Oxfordshire

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Harwell - Harwell

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After liftoff, the aircraft was unable to gain height, stalled and crashed, bursting into flames. All five crew members were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Wong flaps selection for takeoff on part of the crew.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I at RAF Chipping Norton: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 3, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Airspeed AS.10 Oxford

Operator:

Registration:

R6266

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Landing (descent or approach)

Schedule:

Chipping Norton - Chipping Norton

MSN:

2716

YOM:

1940

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Crashed upon takeoff for unknown reasons and crashed on a parked Oxford registered N4580. The pilot was killed and three other occupants were injured.
Crew:
F/Sgt Roderick George Morrison, pilot,
Sgt T. Price,
Sgt C. A. Wright,
Sgt D. F. Mackenzie.

Crash of a Vickers 290 Wellington I at RAF Harwell

Date & Time: Jun 22, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 290 Wellington I

Operator:

Registration:

L4282

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

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Site:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley

Schedule:

Harwell - Harwell

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Circumstances:

The crew was involved in a night training exercise at RAF Harwell. After completing few circuits in the vicinity of the airbase, the crew initiated a new approach procedure. The student pilot at controls overshot the flare and the instructor took over the control and landed. After a course of some 150 metres, the aircraft veered off runway and collided with a pile of sandbags. While all three occupants were unhurt, the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.
Crew (15th OTU):
S/L A. H. Smythe +2.

Probable cause:

Wrong approach configuration on part of the crew.

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

Date & Time: Jun 10, 1940 at 0230 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N1372

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Driffield - Driffield

MSN:

1536

YOM:

1939

Location:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Driffield at 2027LT on June 9 to bomb bridges spanning the River Somme. During the operation, the starboard engine caught fire and the crew decided to return. The bomb-load was jettisoned over the Channel then the pilot diverted to RAF Abingdon. While trying to land, the aircraft crashed, bursting into flames. All five crew members were rescued, among them one was injured.
Crew:
P/O A. W. Dunn,
P/O C. J. D. Montagu,
Sgt Lucas,
Sgt A. L. Kennedy,
Sgt Martin.

Probable cause:

Engine fire.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV near Oxford: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 6, 1940 at 1215 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

P4912

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

9394

YOM:

1939

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While cruising at an altitude of 5,000 feet, the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed 8 km north of Oxford. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Alexander John Stuart Buller, pilot,
Sgt Alan MacMillan, observer,
LAC George Davison, air gunner.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I at RAF Upper Heyford: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 2, 1940 at 1700 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

P1179

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Vickers 408 Wellington IA

Schedule:

Upper Heyford - Upper Heyford

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The pilot departed RAF Upper Heyford at 1700LT on a local solo training flight. Immediately after liftoff, the airplane rolled to the left, impacted a tree and crashed, bursting into flames. The pilot was killed.
Crew:
P/O Basil Simpson, pilot.

Crash of a Vickers 408 Wellington IA at RAF Abingdon

Date & Time: May 23, 1940 at 0150 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

L7777

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden

Schedule:

Honington - Honington

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The crew was engaged in a bombing mission over Namur, Belgium. On the return trip to RAF Honington, the aircraft deviated from the prescribed flight path and the crew eventually attempted to land at RAF Abingdon. Upon touchdown, the aircraft went out of control and veered off runway before coming to rest. All six crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was destroyed.
Crew (9th Squadron):
F/O K. H. V. Day,
P/O Kaye,
Sgt Cook,
Sgt Read,
Sgt McMahon,
Sgt Bowen.

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

Date & Time: Apr 25, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

P1181

Flight Phase:

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Survivors:

Site: