo RCAF and F/O W F M Howard RCAF were both killed.

10 September 1943 (10/08/1943) Wellington III BK152 of 27 Operational Training Unit crashed during an overshoot procedure at Hixon aerodrome. The crew were all killed: F/O G N Stewart DFM RAAF, F/S D J Fernance RAAF, Sgt E N Death RAAF, F/S F C Stringer RAAF, P/O T F Swinney, F/Sgt A J Vickerman RAAF.

23 September 1943 (23/09/1943) Master II W9057 of 5 Pilots Advanced Flying Unit crashed at Hoar Cross. P/O B R N A Jeanmart was killed.

25 September 1943 (25/09/1943) Master II W9031 of 5 Pilots Advanced Flying Unit crashed near Hoar Cross. P/O N C A Simms was killed.

2 October 1943 (02/10/1943) Spitfire II P7356 of 61 Operational Training Unit was abandoned following an engine failure, crashing at Weston. The pilot was unhurt.

12 October 1943 (12/10/1943) Spitfire Vc MJ109 was on a test flight from the manufacturers, Vickers Armstrong at Castle Bromwich, when it suffered an engine failure. The test pilot, Alex Henshaw, was unhurt.

12 October 1943 (12/10/1943) Wellington III BJ986 of 30 Operational Training Unit crashed on overshooting Hixon Aerodrome following an engine failure. Sgt R F Mackrill and 4 others were injured.

21 October 1943 (21/10/1943) Master DM126 of 5 Pilots Advanced Flying Unit was abandoned near Eccleshall when it caught fire in the air.  Sgt F Epstein, Czech, was unhurt.

12 November 1943 (12/11/1943) Halifax BB326 of 1659 Heavy Conversion Unit crashed in Bobbington village after take off from Halfpenny Green aerodrome. The following were killed: P/O G R Patman RCAF, Sgt D Sharp, F/Sgt F N S Fearnley RCAF, F/O D M Blair, Sgt G P Fuller, Sgt R T Gibbon, F/Sgt K D Ross RCAF. P/O T M Murdock RCAF was thrown out on impact and survived.

24 November 1943 (24/11/1943) Wellington III X3813 of 30 Operational Training Unit hit a hut whilst on take off from Seighford aerodrome. F/Sgt J Parkinson and his crew were unhurt.

22 December 1943 (22/12/1943) Wellington X HE653 of 27 Operational Training Unit made a wheels up landing at Lichfield aerodrome after flying into a flock of birds on take off. P/O W J B Murphy and his crew were unhurt.

23 December 1943 (23/12/1943) Tomahawk IIB AK128 of 1686 Flight taxied into a fuel bowser at RAF Hixon. F/Lt L M Ralph RNZAF was unhurt.

29 December 1943 (29/12/1943) Wellington III X3883 of 30 Operational Training Unit crashed at Hoar Cross following an engine failure. Sgt F Collet survived, but his five crewmates were killed: Sgt. T B Joyce, Sgt J Whitehead, P/O J W Lorrimore, Sgt H W Miller and Sgt E Dean.