Zone
Norfolk

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson C.19 in Ruislip

Date & Time: Jun 1, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
VV298
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
City
Schedule:
Northolt – Marham
Location:
Northolt AFB
London Metropolis
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft was engaged in a special flight from RAF Northolt to RAF Marham, carrying two cameraman from the BBC and two crew members. Shortly after takeoff from RAF Northolt, while climbing, the left engine failed. Unable to maintain a safe altitude, the crew attempted an emergency landing when the airplane stalled and crashed on the roof of the Premier Foods egg packing building located in Victoria road in Ruislip, about 1,5 mile north of the airfield. Both passengers were unhurt while both pilots were seriously injured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine after takeoff.

Crash of a Boeing B-29A-50-BN Washington B.1 in Llanarmon-yn-Iâl: 10 killed

Date & Time: Jan 8, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-29 Washington
Operator:
Registration:
WF502
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Marham - Marham
Location:
Llanarmon-yn-Iâl
Denbighshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training sortie from RAF Marham. While cruising by night at an altitude of 19,000 feet, the pilot-in-command lost control of the airplane that went into a dive. While plunging into the earth at a height of 850 feet, the aircraft disintegrated in the air and eventually crashed in an open field located near Llanarmon-yn-Iâl. The debris were found on an area more than five miles and all ten occupants have been killed. The crew was unable to send any sort of mayday message.
Crew:
S/L W. R. Sloane,
P/O C. B. Speller,
P/O M. J. Lightowlers,
Sgt E. F. Wheeler,
Sgt K. A. Reakes,
Sgt R. F. S. Anderson,
Sgt E. D. Pearton,
Sgt A. J. Martin,
Sgt M. J. Clifton,
Sgt R. G. Hughson.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined.

Crash of a Boeing B-29A-70-BN Washington B.1 near RAF Marham: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 14, 1952 at 2100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-29 Washington
Operator:
Registration:
WF570
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Marham - Marham
MSN:
11729
Location:
Marham AFB
Norfolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from RAF Marham, while in initial climb, the crew noticed a fuel leak on the right wing and decided to return for an emergency landing. Unfortunately, the visibility was limited due to poor weather conditions and the pilot-in-command was forced to complete the approach with its radio compass as sole reference as there were no ATC or ground navigation aids at that time. During a last turn to join the runway approach path, the airplane lost height and crashed in a field located five miles northeast of the airfield. Four crew members were killed while four others were injured.
Probable cause:
The filler cap on the right fuel tank was incorrectly replaced after refueling, causing the fuel to flow after takeoff.

Crash of an Avro 694 Lincoln B.2 in RAF Marham: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 22, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Avro 694 Lincoln
Operator:
Registration:
SX923
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Upwood – Marham
Location:
Marham AFB
Norfolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
During the final approach completed by night with the flaps fully deployed, the engine number three failed. The airplane stalled and crashed in a huge explosion short of runway 06 threshold. Five crew members were killed while the sixth occupant was seriously injured.
Crew:
F/Sgt B. Wejman, †
F/Sgt R. E. Griffith, †
Sgt W. Pickering, †
Sgt F. R. Edwards, †
F/O M. L. Chatterjee, †
Sgt J. F. Groom.
Probable cause:
Failure of the engine number three.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford in RAF Marham: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 1, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Airspeed AS.10 Oxford
Operator:
Registration:
NM510
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Marham - Marham
Location:
Marham AFB
Norfolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training flight at RAF Marham. While completing a low pass over the runway at a height of 50 feet, the twin engine aircraft nosed down and crashed onto a barrack. All four crew members were killed. The cause of the loss of control was not determined.
Crew:
F/L Anthony Gerard Quinton Brand,
Sgt George William Wright,
LAC James Moffat,
LAC William Regan.

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III in Cologne: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 28, 1942 at 0104 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 417 Wellington III
Operator:
Registration:
X3639
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
City
Schedule:
Marham - Marham
Location:
Cologne
North Rhine-Westphalia
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Marham at 2324LT on April 27 on an operation to Cologne. Over the target area, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in the city. Four crew members were killed and a fourth became PoW.
Crew:
Sgt Leslie Godfrey Harris, pilot, †
Sgt Harry Taylor, observer, †
Sgt Francis Robert Edwin McCarthy, wireless operator, †
Sgt William Charles Garland, air gunner, †
Sgt Joseph Jerram, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III near Bevtoft: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 26, 1942 at 0208 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 417 Wellington III
Operator:
Registration:
X3633
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Marham - Marham
Location:
Bevtoft
Syddanmark
Country:
Denmark
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Marham at 2223LT on April 25 on an operation to Rostock. Passing over Denmark, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed bear Bevtoft. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Alfred Thomas Fone, pilot,
Sgt Irvine John Rollinson, pilot,
Sgt Alexander Duncan, observer,
Sgt William Gardener Smith, wireless operator,
Sgt James Small Grieve, wireless operator,
Sgt Albert Edward Simmans, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling I in Hüffelsheim: 8 killed

Date & Time: Apr 26, 1942 at 0006 LT
Type of aircraft:
Short S.29 Stirling
Operator:
Registration:
W7506
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Marham - Marham
Location:
Hüffelsheim
Rhineland-Palatinate
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Marham at 2132LT on April 25 to attack the Škoda factory in Pilsen, Czechoslovakia. Approaching Frankfurt, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in Hüffelsheim. All eight crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Harold Reuben Millichamp, pilot,
Sgt Thomas Cunningham Bird, pilot,
Sgt Philip Harold Bullock, flight engineer,
P/O John Albert Stokes Banting, observer,
Sgt David Holley Bird, wireless operator,
Sgt Thomas MacFarlane, wireless operator,
Sgt Percy George Detmold, air gunner,
Sgt Stuart Alan Bain Kellie, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling I in Clenchwarton: 7 killed

Date & Time: Apr 24, 1942 at 2320 LT
Type of aircraft:
Short S.29 Stirling
Operator:
Registration:
W7473
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Marham - Marham
Location:
Clenchwarton
Norfolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Marham at 2257LT on an operation to Rostock. At 2320LT, it crashed in Ingrams Field roughly 100 yards from the school at Clenchwarton. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Shirley Vincent Davidge, pilot,
Sgt Willem Joseph Gerard Paul Rieter, pilot,
Sgt Abson Squires, flight engineer,
Sgt John Hartley, observer,
Sgt Jamie Kitchener Wendle Paul, wireless operator,
Sgt Archibald John Thorburn, wireless operator,
Sgt William James Cook, air gunner.
Probable cause:
The accident was attributed to loss of power from the port inner engine, followed by a turn to the left and loss of control.

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III off Urk: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 13, 1942 at 0315 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 417 Wellington III
Operator:
Registration:
X3596
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Marham - Marham
Location:
Urk
Overijssel
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Marham at 2257LT on April 12 on an operation to Essen. Passing over the IJsselmeer, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed into the sea some 3,5 km off Urk. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Albert Ernest Holder, pilot,
Sgt Noel Hensley Blair, pilot,
P/O Ronald William Barlow, observer,
Sgt Kenneth John Raiswell, wireless operator,
Sgt Thomas James Phillips, wireless operator,
Sgt Thomas Ryan, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.
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