Handley Page H.P.63 Halifax VI

The crew left Belfast-Aldergrove Airport to perform a meteorological mission over the North Atlantic. While cruising southeast of the Hebrides Islands, the four engine aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea about 24 km southeast of Barra Head. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. On January 16, 1951, the body of the captain and some debris were found by fishermen. It is believed that the loss of control may have been caused by a sudden in flight fire.
Crew (202nd Squadron):
S/L Terence Anthony Cox, pilot,
P/O Donald Nattriss, copilot,
Sgt Edward Arthur Keeble,
Sgt John Frederick Stanley Black,
F/Sgt John Henry Cobbold,
Sgt William Richard Martindale,
Sgt Stuart Gordon Purches,
Sgt Gerald Walklate.

For undetermined reason, the landing at Dakar-Yoff Airport was a little bit rude and the aircraft should be grounded for four days to repair the tail gear. After an uneventful fuel stop in Accra, the crew continued to Pointe-Noire but encountered poor weather conditions upon arrival. The visibility was bad and the ceiling was about 100 meters. On final approach, the aircraft was too far to the right of the centerline so the pilot in command made a sharp turn to the left when control was lost. The aircraft crashed in flames and was destroyed. All 18 occupants were killed, among them military personnel, civilians, women and children.
Crew (Groupe de Transport GT I/25 Tunisie):
Lt Cornette, pilot,
Cpt Pinson,
Asp Desgourgues,
Adj Carayol,
Sgt Escudie,
Sgt Rivaud,
Sgt Cullion.
Passengers:
Dr. Stéfanopoulo from Pasteur Institute,
Col Cordier,
Cdt Delair,
Mrs Sokoloff and her three children,
Mrs Lagrange.
Mrs Cécile Idrac 2.

Some 80 minutes after its departure from Belfast-Aldergrove Airport, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances into the Atlantic Ocean, about 150 km northwest of the Irish coast, at approximately 55°00'00.0"N 12°00'00.0"W. All nine crewmen were lost in the crash. It is believed that the crew encountered technical problems with some instruments.
Crew (202nd Squadron):
S/L D. L. Bisgood, pilot,
J. S. Anderson, copilot,
F/Lt D. J. McMahon,
P. B. Higgins, navigator,
R. Miles, flight engineer,
F/Sgt A. A. Thompson,
F. Orwin,
S. Baldwin, flight engineer,
D. James.

The aircraft left RAF Breighton on a bombing mission over Leopoldsburg, Belgium. On the return trip, while flying over The Netherlands by night, the bomber was attacked by a German fighter. The rear gunner, Sgt D. B. Bell, maybe panicked, bailed out and was killed. The aircraft continued to RAF Woodbridge but on approach, the captain decided to make an emergency landing for unknown reason (short of fuel ?). The aircraft crash landed and was damaged beyond repair while all six occupants were injured.