Driffield AFB | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

While flying at an altitude of some 600 feet two miles north of RAF Driffield, the starboard elevator trim tab failed, causing the aircraft to go into a dive. Despite full backward pressure on the control column on part of the pilot-in-command, he was unable to prevent the crash landing. The aircraft hit the ground at a speed of 100 mph with the undercarriage locked down. Four crew members were injured and the pilot P/O Robert Clare Bisset was killed.

Probable cause:

Loss of control in flight following the failure of the starboard elevator trim tab.

Ground accident of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley III in Buc

Date & Time: Sep 9, 1939 at 0645 LT

Type of aircraft:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley

Operator:

Registration:

K8961

Flight Phase:

Taxiing

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Driffield – Buc – Essen

MSN:

1414

YOM:

1938

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Circumstances:

After landing at Buc Airport, the crew vacated the runway to reach his parking place when the aircraft collided with a parked Dewoitine. All five crew men evacuated safely while both aircraft were damaged beyond repair. The visibility was poor due to foggy conditions. The crew was from 77th Squadron.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley III in Kassel

Date & Time: Sep 9, 1939

Type of aircraft:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley

Operator:

Registration:

K8950

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Driffield - Driffield

MSN:

1403

YOM:

1938

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Circumstances:

The bomber departed RAF Driffield at 2355LT on 08SEP1939 with the Ruhr as objective (leaflet dropping). Apparently shot down by the German Flak, the airplane crashed near Kassel. All five crew members from the 102nd Squadron became PoW.
Crew:
S/L Stephen Murray, pilot,
P/O Alan Thompson, pilot,
Sgt Charles Hill, observer,
AC1 Sam Burry, wireless operator,
AC1 Peter Pacey, gunner.

Probable cause:

Probably shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.54 Harrow I in Owstwick

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1938

Type of aircraft:

Handley Page H.P.54 Harrow

Operator:

Registration:

K6954

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Honington – Driffield

YOM:

1937

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Aircraft flight hours:

315

Circumstances:

En route from RAF Honington to RAF Driffield, one of the engine failed due to icing. The captain attempted an emergency landing in an open field located in Owstwick, some 17 km east of Hull. The aircraft slid on the ground for few dozen metres before coming to rest against trees. All five crew members evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Engine failure in flight due to icing.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I on Mt Mickle Fell: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 26, 1938

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L1252

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Upper Heyford – Driffield – Kingstown

MSN:

8535

YOM:

1938

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Circumstances:

The crew departed RAF Upper Heyford on a bombing exercice over Carlisle. After a fuel stop at RAF Driffield, the crew continued to Kingstown. While cruising over the Pennines, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. The airplane descended too low until it impacted the slope of Mt Mickle Fell located 14 km west of Middleton-in-Teesdale. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O John Owen Sowerbutts, pilot,
AC1 William Ashbridge, air gunner,
AC2 Horace Redfern, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.54 Harrow II in Tibthorpe: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 5, 1938 at 1210 LT

Type of aircraft:

Handley Page H.P.54 Harrow

Operator:

Registration:

K6995

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Driffield - Driffield

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Circumstances:

The crew was performing a night training flight on behalf of the 75th Squadron. The aircraft departed RAF Driffield in the evening and completed several circuits around the airbase. While returning to the airfield in poor weather conditions, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a field located in Tibthorpe. All five occupants were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Edward James Merchant,
Sgt Ronald George Cowley Marshall,
Cpl Walter Greaves,
AC1 Ronald Herbert Fish,
AC1 George Jeffrey Humphries.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Kingsclere: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 24, 1938

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

K6277

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Driffield - Greenham Common

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The crew was performing a night training flight from RAF Driffield. On approach to RAF Greenham Common, the twin engine aircraft descended through the last cloud layer when it impacted tree tops and crashed in a wooded area located in Kingsclere, northwest of Basingstoke, Hampshire. A pilot was killed while three other occupants were injured.
Crew from 51st Squadron:
P/O David Lorraine Lloyd Morris, †
Sgt Donald William Mansbridge,
P/O Cecil Wardman Poulter,
AC2 Ronald Harry Price.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I at RAF Driffield

Date & Time: Oct 28, 1937

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

K6322

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Driffield - Driffield

Location:

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Region:

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Circumstances:

The crew was performing a local training flight at RAF Driffield. On final approach, the pilot failed to realize his altitude was too low when the aircraft hit tree tops, overturned and crashed upside down in an open field located short of runway. Both crew members were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Poor judgement on part of the pilot.