Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson off Seaham: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 19, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7284
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Thornaby - Thornaby
MSN:
414-1680
YOM:
1939
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Thornaby on a air gunnery exercice. While flying off Seaham, County Durham, the twin engine airplane crashed into the sea some 7 km offshore. The wreckage was localized but no trace of both crew members.
Crew:
P/O Hubert John Keller, pilot,
P/O John Whyte Crichton Robertson, pilot.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I at RAF Thornaby: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 8, 1939 at 1655 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7290
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Thornaby - Thornaby
MSN:
414-1686
YOM:
1939
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training mission out from RAF Thornaby. On final approach, at a height of 600 feet, the twin engine airplane stalled and crashed into houses, bursting into flames. All four crew members were killed while there were no casualties on the ground. The distance between the aircraft and the ground was insufficient to expect a stall recovery.
Crew:
P/O Augustine Harold Jervis Ryan, pilot,
P/O Douglas Haig Robertson, pilot,
Sgt Rex Mitchell, pilot,
AC1 Albert Wade, wireless operator.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I at RAF Leuchars

Date & Time: Oct 18, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7271
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Leuchars - Leuchars
MSN:
414-1667
YOM:
1939
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Leuchars on a patrol mission. During the takeoff roll, the airplane swung, veered off runway and collided with a parked RAF Avro 652 Anson registered K6268. It continued, off the airfield, went through the perimeter fence and came to rest into the Eden River. Both crew members were uninjured.
Crew:
F/O G. Edwards, pilot,
Sgt Frank Foster Hallam, copilot.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I near Freuchie: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 10, 1939 at 1940 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7227
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Leuchars - Leuchars
MSN:
414-1623
YOM:
1939
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was returning to RAF Leuchars following a patrol flight when he encountered poor visibility due to a low cloud base. Too low, the twin engine airplane impacted the ground and crashed about 2 km south of Freuchie. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all four crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Charles Hampton Clark, pilot,
P/O William Edward Lockley, copilot,
Basil Norman Blades, wireless operator,
AC2 W. M. Cochrane.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I at RAF Leuchars: 6 killed

Date & Time: Oct 4, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7214
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Leuchars - Thornaby
MSN:
414-1610
YOM:
1939
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from RAF Leuchars, while climbing to a height of 300 feet, the airplane stalled, entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed about 800 metres from the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants were killed. They were on a transit flight to RAF Thornaby.
Crew:
F/O Desmond George Perry, pilot,
P/O John William Crawford McFarlane, copilot.
Passengers:
Sgt Harry Letchford,
P/O Richard Atkinson Barker,
AC1 Frederick Henderson May,
AC1 Cyril Arthur Bates.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the loss of control during initial climb was the consequence of an unbalanced load of the crew and their kit, which affected the aircraft's C of G and stability.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I off Helgoland Island: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 30, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7216
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Leuchars - Leuchars
MSN:
414-1612
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Leuchars on a reconnaissance mission over Wilhelmshaven. While flying over the North Sea and approaching the German coast, the twin engine airplane was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter and crashed into the sea off Helgoland Island. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O John Raymond Hollington, pilot,
Sgt Richard Samuel Pitts, copilot,
AC1 Graham Rout,
AC1 Alexander Bathgate.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the pilot of a German fighter.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I off Sylt: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 30, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7219
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Leuchars - Leuchars
MSN:
414-1615
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed RAF Leuchars on a reconnaissance mission with four crew members on board. While approaching Sylt Island, the airplane was shot down by the German Flak and crashed into the sea some 300 metres offshore. A crew member was rescued and became PoW while three other occupants were killed.
Crew:
P/O D. G. Heaton-Nichols, pilot,
Sgt James Pearce, copilot, †
AC1 Albert Sill, †
AC1 Albert Thomason, gunner. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Lockheed L414 Hudson I at RAF Leuchars

Date & Time: Sep 8, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7210
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Leuchars - Leuchars
MSN:
414-1606
YOM:
1939
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot departed RAF Leuchars on a local solo training flight. After touchdown at night on an airfield under construction, the aircraft went out of control, veered off runway, lost its undercarriage and came to rest. The pilot Sgt F. A. E. Cramp escaped uninjured.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I into the North Sea: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 7, 1939 at 2210 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7247
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Leuchars - Leuchars
MSN:
414-1643
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed RAF Leuchars on a night mission over the North Sea. In unknown circumstances, the aircraft crashed into the sea. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found.
Crew:
F/O Harry Dale Green, pilot,
P/O Cedric Nicholas Whittington, copilot,
LAC John Lawrence Calpin,
AC1 Archibald Macrae Rodger.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I at RAF Leuchars: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 4, 1939 at 1545 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7239
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Leuchars - Leuchars
MSN:
414-1635
YOM:
1939
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Leuchars on a local training mission. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing, the airplane entered a nose up attitude, stalled and crashed upside down into the Eden River located south of the airbase. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Lt Guy Percy Robinson, pilot,
F/O Earl Douglas Godfrey, copilot.
Probable cause:
Loss of control caused by a tail trimming gear that was not properly set for the takeoff procedure.