Lossiemouth AFB

The aircraft was one of three Nimrod reconnaissance variants and had just undergone a major servicing at the Nimrod Major Servicing Unit (NMSU), RAF Kinloss by RAF maintenance personnel. Nimrod XW666 departed on a routine post-servicing airtest. After approximately 35 minutes of flight, following a test of the aircraft's anti-icing system, the No 4 engine fire warning illuminated. Whilst the crew were carrying out the fire drill, the No 3 engine fire warning also illuminated. A rear crew member confirmed that the aircraft was on fire and advised the captain that panels were falling away from the starboard wing. After two explosions, the captain feared for the structural integrity of the aircraft and decided to ditch before he lost control authority. Without the aid of flaps, which failed to operate because of a fire/associated hydraulic failure, he completed a controlled ditching into the Moray Firth. The aircraft bounced twice onto the sea before settling. The fuselage broke into two and the aircraft subsequently sank. Parts were salvaged and the cockpit section is now on display at AeroVenture South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum in Doncaster.

On the morning of 30 April 1990, the crew of Shackleton AEW2 WR965 took off from RAF Lossiemouth to participate in a maritime exercise in the Benbecula area to the west of mainland Scotland. The exercise was to be in two parts with a time interval between. To make most economical use of the Shackleton's flying time it was intended to utilise the time interval to undertake some continuation training for which the crew had appropriate authorisation. Although the weather was forecast to be generally clear in the aircraft's operating area there were areas of low cloud and poor visibility over Scottish coastal areas. The first part of the sortie was completed without incident and at 09:45 UTC the crew took the opportunity to participate with a Tornado F3 in mutual training which required the Shackleton's radar to be set to standby/off. After completing this training, the crew commenced their own continuation training which was to include a visual approach to Benbecula airfield. The crew contacted Benbecula Air Traffic Control (ATC) at 10:25 UTC requesting permission for an approach, stating that they were about 20 miles west of the airfield; permission was given and Benbecula ATC passed their actual weather to the crew. Subsequent investigation determined, however, that the aircraft was actually 15 miles north of the position which it had reported at this time. At 10:30 two RAF personnel saw the Shackleton orbiting an island some 12 miles to the north of Benbecula airfield, and at 10:34 the Shackleton crew called Benbecula ATC stating that the weather was not sufficiently good for an approach and that they were turning right and climbing. At around 10:37 it struck the ground about 30 ft below the summit of an 823 ft hill on the Isle of Harris. Reliable evidence indicates that at that time and in that vicinity the cloudbase was 200 ft above mean sea level, with cloud tops at 3000 ft. At impact, the aircraft was in controlled flight with all four engines developing cruise power.
Crew (28th Squadron):
W/Cdr Stephen Roncoroni,
W/Cdr Chas Wrighton,
F/O Colin Burns,
S/L Jerry Lane,
F/Lt Al Campbell,
F/Lt Keith Forbes,
M/O Roger Scutt,
F/Sgt Rick Ricketts,
Sgt Graham Miller,
Cpl Stuart Bolton.

The twin engine airplane was completing a charter flight from East Midlands to Dounreay in the morning and from Dounreay to Lossiemouth in the afternoon, carrying seven passengers and a crew of two. During the takeoff roll, the airplane deviated twice to the right but the crew was able to correct. At a speed just below minimum rotate speed (101 mph), the aircraft yawed to the right, the right engine power fluctuated and a 'bang' was heard from the right side. The commander decided to abort the takeoff procedure but the remaining distance was insufficient. He veered off runway then the aircraft struck a fence, lost its undercarriage and came to rest. There was no fire. All nine occupants escaped uninjured.

For unknown reason, the airplane landed hard and was considered as damaged beyond repair and retired from service. All seven crew airman were uninjured.

The four engine airplane departed RAF Lossiemouth at 1330LT on a training mission over the North Sea. While cruising in bad weather conditions at a height of some 850 metres, the airplane impacted the slope of a mountain and crashed. All 8 crew members were killed.
Crew (111th OTU):
W/O Frank Brindle,
W/O Ernest Francis Sadler,
W/O Clifford Sydney Brain,
F/Sgt Hedley Edwards,
F/Sgt Stephenson Churchill Wells,
F/Sgt John Reginald Page,
F/Sgt Raymond George Tattingham,
Sgt Eric Needham.

The aircraft was completing a flight from Wick to RAF Lossiemouth. While flying over the Moray Firth, the aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea off Inverness. Despite significant SAR operations, no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found.
Crew (782nd Squadron):
Lt Anthony J. E. Howey,
LAC Cyril A. Tilbury,
LAC Frederick J. Burton,
LAC John Graham,
LAC William Thompson
F/Sgt Frank S. Barnes,
LAC Leslie Bool,
AC2 Sidney J. W. Clark,
AC1 Kenneth Douglas Drage,
LAC John Garden,
Cpl Edward F. J. W. Hoare,
AC1 Kenneth R. Morse,
F/Lt Walter H. Nicholson,
Sgt Eric J. M. Riordan,
AC1 James S. Stevenson 3.

While on a training exercise from RAF Lossiemouth, the crew encountered poor weather conditions en route. The bomber was off course by 40 miles when it hit the slope of Leacann na Brathan located near Corrour. Five crew members were killed while the air gunner was badly injured.
Crew (20th OTU):
F/O James William Heck, pilot, †
Sgt Maurice Hutt, bomb aimer, †
Sgt William Ernest Riley, navigator, †
Sgt Joseph Towers, navigator, †
Sgt James Hemmings, wireless operator and air gunner, †
Sgt Philip Edward Underwood, air gunner.

For unknown reasons, the aircraft landed hard. On touchdown, the landing gears were sheared off, the aircraft skidded on runway and came to rest. While all crew members were unhurt, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. Crew (20th OTU).

The crew was engaged in a test flight from the RAF Lossiemouth. En route, the aircraft lost a cowling that hit propeller blades. One of the engine failed and the pilot reduced his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing when the aircraft hit the slope of a hill and crashed 3 miles southwest of Loch Lee. Three crew members were killed while the rear gunner was injured.
Crew (20th OTU):
F/Sgt Arthur George Wilson Keene, pilot,
Sgt Alfred Kirby, observer,
Sgt Joseph Weatherson, observer,
Sgt Oscar Knud Lerche Jensen, wireless operator and air gunner.

The crew was involved in a bombing mission in the region of Trondheim, Norway. While approaching its target, the battleship christened 'Tirpitz', the aircraft was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in flames. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew (97th Squadron):
F/Lt John Goodsir MacKid, pilot,
P/O Ronald Benjamin Underwood, pilot,
P/O Thomas Neville Tree, observer,
Sgt Eric McDermott, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt William Keay Falconer Marshall, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Frederick Bennett, air gunner,
Sgt Raymond Day, air gunner.