Marham AFB | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Parked at RAF Marham, the airplane was stolen by to Leading Aircraftmen neither of whom had any flying experience. After takeoff, while climbing at a height of about 150 feet, the airplane stalled and crashed. Both occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.54 Harrow I in Belfast

Date & Time: Nov 9, 1937

Type of aircraft:

Handley Page H.P.54 Harrow

Operator:

Registration:

K6968

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Belfast – Marham

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Belfast-Aldergrove Airport, while climbing, one of the engine failed. The airplane lost height and crashed in a field past the runway end. All five crew members were rescued and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Engine failure after liftoff.

Crash of a Fairey Hendon at RAF Marham

Date & Time: May 26, 1937

Type of aircraft:

Fairey Hendon

Operator:

Registration:

K5091

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Marham - Marham

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed upon landing for unknown reasons. There were no casualties.

Crash of an Avro 504N in East Winch: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 14, 1932 at 1300 LT

Type of aircraft:

Avro 504

Operator:

Registration:

K2352

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Digby – Marham – Bircham Newton

MSN:

K2352

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot was performing his first solo flight from RAF Digby to RAF Bircham Newton with an intermediate stop at RAF Marham. Aircraft left RAF Digby at 1145LT bound for RAF Marham. On approach to Marham, at a height of 200-300 feet, he lost control of the aircraft that crashed in flames in a field. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and postcrash fire and the pilot was killed. The pilot A. J. Warford-Mein was a 23 years old Australian pupil who arrives at RAF Digby last January. He was fully competent, and the flight was authorized by the chief flying instructor, in addition to the pupil’s own instructor.

Probable cause:

Leslie Ruskin, a team man, employed at Home Farm, East Winch, which adjoins Station Farm, said that about 1.30 on Thursday afternoon, he and another man were working in a meadow when they saw an aeroplane hovering over a field nearby. It circled three times as if looking for a landing place. It turned towards Ashwicken and then came round into the wind and dropped suddenly in a nose dive. They ran towards it and saw it crash. He thought the machine was 200 or 300 feet up when it crashed. It was blazing when they got to it, and almost burnt up. They heard the sound of an explosion. The pilot’s body was in the middle of the flames and there was no sign of life at all. They had to wait until the flames died down before they could get the body out. He had noticed nothing wrong with the machine before it crashed, only that the pilot was looking for a landing. A very strong wind was blowing at this time and it had started to rain.

Final Report: