Crash of a Boeing B-29A-70-BN Washington B.1 near RAF Marham: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 14, 1952 at 2100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
WF570
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Marham - Marham
MSN:
11729
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from RAF Marham, while in initial climb, the crew noticed a fuel leak on the right wing and decided to return for an emergency landing. Unfortunately, the visibility was limited due to poor weather conditions and the pilot-in-command was forced to complete the approach with its radio compass as sole reference as there were no ATC or ground navigation aids at that time. During a last turn to join the runway approach path, the airplane lost height and crashed in a field located five miles northeast of the airfield. Four crew members were killed while four others were injured.
Probable cause:
The filler cap on the right fuel tank was incorrectly replaced after refueling, causing the fuel to flow after takeoff.

Crash of a Douglas A-26C-50-DT Invader in Gunsan: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 13, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-35869
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Gunsan - Gunsan
MSN:
29148
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The takeoff roll was abandoned for unknown reason. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran and came to rest. A pilot was killed while the second occupant was injured.
Crew:
A1c Thomas J. Condron, †
1st Lt Abner L. Wilkerson.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster GR.1 in RAF Benson: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 2, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RA803
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Benson - Benson
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training sortie at RAF Benson. During the final approach completed in marginal weather conditions, the crew did not realize that his altitude was too low when the airplane hit the ground and crashed few hundred yards short of runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and all four crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was the result of negligence on part of the flying crew who neglected published procedures and continued the approach below the minimum safe altitude.

Crash of a Vickers 619 Wellington X in RAF Tangmere: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 2, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LN376
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Tangmere - Tangmere
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training sortie at RAF Tangmere. On final approach, the right engine failed. The pilot-in-command continued the approach but on short final, decided to make a go around when the aircraft stalled and crashed in a field located short of runway. Three crew members were injured while the captain was killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right engine on final approach for undetermined reason.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford T.1 in Gloucester: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 2, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PK294
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
During a training sortie, while cruising at low altitude, the crew made a sharp turn to the left when the left wing hit tree tops. The twin engine aircraft lost height and crashed in flames in the Morar forest, killing both pilots.
Probable cause:
Poor judgment on part of the crew.

Crash of a Lockheed P2V-4 Neptune into the Atlantic Ocean: 8 killed

Date & Time: Nov 20, 1952 at 0445 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
124242
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Quonset Point - Quonset Point
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
In the early morning, two Neptunes of the Navy based at Quonset Point NAS were engaged in an anti-submarine warfare exercise off Block Island with the submarine USS Piper (SS-409) and the navy tug USS Hopi (AFT-71). Shortly after 0400LT, both aircraft rendezvoused over the Jamestown Bridge in Narragansett Bay, and headed for the operational area about 70 miles off Block Island. In unknown circumstances, the airplane banked right and then crashed into the sea. All eight crew members were killed.
Crew:
Lt Noble R. Kean,
Lt Thomas J. Tiernan,
A3c John R. Quirk,
A2c George A. Buehler,
Lt Seymour A. Moyl,
A1c Roland O. Eades,
Sea Salvatore A. Coia,
Sea Joseph A. gray.
Source:
http://www.newenglandaviationhistory.com/tag/p2v-neptune-124242/
Probable cause:
The cause of the crash could not be determined.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson C.19 in Woodley: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
TX197
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The aircraft was engaged in a training mission, carrying two pilots and a RAF cadet aged 15. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing, the airplane banked right, overturned and crashed in a huge explosion near the runway end. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control after rotation caused by the failure of the right engine.

Crash of a Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer on Mt South: 11 killed

Date & Time: Nov 12, 1952
Operator:
Registration:
59923
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
While performing a local training flight, the airplane registered 59923 (VP-772) hit the slope of Mt South located in the Olympic Mountain range, about 14 miles northwest of Shelton. All 11 crew members were killed.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-6A Catalina in Agana: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 11, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
46640
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Agana - Agana
MSN:
2004
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Agana-Harmon Field, while climbing by night, the aircraft suffered an engine failure. The crew elected to return for a safe landing when the seaplane stalled and crashed near the airport. Three crew members were killed while two others were rescued. The aircraft was destroyed.
Those killed were:
Lcdr R. S. McClendon,
Lt M. L. McGregor,
Sk3 H. J. Beltz.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Boeing B-50D-90-BO Superfortress in Great Dunmow: 11 killed

Date & Time: Nov 6, 1952 at 2350 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
48-091
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Upper Heyford - Upper Heyford
MSN:
15900
YOM:
1948
Region:
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a routine training mission out of RAF Upper Heyford. En route, the pilot lost control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed in a field located two miles west of Great Dunmow. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 11 crew members were killed. It was later reported that the airplane was carrying a load of ammunition that exploded for several hours, hampering the rescuers' mission.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the loss of control was caused by gale. Also, the assumption that the pilot-in-command lost his orientation was not ruled out.