Training

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

The crew was performing a night training mission and departed Abbotsford Airport on the evening of November 9. While low visibility, pilots were unable to locate the mountainous terrain. The four engine aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located near Flora Lake, Vancouver Island, and was destroyed by impact forces. All 10 crew members were killed. SAR operations were dispatched on a huge area but no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. The wreckage was eventually spotted one year later. At the time of the accident, the visibility was reduced due to marginal weather conditions and by night.
Crew (5th OTU):
F/O John Victor Kingdon, 1st pilot,
F/O Morris Morganstein, 2nd pilot,
F/O Frederick Edward Brown,
F/O James Frederick Cooke,
Sgt Frederick Douglas Hafford,
Sgt Sidney Helper,
Sgt Glyn Ivor Jones,
Sgt Thomas MacDonald,
Sgt Ronald May,
Sgt David Peggie Westwater.

On the 3rd November 1944 the crew of three boarded (including an instructor) HN429 for a Beam Approach training exercise from RAF Cranage in Cheshire where No.1531 Beam Approach Training Flight were stationed. Though this unit was itself a semi-autonomous detachment of No.11 (P)AFU from Calveley. At around 1000LT the trainee pilot lost his way and while trying to correct his error struck the gentle slope on the northern side of Axe Edge. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were injured.
Crew (11 (P) AFU):
F/O Charles Victor Mayhead, pilot,
F/O Albert Craig Mullen, student pilot,
F/O J. S. Bean, observer.
Source & photos:
http://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/pages/peakdistrict/peakdistricthn429.htm

The bomber left Kingman Airport on a gunnery training mission jointly with a USAF Bell P-39Q Airacobra registered 44-2378. While flying at an altitude of 12,000 feet, the pilot of the Bell misjudged the distance between both aircraft, causing the Bell to hit the left wing of the Flying Fortress. At least 15 feet of the left wing was sheared off. Out of control, both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a desert area located near Kingman Airport. All 15 occupants on both aircraft were killed.

The crew was involved in a training flight in the region of the Jacksonville-Towers Field NAS when an unexpected situation forced the crew to attempt an emergency landing. The seaplane came to rest in a field near the Julington Creek. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and a crew member was killed while both other occupants were injured.
Crew (TBC):
Cpt Moore,
Lt Rick,
Ens. John C. Thornton.

The crew was engaged in a circular training flight at RNZAF Whenuapai. On final approach, the right engine failed. The captain increased the power on left engine and with full flaps, attempted a single engine approach. The aircraft banked right, went out of control and crashed into trees. Four crew members were killed while the fifth occupant was seriously injured. He died a day later.
Crew (8th Squadron):
F/Sgt Edward Brightwell,
F/Sgt James Pederson,
F/Sgt Archibald Alexander,
Sgt Harold Mauger,
Sgt Russell Robbie.

The crew was engaged in a circular training mission at Reno Army Airfield. After completing a tour around the airport, the crew started the approach by night when it was struck by another USAAF C-46 registered 41-12357 and carrying a crew of five. Following the collision, both aircraft went out of control and crashed few km from the airport. Both aircraft were destroyed and all 12 crew members were killed.

The crew was engaged in a circular training mission at Reno Army Airfield. After completing a tour around the airport, the crew started the approach by night when it was struck by another USAAF C-46 registered 42-96716 and carrying a crew of seven. Following the collision, both aircraft went out of control and crashed few km from the airport. Both aircraft were destroyed and all 12 crew members were killed.

En route, both engines failed and the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing in a pasture. While all four crew members were unhurt, the aircraft was written off.

The crew was engaged in a night training exercise. En route, the pilot did not realized his altitude was insufficient and the crew was unable to distinguish the presence of the mountain due to the low visibility caused by foggy conditions. The aircraft hit the south slope of Mt Mickle Fell, skidded for some hundred yards before coming to rest in flames. The tail gunner was found alive while all six other occupants were killed.
Crew (570th Squadron):
F/Sgt Peter Dawbarn Young, pilot, †
F/Sgt Neil Conway Burgess, navigator, †
Sgt Bertram George Davis, flight engineer, †
F/Sgt John Matthew Stack, bomb aimer, †
F/Sgt Rex Patrick Furey, wireless operator, †
F/Sgt George Child, air gunner, †
W/O Alan G. Small RNZAF, tail gunner.