Ford AFB | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The airplane departed RAF Ford at 0040LT on a night intruder mission to north of France. Approaching Amiens, it collided with a German Air Force Heinkel He.111 and crashed near Amiens-Glisy Airport. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Victor Hall Skillen, pilot,
Sgt Franics Hibbs Abbott, observer,
Sgt Romilly Ronald James Nute, air gunner.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IF in Guînes: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 4, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L1453

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Ford - Ford

MSN:

8736

YOM:

1939

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The airplane departed RAF Ford on an operation to Amiens and Poix-de-Picardie. After passing over Calais, it was shot down by enemy fire and crashed in Guînes. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt James Stanley Rose, pilot,
Sgt Thomas Frederick Nicholas, observer,
Sgt Raymond Albert Walker, wireless operator.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IF near Beauvais

Date & Time: Jan 9, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L1226

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Ford - Ford

MSN:

8509

YOM:

1938

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The airplane departed RAF Ford on an operation to Beauvais. It is believed that it was shot down by the German Flak while approaching the target area. All three crew members became PoW.
Crew:
Sgt Robert William Jones, pilot,
Sgt George Edward Bessell, observer,
Sgt Reginald Walter Cullen, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IF near Ventnor: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L6686

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Ford - Ford

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The airplane departed RAF Ford on a maritime patrol flight. While returning to base, it ran out of fuel. Two crew members bailed out over the sea off Ventnor but drowned in the rough swell. The pilot continued and the airplane crash landed near Ventnor. The pilot was rescued.
Crew:
Sgt R. S. Loveridge, pilote,
F/Sgt Alexander Newman, observer,
F/Sgt George Southall, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7 Boston at RAF Ford

Date & Time: Nov 23, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston

Operator:

Registration:

AW397

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

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The twin engine airplane crashed for unknown reasons upon landing at RAF Ford. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Supermarine Walrus I off Littlehampton: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 2, 1939

Type of aircraft:

Supermarine Walrus

Operator:

Registration:

L2173

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Ford - Ford

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Circumstances:

The float plane stalled and crashed into The Channel some 7 km off Littlehampton. Two crew members were killed and the third occupant was injured.
Crew:
S/Lt Jack Robertson, †
MSM Hugh Lawley Charteris, †
P/O Antonio Simmons Dini.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined.