Crash of a Boeing B-17G-VE Flying Fortress at RAF Binbrook

Date & Time: Jul 25, 1989 at 1330 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
F-BEEA
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cinematography
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Binbrook - Binbrook
MSN:
8552
YOM:
1944
Location:
Binbrook AFB
Lincolnshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
11179
Captain / Total hours on type:
2131.00
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, after about 100 yards, a slight swing to the left developed, which the commander (who was the handling pilot) corrected by partially retarding the power on engines n°3 and 4, and by the use of rudder. Full power was then re-applied on all engines, but the aircraft started to swing to the right. The pilot throttled back engine n°1 and 2, together with the application of rudder, but these actions were not immediately effective. The aircraft did not resume a straight course until it was on the grass to the right of the runway. Knowing that the B17 had been operated from grass runways, the commander elected to continue with the take-off. However, after some 400-500 yards the aircraft swung further to the right, by which time the speed was 90-95 mph. The commander then became aware that the aircraft's path was obstructed by a tree and a pile of gravel. The left wing tip struck the tree and the n°4 propeller struck the gravel. The aircraft yawed to the right, crossed a hollow in the ground and landed in a cornfield beyond. The fuselage broke in two and a fire erupted. All 10 occupants were rescued, among them five were injured, two seriously. The aircraft was totally destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
The commander was subsequently unable to provide any explanation for the accident, although he suggested that the n°1 engine turbo-compressor may have been 'cutting in and out'. He also considered that the right wheel brake may not have been completely free. One eye witness, an engineer who was familiar with B17 aircraft, saw smoke emanating from the area of the n°3 engine at the start of the take-off. This led him to venture the opinion that this engine may have over-boosted and then suffered a power loss, thus causing the sequential left and right swings.
Final Report:

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson T.21 at RAF Leeming

Date & Time: Sep 23, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
WJ514
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Binbrook - Leeming
Location:
Leeming AFB
North Yorkshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training flight from RAF Binbrook to RAF Leeming. On touchdown, the tail wheel detached. The airplane swung on runway and went out of control before coming to rest. While both crew members were uninjured, the airplane was considered as damaged beyond repair. Strong cross winds were blowing at the time of the accident.

Crash of an Avro 694 Lincoln B2 in RAF Binbrook: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 18, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Avro 694 Lincoln
Operator:
Registration:
RA712
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Binbrook - Binbrook
Location:
Binbrook AFB
Lincolnshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training sortie at RAF Binbrook. After completing several approaches with one engine inoperative, the crew started a new approach when, on final, control was lost. The airplane stalled and hit the ground about 150 yards short of runway threshold. It slid for several yards and eventually collided with two other RAF Avro Lincoln parked on the tarmac. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and the captain was killed while all five other occupants were injured. It is believed that the loss of control was caused by an insufficient approach speed.

Crash of a Vickers 406 Wellington II in Molenbeersel: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 3, 1942 at 0135 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 406 Wellington II
Operator:
Registration:
Z8533
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Binbrook - Binbrook
Location:
Molenbeersel
Limburg
Country:
Belgium
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Binbrook at 2344LT on June 2 on an operation to Essen. Over Belgium, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in Molenbeersel. Three crew members were killed and two others became PoW.
Crew:
F/Sgt Harold Edgar Dimmock, pilot, †
Sgt Reginald Cecil Cushway, observer, †
Sgt Derek Victor Smith, bomb aimer,
P/O Dennis William O'Driscoll King, wireless operator,
Sgt Robinson Ferguson, air gunner. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Vickers 406 Wellington II in Akerdijk: 6 killed

Date & Time: May 31, 1942 at 0026 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 406 Wellington II
Operator:
Registration:
W5361
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Binbrook - Binbrook
Location:
Akerdijk
North Holland
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Binbrook at 2242LT on May 30 on an operation to Cologne. While passing over the Netherlands, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in Akerdijk, north of Amsterdam-Schiphol Airport. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Lt Anthony Bremner Payne, pilot,
Sgt Benjamin Sigler, pilot,
Sgt Jack Wise, observer,
Sgt Geoffrey Clement Praagst, wireless operator,
Sgt James Brown, air gunner,
Sgt William James Callaghan, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Vickers 406 Wellington II near Cologne: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 31, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 406 Wellington II
Operator:
Registration:
Z8643
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Binbrook - Binbrook
Location:
Cologne
North Rhine-Westphalia
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Binbrook at 2336LT on May 30 on an operation to Cologne. It is believed that it crashed in Germany, maybe near the target area. A crew was killed and four others became PoW.
Crew:
F/O William Bruce Shearer,
Sgt Edward Drake Ansford,
Sgt Bruce Oliver Brown,
Sgt Geoffrey Arnold Gane,
Sgt Conal Francis McKenna.

Crash of a Vickers 406 Wellington II in Oberlohberg: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 31, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 406 Wellington II
Operator:
Registration:
Z8376
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Binbrook - Binbrook
Location:
Oberlohberg
North Rhine-Westphalia
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Binbrook at 2340LT on May 30 on an operation to Cologne. Flying northwest of Oberhausen, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in Oberlohberg, killing the entire crew.
Crew:
F/O Alan Albert Waddell, pilot,
F/Sgt Arnold Adolf Seifert, observer,
Sgt Herbert Bottomley, wireless operator,
F/Sgt Edward Savage Masson, air gunner,
F/Sgt Robert George Kenyon Holden, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Vickers 406 Wellington II in Lexham: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 30, 1942 at 2332 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 406 Wellington II
Operator:
Registration:
Z8598
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Binbrook - Binbrook
Location:
Lexham
Norfolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Binbrook at 2255LT on an operation to Cologne. About half an hour into the flight, it went out of control and crashed for unknown reasons in Lexham, Norfolk. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt George Hamilton Everatt, pilot,
Sgt Alfred Segar Draper, observer,
Sgt John Brett, wireless operator,
F/Sgt Donald Malcolm Moodie, wireless operator,
Sgt Harold Hooley, air gunner.

Crash of a Vickers 406 Wellington II into the North Sea: 6 killed

Date & Time: May 20, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 406 Wellington II
Operator:
Registration:
W5458
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Binbrook - Binbrook
Location:
North Sea
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Binbrook at 2240LT on May 19 on an operation to Mannheim. It failed to return to base and is believed to have crashed somewhere into the North Sea. Lost without trace.
Crew:
P/O William John Fulton, pilot,
Sgt Clifford Allan Bell, pilot,
F/Sgt William Alan Baird, navigator,
Sgt Harry Edgar Wreyford Ansell, wireless operator,
F/Sgt James Ernest Hughes, air gunner,
Sgt Carodoc Roberts, air gunner.

Crash of a Vickers 406 Wellington II into the North Sea: 6 killed

Date & Time: May 9, 1942 at 0116 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 406 Wellington II
Operator:
Registration:
W5574
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Binbrook - Binbrook
Location:
North Sea
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Binbrook at 2214LT on May 8 on an operation to Warnemünde. Over the target area, the crew reported engine problems and elected to divert to Denmark. The airplane probably crashed somewhere into the North Sea. Lost without trace.
Crew:
F/Sgt Frederick Duggan Roddy, pilot,
Sgt Alan John Millar, pilot,
Sgt Allan Nicholson, observer,
Sgt Kenneth Edward Byrne, wireless operator,
Sgt John Edward Hobgen, wireless operator,
Sgt John Robert Etherington, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Engine trouble.
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