Hucknall AFB

While cruising in sleet showers, the left engine failed. The pilot reduced his altitude and completed a wheels-up landing in an open field. There were no casualties and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.

The crew was completing a local test flight at RAF Hucknall on behalf of the Rolls Royce motorist. On short final, the pilot-in-command decided to make a go around when control was lost. A wing hit the ground and the airplane crashed, killing all four crew members.

On final approach to RAF Cranfield, the twin engine aircraft collided with a RAF Bristol Beaufighter registered R2252 and carrying a crew of three. Following the collision, both planes dove into the ground and crashed in flames in a field located few hundred yards short of runway threshold. All eight occupants on both aircraft were killed.
Crew of DH.89 Dominie I:
F/Lt Archibald Menzies Fitzrandolph, pilot.
Passengers:
F/Lt Ian Harper Courtney,
Sgt Eric Povey,
2nd Lt M. Schenker,
2nd Lt J. K. Peters.
Crew of Beaufighter:
F/Lt Michael William Kinmonth, pilot,
F/Sgt Lionel Maxwell Amesbury, pilot,
Cpl Jose Cecilia Hayes.

The crew was performing a test flight from Hucknall to Ternhill on behalf of the Avro Aircraft Company. On final approach to RAF Ternhill, the aircraft stalled and crashed few hundred yards short of runway. Three crew were injured while the TP R. Kirlew was killed.

The pilot A. J. Peacey departed Hucknall Airport during the day for a training mission. While cruising bound to the east, he encountered poor weather conditions and continued over the North Sea. He may have lost his orientation when the single engine aircraft crashed in the sea. A day later, the crew of the German steamer named 'Margot' found debris of the aircraft floating on water some 100 km west off Terschelling, in The Netherlands. No trace of the pilot was found. It is believed that the pilot probably lost his orientation while flying in low clouds and engaged himself over the North Sea without knowing his exact position.

Shortly after takeoff from RAF Hucknall, while climbing to a height of 400 feet, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a huge explosion. Both occupants, Robert A. Blake and William Richardson of the Nottingham Aero Club were killed.