Avro 652 Anson

On 8th April 1943 the crew of this aircraft were undertaking a cross country navigation training flight and took off from Jurby on the Isle of Man at 1419LT. Because of poor weather and low cloud the crew became lost. It was thought that the aircraft was flying much further south than the crew believed they were. Instead of being over low ground to the west of Carlisle they were actually they were flying some twelve miles south of their assumed position which was over cloud-covered high ground. At 1640LT the crew attempted to obtain their position by transmitting a message to their base but nothing else was heard from the aircraft. Possible strong up and down air currents were thought to have affected the control of the aircraft and it descended over high ground it had crashed. The aircraft failed to return to base and was recorded as missing. The wreckage was spotted two days later on 10th April 1943 and it had crashed to the west of Bassenthwaite Lake, in the area of Lord Seat. At 2145LT a rescue party were dispatched the crash site arriving at around 2300LT. It was thought at the time that four members of the five man crew had died instantly as a result of the crash. One member of the crew was found alive but suffering from serious injuries and by this stage also suffering from exposure. A team brought him down from the crash site and he was admitted to the Mary Hewetson Cottage Hospital in Keswick. Sadly his injuries were so severe that he died there on 11th April 1943.
Crew (2nd AFU):
Sgt Harold Motby, pilot,
P/O Maurice Herbert Finbow, navigator,
P/O Robert Alexander Duff, navigator,
Sgt James Cooney, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt William Frederick Marshall, wireless operator and air gunner.
Source: http://www.yorkshire-aircraft.co.uk/aircraft/eg361.html

On approach to Port Moresby, the pilot was forced to attempt an emergency landing for unknown reason. The aircraft made a belly landing 7 miles northeast of the airport and was damaged beyond repair. All three crewmen were rescued.

En route, while on a night liaison flight, an engine failed. The pilot lost control of the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed in a field. All five occupants were killed.
Crew (9th AFU):
F/O Jack W. Croudis, pilot,
LAC Oscar Brayshay,
LAC Norman W. French,
LAC Alwyn T. J. Phillips,
Sgt Phillip Saer.

Crashed on landing. No casualties.

The crew was performing a training mission in the vicinity of RAF Usworth. While cruising at an altitude of 5,000 feet, the twin engine aircraft collided with another RAF Avro 652 Anson I registered L7908 carrying a crew of four. Following the collision, both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a field located 3 miles northeast of the airbase. Both aircraft were totally wrecked and all eight crew members were killed.
Crew (62nd Squadron):
Sgt Charles Davidson, pilot,
Sgt Donald Kenneth Upperton,
LAC John Ramsden Smith,
LAC Aurthur Joseph Kelly.

The crew was performing a training mission in the vicinity of RAF Usworth. While cruising at an altitude of 5,000 feet, the twin engine aircraft collided with another RAF Avro 652 Anson I registered DJ686 carrying a crew of four. Following the collision, both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a field located 3 miles northeast of the airbase. Both aircraft were totally wrecked and all eight crew members were killed.
Crew (62nd Squadron):
Sgt Alistair Cameron Dunlop, pilot,
Sgt Ian Duncan McDonald, navigator,
Sgt Frank Wickenden, observer,
LAC George Miller Johnston.

En route to RAF Kirkbride and while flying over the Pennines mountain range, east of Penrith, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with icing. He decided to modify his route, passing via the Alston valley. Shortly later, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of Mt Cross Fell, slid for several yards and came to rest. All five crew members were injured.
Crew (4th AOS):
Sgt Victor Henry Hill 4.

While on a training flight, the twin engine aircraft hit a hill in Hobcarton End, in the Lake District National park. All four crew members were killed.

The crew was engaged in a training mission out of RAF Millom. En route, in unknown circumstances, the twin engine aircraft crashed into the sea off the airbase. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (2nd AFU):
Sgt Arthur Page,
Sgt Thompson,
F/Sgt Harry Smith,
Sgt James Thomas.

Following a supply mission, the crew was returning to his base at RAF Dumfries. For unknown reason, the aircraft landed long and was unable to stop within the remaining runway distance. It overrun, lost its undercarriage and came to a halt few yards further on. While all occupants were unhurt, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. Crew from the 10th OAFU.