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Gloucestershire

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Lechdale-on-Thames: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N9824
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Brize Norton - Brize Norton
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was conducting a training exercise from RAF Brize Norton when the pilot lost control of the aircraft that crashed in Lechdale-on-Thames, some 14 km northeast of Swinton. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (61st Squadron):
P/O E. I. Hewett,
P/O A. C. Manaton,
Sgt J. D. Hartley,
AC1 H. S. Burke,
AC1 A. Mullineux.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I at RAF Bibury

Date & Time: Feb 21, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L4607
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bibery – South Cerney
MSN:
74
YOM:
1938
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while on initial climb, the aircraft impacted trees and crashed. Both occupants were injured and the aircraft was written off.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I in Chavenage: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
P1077
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Sealand - Sealand
MSN:
PAC.8
YOM:
1939
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While on a training flight out from RAF Sealand, the pilot lost control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed in Chavenage. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Crew:
Sgt Alfred George Banks.

Crash of a Bristol 152 Beaufort off Avonmouth: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 20, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L4468
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Bristol - Bristol
MSN:
8329
YOM:
1939
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot departed Bristol-Filton Airport on a local solo test flight. In unknown circumstances, he lost control of the airplane that crashed into the Severn off Avonmouth. The pilot Lt Paul Le Mesurier Carodyce Deacon was killed.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley III at RAF Aston Down

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1939 at 1300 LT
Operator:
Registration:
K8943
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1396
YOM:
1938
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
At 1300LT, near completion of a ferry flight to RAF Aston Down, the pilot was about to land when he realized that a RAF Blenheim was parked at the landing area. In order to avoid a collision, he held off until he was clear of this obstruction but was then forced to turn sharply away from the perimeter wall. In doing so, the undercarriage collapsed and the Whitley was damaged beyond repair. All three crewmen were unhurt.
Crew:
Sgt R. T. Langton +2.

Source: W. R. Chorley.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I at RAF Little Rissington: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 11, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L7905
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Little Rissington - Little Rissington
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot was performing his first solo flight at RAF Little Rissington. After several circuits in the vicinity of the airbase, he initiated the return when, on final approach, he lost control of the aircraft that crashed in a huge ball of fire. The sole occupant was killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control for undetermined reason.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IF in Bristol

Date & Time: Sep 16, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L6678
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bristol - Bristol
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane crashed for unknown reasons upon landing at Bristol-Filton Airport. Both crewmen were uninjured.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I at RAF South Cerney: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 12, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L4574
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
South Cerney - South Cerney
MSN:
41
YOM:
1938
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot was completing a local night solo training exercise at RAF South Cerney on behalf of the 3rd Training Army School. The pilot missed the approach and overshot the runway. The twin engine aircraft landed too far down the runway and after touchdown, it went out of control and crashed upside down. The pilot was killed.
Crew:
F/O E. A. Marriott.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach and landing configuration.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I at RAF Little Rissington

Date & Time: Aug 25, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L7903
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Little Rissington - Little Rissington
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training flight out from RAF Little Rissington. On final approach, the twin engine aircraft was too low, hit a hedge and crashed. Both pilots were injured.
Probable cause:
Too low approach on part of the crew.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60G Moth in Brockworth: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 15, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-ABBV
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Cheltenham - Cheltenham
MSN:
1276
YOM:
1930
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, departed Cheltenham on a private flight. En route, the airplane went out of control, entered a dive and crashed in a pasture in Brockworth. The pilot was killed.