Lockheed L-414 Hudson

Operator:

Registration:

N7308

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Silloth - Silloth

MSN:

414-1704

YOM:

1940

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

The crew was involved in a training exercise including single engine practice. En route, the aircraft stalled and crashed into the Solway Firth, few hundred yards off shore. All three crew members were killed.
Crew (1st OTU):
Sgt D. J. Wearne, pilot,
Sgt Leo Francis Ryan, navigator,
P/O R. D. Hall.
Source: Alan Storr Compilation

Probable cause:

A Report into the accident, the Wg Cdr RAF Silloth stated : “ I commenced giving Wearne a check dual on Hudson N7308 previous to him flying solo. The behaviour of the aircraft was normal in every way. After about one hours flying I authorised Wearne to carry out various solo practices including single engine flying. I am quite satisfied that this pilot was quite competent to carry out the practices detailed. The pupil was a good average pilot who had been flying quite well that morning. I consider that the faulty handling of the engine controls referred to by the Investigating Officer caused the Pilot to pay too much attention to the engines, and not enough to the flying of the aircraft. with the result that the pilot stalled the aircraft and ‘spun in’. The Air Cdre Group Commander stated “ I do not agree with the findings of the Investigating Officer, as there is no evidence to justify the assumption that the cause of the accident was ‘due to the faulty handling of the engine controls.’ In my opinion the accident was caused by engine failure but the reason for the failure must remain a mystery.”
Source:
http://static.awm.gov.au/images/collection/pdf/RC09125_022--1-.pdf

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IIIA off Alicante: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 27, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

FH426

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

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The twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea off Alicante, killing all four crew members based at Gibraltar.
Crew (223rd Squadron):
Sgt J. S. Greaves, pilot,
Sgt E. Brown, navigator,
Sgt E. V. Evans, bomber,
Sgt J. J. Griffin, bomber.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IIIA off Dili: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 27, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

A16-210

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

414-6431

YOM:

1942

Flight number:

Bat177

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The mission of the crew was to bomb stores. En route, the twin engine aircraft was attacked by the pilot of a Japanese Zero fighter. Bullets hit the tail and some instruments. The aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea 5 miles off shore. All five occupants were killed.
Crew (2nd Squadron):
F/O M. W. Johns,
P/O J. F. Nixon,
Sgt J. D. Horseman,
Sgt D. L. Tyler,
Sgt N. Ross.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IIIA off Cape Lore: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 24, 1942 at 1700 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

A16-166

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

414-6095

YOM:

1941

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The aircraft was on a shipping raid near Nova Ancora when it was attacked by enemy fire and shot down by Japanese fighters. With an engine on fire, the aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea 1,5 mile off Cape Lore. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (13th Squadron):
F/O G. P. Thomson,
Sgt R. M. Clark,
Sgt J. M. Dunbar,
Sgt K. G. Chote,
Sgt R. S. West.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IV in Jabal al Mansuriyah AFB

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Operator:

Registration:

FK391

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

MSN:

414-6867

YOM:

1942

Location:

Jabal al Mansuriyah AFB (Cairo West AFB / Sphinx Intl)

Giza

Country:

Egypt

Region:

Africa

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During the take off run from Jabal al Mansuriyah AFB (RAF LG-224), the aircraft swerved, veered off runway and came to rest. No casualties.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IIIA into the Rekata Bay: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 19, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

NZ2054

Flight Phase:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

414-6613

YOM:

1942

Location:

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Circumstances:

While overflying the Rekata Bay, near Santa Isabel Island, the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea near a Japanese Naval Air Station. All five occupants were killed. The wreckage was spotted in August 1945.
Crew (3rd Squadron):
F/Sgt Norman Newall,
Sgt Albert Mahony,
Sgt Henry Downard,
F/Sgt David Newlands,
Sgt Richard Andrew.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IIIA in Whenuapai: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

NZ2077

Flight Phase:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Whenuapai - Whenuapai

MSN:

414-6695

YOM:

1942

Location:

Whenuapai AFB (Auckland)

Auckland Council

Country:

New Zealand

Region:

Oceania

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in a training mission in the vicinity of Whenuapai AFB. At the end of the program, the captain decided to overfly the airbase at low height. The twin engine aircraft was too low and hit a hangar before crashing into flames. All four crew members were killed but no one in the hangar was hurt.
Crew (1st Squadron):
F/L Graham Hamlin,
P/O Ian McGregor,
Cpl John Barraclough,
AC1 James Mitchell.

Probable cause:

The accident was the result of the pilot being guilty of negligence and direct breach of discipline in carrying out aerobatic evolution at a height below the prescribed minimum.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I in Soputa: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1942 at 1515 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

A16-36

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Soputa - Soputa

MSN:

414-1887

YOM:

1940

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Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in a supply mission to Soputa to drop ammunition to Australian soldiers at the drop zone called 'Jumbora'. While flying at an altitude of 100 feet, the twin engine aircraft was hit by ground fire and crashed in flames in a wooded area. Three crew members were killed while the fourth occupant was injured.
Crew (1st OTU):
S/L William Allan Pedrina, pilot, †
F/O Donald Beviss Kerr, observer, †
Sgt Arthur Rupert Itzerott, radio operator, †
W/O Leo Charles Callaghan, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson VI in Gander: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 6, 1942 at 0021 LT

Type of aircraft: