4 fatalities

RAF Swinderby Air Rescue Mission Crash in North Sea (P4408)

North Sea, WorldFlight

On August 15, 1941, a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden (registration P4408) operated by Royal Air Force - RAF was involved in an aviation accident near North Sea, World in flight. 4 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Engine failure in flight. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-08-04Data APIEditorial standards

A military aircraft crashed into the North Sea off the Frisian Islands on August 14 after suffering an engine failure while returning to base from a rescue mission, resulting in four fatalities.

What happened

On the evening of August 14, a military airplane departed RAF Swinderby to conduct an air rescue operation. During the return leg of the flight, the aircraft experienced a mechanical issue that led to a loss of power. The plane subsequently crashed into the waters of the North Sea near the Frisian Islands. All four members of the crew were killed in the incident.

Findings

The official investigation determined that the accident was caused by an engine failure while the aircraft was in flight. This mechanical malfunction occurred during the return journey to base, resulting in the loss of the aircraft and all personnel on board.

Probable cause

Engine failure in flight