Oxfordshire

Operator:

Registration:

K7260

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Abingdon - Abingdon

MSN:

1248

YOM:

1938

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The crew was performing a local training exercise out from RAF Abingdon. While cruising at low altitude, the aircraft impacted a tree and crashed in a field located near Kingston Bagpuize, some 7 km west of RAF Abingdon, coming to rest upside and bursting into flames. All three crew members were killed.
Crew (97th Squadron):
F/O John Gaskell Howard,
P/O Clair Neil Robinson,
Sgt Albert Coe.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford II in Burford: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 11, 1939

Type of aircraft:

Airspeed AS.10 Oxford

Operator:

Registration:

P1800

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Brize Norton - Brize Norton

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Circumstances:

The pilot was completing a local solo training flight out from RAF Brize Norton. In unknown circumstances, he lost control of the airplane that crashed in Burford, some 7 km north of the airfield. The pilot Sgt Sidney Hallas Newbigging was killed.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I at RAF Bicester

Date & Time: Nov 24, 1939

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

L4147

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Bicester - Bicester

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The pilot was conducting a night solo training flight at RAF Bicester. While cruising at a low level in the vicinity of the airfield, the airplane impacted trees and crashed. The pilot was injured.
Crew:
P/O T. G. Hynes, pilot.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF Upper Heyford: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 15, 1939 at 1455 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

N6226

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Alconbury - Upper Heyford

MSN:

9323

YOM:

1939

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Circumstances:

The airplane was returning to RAF Upper Heyford following a bombing practice. After landing, the airplane rolled for about 50 yards when the 'hung up' bomb fell and exploded. A crew was killed and two others were unhurt.
Crew:
P/O Philip Ellard Dundee, pilot,
Sgt P. N. Davidson,
Cpl Francis James Wilson Moores, wireless operator and air gunner. †

Probable cause:

Bomb explosion shortly after touchdown.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IF at RAF Harwell: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 14, 1939 at 1130 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L1286

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Harwell – Croydon

MSN:

8569

YOM:

1938

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After takeoff from RAF Harwell, the pilot entered clouds when he lost control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed in Folly Farm. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Crew:
P/O William Ronald Ross, pilot.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley III at RAF Abingdon: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 8, 1939 at 2140 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

K7225

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Abingdon - Abingdon

MSN:

1213

YOM:

1938

Location:

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Circumstances:

The crew was performing a night training mission out from RAF Abingdon. On final approach, the pilot failed to realize he was too low. The aircraft impacted a tree and crashed into a house located some 400 metres short of runway. All three crewmen were killed.
Crew (97th Squadron):
P/O Ian St. John Beere,
Sgt Arnold Vernon Strong,
AC2 Ernest Duff.

Probable cause:

Poor judgment on part of the crew.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I at RAF Brize Norton: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 6, 1939

Type of aircraft:

Airspeed AS.10 Oxford

Operator:

Registration:

L4547

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Brize Norton - Brize Norton

MSN:

YOM:

1937

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Circumstances:

The crew departed RAF Brize Norton on a local night training flight. After takeoff, while climbing to a height of about 400 feet, the pilot-in-command initiated a right turn when the airplane entered an area of heavy rain falls. Control was lost and the aircraft crashed in Black Bourton, south of the airbase. Both pilots were killed.
crew:
P/O Robert Patrick Shene Davidson,
Sgt Richard Watkin Adcock.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the accident was probably caused by the aircraft running into the heavy rain shower at four hundred feet and that Davidson failed to rely on his instruments to maintain height and direction. The enquiry also established that Peter Davidson had flown thirty eight hours in Oxfords and it was considered that his experience was in instrument flying had not been tested before he was permitted to fly at night.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley I at RAF Abingdon

Date & Time: Nov 6, 1939

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

K7203

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Abingdon - Abingdon

MSN:

1191

YOM:

1937

Location:

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Circumstances:

The crew was performing a local night training exercise at RAF Abingdon on behalf of the 166th Squadron. On final approach, the airplane was too low and impacted the ground, lost its undercarriage and came to rest short of runway. Both pilots escaped unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Wrong approach configuration on part of the crew.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley I at RAF Abingdon

Date & Time: Nov 6, 1939

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

K7185

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site: