Harwell AFB

After liftoff, the aircraft was unable to gain height, stalled and crashed, bursting into flames. All five crew members were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

The crew was involved in a night training exercise at RAF Harwell. After completing few circuits in the vicinity of the airbase, the crew initiated a new approach procedure. The student pilot at controls overshot the flare and the instructor took over the control and landed. After a course of some 150 metres, the aircraft veered off runway and collided with a pile of sandbags. While all three occupants were unhurt, the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.
Crew (15th OTU):
S/L A. H. Smythe +2.

The crew departed RAF Harwell to practice emergency landings. En route, an engine lost power, forcing the crew to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft came to rest in a field located near Swindon, Wiltshire. All four occupants escaped unhurt and the aircraft was written off.
Crew (15th OTU):
P/O C. I. Rolfe +3.

Following a reconnaissance mission, the crew was returning to his base at RAF Harwell. For unknown reasons, the pilot missed the approach and landed hard. This caused the aircraft to bounce and to climb, entering an excessive nose-up attitude. It eventually stalled and crashed on the runway. There were no casualties.

Shortly after take off from RAF Harwell, while in initial climb, the crew encountered engine problems and the captain attempted to make an emergency landing in a field located in West Ilsley. The aircraft crash landed and came to rest, bursting into flames. All crewmen were unhurt while the aircraft was destroyed.

The crew was engaged in a night training exercise and departed RAF Harwell in the evening. While cruising over Devon, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with heavy snow falls. The twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in a field located in Yolland Marsh, some 11 km west of Totnes. All five occupants were killed.
Crew (148th Squadron):
P/O Barry Cornelius Osborne Stevens,
AC2 Leslie James Wakely,
AC2 William Heron,
Sgt F. T. M. Smith,
Sgt L. C. Chenery.

While performing a training mission, the crew missed the approach, overshot the runway and landed long. After touchdown, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and came to rest. While both crewmen were injured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Crew (75th Squadron):
F/O W. T. C. Seale,
P/O Rodger.

The crew was performing a night cross-country flight out from RAF Harwell. En route, the twin engine aircraft crashed on hilly terrain in Simonsbath. The wreckage was found 40 hours later in the Exmoor National Park. All five crewmen were killed.
Crew (148th Squadron):
F/O Thomas William Storey, pilot,
Sgt Thomas Robert Moss, observer,
Sgt Gerald Roland Cecil Talbot, observer,
AC1 Arthur John Whittaker, wireless operator and gunner,
AC2 Frederick Challenger Overall.

After takeoff from RAF Harwell, the pilot entered clouds when he lost control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed in Folly Farm. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Crew:
P/O William Ronald Ross, pilot.

The crew departed RAF Harwell at 2000LT on 18SEP1939 for a night training exercise. After 11 hours of flight, fuel reserves were low and the crew decided to abandon the aircraft. Out of control, the bomber dove into the ground and crashed in the mountainous region of Glyn-Neath, some 13 km northwest of Aberdare, Mid Glamorgan. All five crewmen were uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed.
Crew (75th Squadron):
F/Lt Alfred Howard Smythe,
F/O Peter James Robert Kitchin,
Sgt Thomas Robert Moss,
Sgt John Harris Hollingworth,
AC1 William Edward Denis Salt.