Avro 679 Manchester

Operator:

Registration:

L7491

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

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Schedule:

Wigsley - Wigsley

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Circumstances:

Swerved on take off, veered off runway and came to rest. No casualties.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester I in RAF Swinderby

Date & Time: May 1, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

L7468

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

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On final approach to RAF Swinderby, an engine caught fire and exploded. The aircraft stalled and crashed in flames in an open field short of runway. All seven crew were injured while the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Engine fire.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester in RAF Wigsley

Date & Time: Apr 15, 1943 at 1850 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

L7294

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

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Wigsley - Wigsley

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Circumstances:

The aircraft left RAF Wigsley at 1645LT for a cross country exercise. Less than two hours later, an engine caught fire and the captain decided to return to his base. On final approach, the aircraft on fire stalled and crashed in a field short of runway. While all seven crew members were injured, the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Crew (1654 HCU):
Sgt William Hedley Eager,
Sgt T. D. Viggers,
Sgt H. T. Petts,
Sgt T. H. James,
Sgt F. R. Stone,
Sgt G. E. Hunnington,
Sgt A. Jones.

Probable cause:

Engine fire.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester I near RAF Swinderby: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 11, 1943 at 1850 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

R5841

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

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Schedule:

Swinderby - Swinderby

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Circumstances:

The crew was performing a local training flight at RAF Swinderby. While in the circuit and conducting landings, one of the engine caught fire. The pilot attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crashed near the River Brandt, bursting into flames. Three crew members were killed and three others were injured. The airplane was destroyed by fire.
Crew:
F/Lt Jack Martindale Whitwell, pilot, †
Sgt Robert Davies, flight engineer, †
Sgt H. M. Scott,
Sgt W. J. Robinson,
Sgt B. R. Traves,
Sgt Arthur James Brooks, air gunner, †

Probable cause:

Engine fire in flight probably caused by the failure of a hydraulic pipe.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester I at RAF Wigsley

Date & Time: Apr 4, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

L7291

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

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Wigsley - Wigsley

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Circumstances:

The crew was performing a local training flight at RAF Wigsley on behalf of the 1654 HCU. After touchdown, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest, bursting into flames. All seven crew members escaped uninjured and the airplane was destroyed by fire.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester I at RAF Swinderby

Date & Time: Mar 24, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

L7453

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Swinderby - Swinderby

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Circumstances:

Almost immediately after takeoff, one of the engines caught fire. The crew decided to land promptly while the landing gear have just been retracted. The airplane belly landed and skidded for few hundred metres before coming to rest. All seven crew members escaped uninjured while the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
S/L Rupert Gordon Westley Oakley, pilot,
Sgt George Stanley Cole, copilot +5.

Probable cause:

Engine fire at takeoff.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester I at RAF Wickenby

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1943 at 1255 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

R5838

Flight Phase:

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Winthorpe - Winthorpe

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The crew departed RAF Winthorpe to demonstrate feathering procedures, during which the port engine was shut down. While cruising at an altitude of 5,000 feet, the pilot attempted to restart the engine but the port propeller failed to unfeather. The crew was forced to divert to RAF Wickenby where the airplane overshot and crashed into a ditch, causing the starboard undercarriage to collapse. All five crew members escaped unhurt and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
W/O E. Knight, pilot +4.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester I at RAF Wickenby

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1943 at 1255 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

W5838

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

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Schedule:

Winthorpe - Winthorpe

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Circumstances:

The crew departed RAF Winthorpe to demonstrate feathering procedures, during which the port engine was shut down. The pilot attempted to restart the engine at 5,000 feet, but was forced to crash-land at RAF Wickenby after the port propeller failed to unfeather. After landing, the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overshot the runway and came to rest in a ditch, causing the starboard undercarriage to collapse. The crew escaped unhurt and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
W/O E. Knight, pilot +4.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester I in North Scarle: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 2, 1943 at 1515 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

L7277

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Site: