Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I near Edale

Date & Time: Dec 11, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N9853
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Newton – Millom
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training mission from RAF Newton to RAF Millom. While cruising in cloudy conditions, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of Mt Edale Moor located in the Kinder Scout National Nature Reserve, northwest of Edale. All five occupants were injured while the aircraft was destroyed.
Crew (16th FTS):
F/Lt A. Chelstowski, pilot,
F/Sgt S. Pasinski, wireless operator.
Passengers:
F/Lt A. Mecinski,
F/Lt Witold Suida,
F/O Jan Kilmczak.
Source & photos:
http://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/pages/peakdistrict/peakdistrictn9853.htm

Crash of an Avro 652 I in Craigronald Hill: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 6, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EG693
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The aircraft had taken off from Millom in southwest Cumbria for a navigation and bombing exercise, while flying south over the mountains of southern Scotland the aircraft struck the snow covered northern slope of Craigronald. The crash was reported fairly quickly and a Mountain Rescue Team was sent out form Wigtown, when they arrived they found 1 crew member alive but he died before reaching hospital.
Crew (2nd AFU):
F/Sgt Colwyn Parker Angus, pilot,
Sgt Maurice Schneider, navigator,
Sgt John Walter Melhuish, bomb aimer,
Sgt Kenneth Richard Ridehalgh, wireless operator.
Source:
http://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/pages/scotland/scotlandeg693.htm

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Braithwaite

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1944 at 2115 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
MG464
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a night training mission from Isle of Man. En route, the twin engine aircraft went through a low pressure area and encountered strong downdrafts. The aircraft lost height and crashed on the slope of a hill. All three occupants were rescued while the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Caught by downdrafts.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I near Port Erin: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 13, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AX177
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Wigtown - Wigtown
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on a night navigation exercise from RAF Wigtown in southern Scotland, the aircraft's route was to be from Wigtown to Eggerness Point, Whithorn, Ballyquinton Point, Bardsey Light, Chicken Rock, Port Saint Mary, Ballyquinton Point and return to Wigtown. The first two points were within ten miles of Wigtown Airfield. Ballyquinton Point stands at the mouth of Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland, Bardsey Light is on Bardsey Island off the Lleyn Peninsular. Chicken Rock is off the southern tip of the Isle of Man. The aircraft had reached the Isle of Man and the crew decided to return directly to Wigtown and set course for there. The court of inquiry concluded that while near Ronaldsway the pilot had climbed from his briefed altitude of 2000ft to 3000ft in order to avoid high ground on the direct route back to Wigtown. This change in altitude took the aircraft into icing conditions, this would have caused ice build up on the aircraft. The presiding officer suggested that when icing was experienced the pilot most likely turned back towards Ronaldsway, to avoid the high ground, while descending out of cloud at the same time. The aircraft was flying south east at the time of the crash and had possibly descended too quickly. The aircraft flew into the north western end of Cronk ny Arrey Laa while in a steep climb, possibly attempting to avoid the hill.
Crew (1st AFU):
F/Sgt Hugh Eugene McDonald, pilot,
F/O Charles Alfred Bardwell, navigator,
P/O John Darlington, air bomber,
F/O Percy Henry Hoyle, wireless operator,
F/Sgt John David Pratt, wireless operator.
Source:
http://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/pages/isleofman/iomax177.htm

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Makaranui

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NZ413
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
New Plymouth - New Plymouth
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, while on a training flight from New Plymouth, the aircraft suffered a fuel exhaustion and the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft came to rest in Makaranui, near Ohakune. While all three occupants were unhurt, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Fuel exhaustion.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I off Port Fairy: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 15, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AW878
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While cruising along the shore, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea off Port Fairy. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (2nd AOS):
F/Sgt James Henry MacLellan, pilot,
F/Sgt Dennis Leslie Baulderstone, instructor,
LAC Norman Thomas Kruck, student observer,
LAC Brian Carter Ladyman, student observer.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson in Mt Taranaki: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 4, 1944 at 1515 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NZ414
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
New Plymouth - New Plymouth
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
237
Copilot / Total flying hours:
887
Circumstances:
The crew departed New Plymouth Airport at 1419LT on a navigation exercise. While cruising at an altitude of 1,200 feet, the twin engine aircraft went through a cloudy area over Mt Egmont (Mt Taranaki). Familiar with the area, the second pilot saw trees 200 feet below and took over the control to turn to the right to avoid any collision with the mountain. Unfortunately, the aircraft stalled, hit tree tops and crashed in a wooded area. F/Sgt Peterson was able to leave the crash site and walked for about seven miles to find help. On site, the rescuers were able to evacuate a second crew member alive while both other occupants were killed.
Crew (SNR):
F/Sgt John Paterson Cummins, pilot, †
F/Sgt Maurice Roy Haycock, pilot, †
Sgt B. F. A. Rough, navigator,
F/Sgt A. F. Peterson, radio operator.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in RAF Hawarden

Date & Time: Aug 14, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L7932
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On landing, the twin engine aircraft went out of control, swerved and veered off runway before coming to rest. While all four occupants were uninjured, the aircraft was written off.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I off New Plymouth

Date & Time: Aug 14, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NZ405
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
New Plymouth - New Plymouth
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a training exercise around New Plymouth. En route, in unknown circumstances, the twin engine aircraft crashed into the sea off New Plymouth and was lost. All four crew members were rescued.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Wallacetown: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 12, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
6276
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Fingal - Fingal
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
During flight, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in a field in Wallacetown. Two crewmen were killed while two others were injured. Both crew killed were respectively Sgt E. D. Hawkins and Sgt R. D. Sharp.