Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I at RAF Upper Heyford

Date & Time: Apr 17, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
R9653
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Upper Heyford - Upper Heyford
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 out from RAF Upper Heyford. Just after liftoff, the twin engine airplane was hit by an RAF Handley Page Hampden that was also taking off. The Anson went out of control and crashed near the airfield while the Hampden landed safely and was repaired.
Crew:
Sgt R. W Baxter, pilot +3.
Probable cause:
It was reported that the pilot of the Hampden, who was giving instruction to a trainee, admitted that he failed to see the Anson.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I on Mt Ben More Assynt: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 13, 1941 at 1306 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N9857
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Kinloss - Stornoway - Kinloss
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The aircraft had taken off from Kinloss in less than ideal weather to follow a route via Oban, Stornaway and Cape Wrath before returning to Kinloss. The aircraft had completed the first two legs of its flight and reported passing Stornaway in icing conditions around this time the aircraft's port engine lost power and failed. Some time after this having either flown onto Cape Wrath or turning for base near Stornaway the aircraft flew into high ground in near white out conditions to the North East of Inchnadamph. The aircraft was reported overdue at Kinloss and an air search was initiated but this failed to locate the missing aircraft, it wasn't until the 25th May that the aircraft was located by a shepherd. A decision was made not to recover the remains of the crew due so they were all buried near the crash site and the aircraft was broken up and pushed in nearby gullies. When the wreck was discovered it was found that the crew had survived the crash and had probably died in the hours shortly after the crash from the affects of their injuries and exposure / hypothermia. One crew member had attempted to walk to help but headed east away from civilization and also perished in the cold. On the same day three shepherd's died from exposure and hypothermia in the Assynt area, showing that the weather was unseasonably bad.
Crew (19th OTU):
F/O James Henry Steyn, instructor,
P/O William Edward Drew, observer and instructor,
Sgt Charles McPherson Mitchell, observer,
F/S Thomas Brendon Kenny, wireless operator,
Sgt Jack Emery, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Harold Arthur Tompsett, wireless operator and air gunner.
Source:
http://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/pages/scotland/scotlandn9857.htm
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by an engine failure due to icing, and occurred in whiteout conditions.

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

Date & Time: Apr 8, 1941 at 1030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
6235
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Saskatoon - Saskatoon
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
91
Captain / Total hours on type:
33.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
88
Copilot / Total hours on type:
34
Circumstances:
The crew departed Saskatoon Airport on a cross country navigation exercise. The airplane went out of control and crashed six miles west of Cudworth, northeast of Saskatoon. Both pilots were killed.
Crew (4th SFTS):
LAC Alan Mitchell Randell, pilot,
LAC Donald Tweedie, pilot.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined. The plane crashed while attempting to land due to the failure of the starboard engine or was low flying and flew into the ground. The aircraft hit trees damaging the port wing and then flew for about a mile at approximately 100 feet above ground and crashed.
Final Report:

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I at RAF Waddington

Date & Time: Apr 1, 1941 at 1110 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
K6296
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Honington - Waddington
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew (one instructor and three student pilots) were on a routine training mission from RAF Honington. On final approach to RAF Waddington, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in a field short of runway. All four crew members were injured and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Crew (311th Squadron):
F/O J. Stransky +3.
Probable cause:
The loss of control on final approach was caused by the loss of the starboard aileron.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Bolderstone

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N9912
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Finningley - Finningley
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a night training exercise from RAF Finningley. While cruising at low altitude, the twin engine aircraft hit Mt Whitwell Moor located near Bolderstone, in the region of Stocksbridge. All four occupants were injured while the aircraft was wrecked.
Crew (25th OTU):
P/O Bernard Maurice Fournier, pilot,
Sgt Duncan Henry Barrett, copilot,
Sgt Ernest Richard Palmer, wireless Operator and air gunner,
Sgt Dennis Watson, wireless Operator and air gunner.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in El Adem

Date & Time: Mar 21, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L7973
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The undercarriage collapsed upon landing at El Adem Airport. The airplane was damaged beyond repair and there were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Undercarriage collapsed upon landing.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Rednal: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 21, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
K6248
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Cranage - Cranage
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a night training exercise from RAF Cranage. While flying at low height, the aircraft his tree tops and crashed in a wooded area located in Hawkeswood Farm, near Rednal. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (2nd SAN):
F/O Eric Walwyn Padfield, pilot,
Sgt Frederic Ralph Percival Burgess, pilot,
Sgt W. Hewish,
Sgt James Frederick Minnet, pilot,
Sgt Peter Rowland Hill, radio operator.
Probable cause:
The pilot failed to see and/or negotiate a large oak tree whilst carrying out a dummy run for a precautionary landing practice and probably opened throttle too late for recovery.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I at RAF Bicester

Date & Time: Mar 19, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N5157
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bicester - Bicester
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a training mission at RAF Bicester. For unknown reasons, the twin engine airplane crashed while circling in the vicinity of the airfield. All six crew members were injured.
Crew:
F/O Douglas Hickling Ivens, pilot,
P/O John Alfred Plumb, pilot,
Sgt Norman Joseph Ginlin, observer,
Sgt William Roy Meaker, wireless operator,
Sgt Charles Henry Gray, wireless operator,
Sgt L. A. Froom, air gunner.

Crash of an Avro 652A Anson I in Bond Head: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 13, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N9652
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Camp Borden - Camp Borden
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed RCAF Camp Borden on a training flight with a crew of three on board. While flying in formation, it collided with a second RAF Avro Anson registered N9595 and carrying a crew of four. Following the collision, both airplanes dove into the ground and crashed in a field located in Bond Head. All seven crew members in both aircrafts were killed.
Crew:
Sgt John Clydesdale Bell, pilot,
LAC Maurice Godfrey Folkard,
LAC Ivor Wilfred Jackson.

Crash of an Avro 652A Anson I in Bond Head: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 13, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N9595
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Camp Borden - Camp Borden
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed RCAF Camp Borden on a training flight with a crew of four on board. While flying in formation, it collided with a second RAF Avro Anson registered N9652 and carrying a crew of three. Following the collision, both airplanes dove into the ground and crashed in a field located in Bond Head. All seven crew members in both aircrafts were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Henry Dodsworth, pilot,
AC1 Colin Trevor Douglas,
LAC Stanley Porter,
LAC Eric Alfred Rundell.