Detling

The crew was performing a maritime patrol flight off the French coast. While cruising in poor weather conditions, both engines failed, forcing the crew to attempt an emergency landing near Cape Gris Nez, some 20 km southwest of Calais. The pilot was killed while both air gunners were rescued.
Crew (48th Squadron):
P/O John James Drummond, pilot, †
Sgt Guy Nelson, gunner,
AC1 Arthur Evan, gunner.

Following a reconnaissance mission over the North Sea, the twin engine airplane was returning to its base in Detling. In poor visibility due to fog, the aircraft ran out of fuel. The pilot attempted to ditch the aircraft off Seasalter, northern Kent. All four crew members were rescued and the airplane sank and was lost.
Crew:
P/O Lane, pilot,
P/O E. N. Harris, copilot,
AC2 Ronald Harold Coomber,
AC2 William Joseph Smith.

The crew departed Detling on a maritime patrol flight over the North Sea. While returning to his base, the crew encountered poor weather conditions when the aircraft ran out of fuel. All four crew members bailed out and abandoned the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed near Wilmington. Two crew were unhurt while two others were injured.
Crew:
F/O R. E. Jay,
LAC J. H. Baldry,
AC2 S. F. C. Cunningham,
AC2 H. G. Ridley.

The crew was returning to his base in Detling following a maritime patrol flight over The Channel. The twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances about 2 km south of Pett and sank. All four crew members were rescued.
Crew (48th Squadron):
F/Lt G. E. Ford,
Sgt F. M. Pennell,
Cpl Parkinson,
LAC A. G. Willis.

The pilot/owner S. E. H. Spencer was accompanied by Miss Grace and on the day of the accident, the two people had arrived at Detling at 1300LT from Hamble, Hampshire. After a lunch break, Miss Grace suggested that the pilot should carry out some aerobatics before proceeding on the return journey. They took off in a normal manner and climbed to 300 feet whilst circling the landing ground, and then Spencer executed a half-roll to port. This manoeuvre was followed, as soon as the Moth had recovered from the loss of height, by a loop which was made with a very low margin of speed and from which the machine leveled out at only 50 feet above the ground. It then assumed a slightly climbing attitude, rolled, and nose dived straight into the ground. Witnesses said that the engine was shut off when the Moth completed the first half of the loop, and was not heard to accelerate again. Examination of the charred wreckage didn't reveal any obvious defects in the airframe or engine, and it was apparent that it had crashed in a stalled condition. The petrol tank came into violent contact with the engine on impact and was crushed before igniting, hence the fierceness of the fire.