Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland I off Milford Haven: 10 killed

Date & Time: Sep 18, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L2165
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Pembroke Dock - Pembroke Dock
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a maritime patrol flight. En route, the pilot encountered a hazardous situation with the simultaneous failure of all four engines. He attempted to ditch the float plane that stalled and crashed into the Milford Haven near Pembroke Dock. All 10 crewmen were killed.
Crew (210th Squadron):
F/Lt. Thomas Ivor Davies, pilot,
P/O Gordon William Sutton, copilot,
P/O Gordon William Brant, copilot,
Cpl Ronald Wesley Ewens,
AC1 Michael Murphy,
AC1 Frederick Jesse Soffe,
AC1 William Arthur Soanes, mechanic,
AC1 Frederick Ernest Hudson,
AC2 Jack Moss, wireless operator,
AC2 William Attrata O'Brien.
Probable cause:
Failure of all four engines caused by a fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland I off Pembroke Dock

Date & Time: Sep 10, 1939 at 1830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N6135
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Birżebbuġa - Pembroke Dock
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Birżebbuġa (Kalafrana), the crew started the approach to Pembroke Dock in poor weather conditions. Upon landing downwind on Milford Haven off Pembroke Dock, the float plane lost its both wingtip floats and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland I off Singapore: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 5, 1939 at 0800 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L5801
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Singapore - Singapore
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off, while climbing, the seaplane stalled and crashed into the Johore Strait, off the Singapore-Seletar Airport. The aircraft was destroyed and four crew members were injured while four others were killed.
Crew:
AC1 G. W. J. Mills, †
AC1 W. B. Cook, †
P/O A. H. Barnes, †
AC1 G. H. Leighton, †
F/O W. W. Campbell,
Cpl S. H. Williams,
LAC J. J. A. Smith,
AC1 J. Colville.
Probable cause:
It appears that the accident was caused by the failure of the control systems.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland off Milford Haven: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 20, 1938
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L2162
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a night training exercise. While approaching Angle Bay, off Milford Haven, the seaplane landed hard, broke in two and sank. Two crewmen were killed while all six others occupants were rescued.