Hooton Park AFB

The twin engine aircraft left RAF Hooton Park at 1600LT bound for RAF Jurby with a crew of three and two civilian passengers, a carpenter and an inspector in charge to repair several aircraft parked at RAF Jurby Airfield. While approaching the Isle of Man, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with low clouds and patches of fog. To avoid icing, the captain reduced his altitude to 700 feet when the aircraft hit the slope of a hill located near Laxey, in the east part of the island. While the wireless operator was seriously injured, all four other occupants were killed.
Crew (5th ANS):
F/Sgt Wladyslaw H. Beller, pilot, †
Sgt Benjamin Bernard Kommerman, †
W/O Raymond Charles Jones.
Passengers:
Mr John Williams, †
Mr Paul Fachire. †

The twin engine aircraft left RAF Balderton about 2115LT with the intention of proceeding to Burtonwood via Hooten Park for ferrying parts. At the ETA Hooten Park 2150 dusk had fallen and the visibility was very poor. The pilot was unable to pinpoint himself and accordingly set course to the East, intending to return to Balderton. About five minutes before ETA Balderton, he commenced signalling on the downward identification light. At Marston Moor, the night flying program having concluded at 2210LT, the DREM lighting system was switched off with the exception of the perimeter track lighting and obstruction lighting on high buildings such as hangars, etc. At 2257LT the duty control officer received a telephone message to the effect that an aircraft was circling and flashing SOS. Full Drem lighting, including the outer circle was immediately switched on for any emergency landing. Very soon the airfield was illuminated just to the starboard of the aircraft, then at 4,000 feet. He circled twice to lose height and then proceeded to carry out a normal approach and landing. He was on approach at an IAS of 90 mph and apparently, according to instruments, at an indicated altitude of 500 feet, when the aircraft struck a tree. It immediately descended heavily to the ground and burned, causing major injuries to the three occupants. Weather: cloud 5/10 strato-cumulus up to 2,000 feet, ceiling cloud above 101/0, intermittent rain becoming continuous, visibility four miles.
Source: Norman Malayney.

Shortly after take off from RAF Smith's Lawn, the twin engine aircraft encountered serious difficulties to gain height. It eventually hit trees located at the end of the terrain and crashed in a wooded area. The aircraft was destroyed while all four occupants were slightly injured.
Crew:
F/L John W. Smith.
Passengers:
Cpt Edward Cummings,
Lt Irving T. Golden,
Lt Joseph Luria.

While performing a training sortie from RAF Hooton Park, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located seven miles south of Bethesda. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (11th RS):
Sgt George Markham Heppinstall, pilot,
Sgt William Frearson, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Douglas Owen Hargreaves, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Wendelin Bernard Bettin, wireless operator and air gunner.

On final approach to RAF Hooton Park, while performing a training mission, the captain decided to make a go around. While climbing, the aircraft stalled, dove into the ground and crashed in a field. All four crew members were critically injured. Few hours later, two of them died from their injuries.
Crew (11th RS):
F/Sgt Russell Charles Denny, †
Sgt J. T. R. Bazire, †
Sgt Austin,
Sgt F. J. Spillane.

The crew left RAF Hooton Park in the day for a cross country training sortie. En route, an engine failed, forcing the crew to return to his base. The approach was tricky and the aircraft landed long. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overshot the runway, lost its undercarriage and slid for several yards before coming to rest. While all four crew members were unhurt, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

The crew departed RAF Hooton Park at 0800LT on a convoy mission. About an hour into the flight, weather conditions worsened with heavy snow falls. The airplane crashed on the foreshore some 6 km east of Rhyl. A crew member was seriously injured while three others were killed.
Crew:
F/O John Randall Garrett, pilot,
Sgt Harold Christopher Moorby, observer, †
LAC Thomas Christopher McClure, air gunner, †
AC1 Robert Beattie, wireless operator. †

The crew was engaged in a night patrol flight and launched the mission in poor visibility due to snow falls. Shortly after take off, while climbing, the aircraft crash landed in a field located 4 miles east of Rhyl. Due to weather conditions, rescuers took seven hours to reach the scene. All four occupants were injured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Crew (502th Squadron):
H. C. Moorby,
R. Beattie +2.

On final approach to RAF Hooton Park, the twin engine aircraft stalled and landed hard. The undercarriage were torn off and the aircraft slid for few dozen metres before coming to rest. Both pilots were uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Shortly after takeoff from Hanworth Airport, the pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed onto a house. Both occupants were killed and a woman leaving in the house was seriously injured. She died the following day of injuries sustained.
Crew:
Sydney William Sparkes, pilot.
Passenger:
Charles Fry.
On ground:
Elsie F. Abbey.