Saint Athan AFB

Survivors:

Site:

Landing (descent or approach)

Schedule:

Hendon – Saint Athan

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Hendon Airfield, while in initial climb, the crew informed ground that the right engine failed and elected to return for an emergency landing. The aircraft lost height and hit tree tops before crashing in a wooded area. All three crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of a Bristol 152 Beaufort II at RAF Saint Athan

Date & Time: Nov 24, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 152 Beaufort

Operator:

Registration:

AW292

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

De Havilland DH.90 Dragonfly

Schedule:

Bristol - Saint Athan

MSN:

9970

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot, sole on board, departed Bristol-Filton Airport on a ferry flight to RAF St Athan. On final approach, both engines failed. The airplane lost height, clipped trees and crashed. The pilot was injured.
Crew:
P/O Jerzy Drewiecki, pilot.

Probable cause:

Double engine failure on approach.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.90 Dragonfly at RAF Westonzoyland: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 3, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

X9389

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide

Schedule:

Westonzoyland - Saint Athan

MSN:

7524

YOM:

1936

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from RAF Westonzoyland, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed near the airbase. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Lt John Ronald Melville Sales, pilot,
Sgt Hugh Walter Bellingham, air gunner.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide at RAF Pengam Moors

Date & Time: Feb 15, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

AW115

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Pengam Moors AFB (Cardiff)

Schedule:

Saint Athan - Pengam Moors

MSN:

6258

YOM:

1934

Location:

Glamorgan

Country:

United Kingdom

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On final approach to RAF Pengam Moors in Cardiff, the twin engine airplane stalled and crashed in a pasture, bursting into flames. All four occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.
Crew:
Sgt J. Kumela, pilot,
LAC Thomas Yardley, observer.
Passengers:
AC1 Douglas Cross,
ASO Joy Winifred Ord.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V near RAF St Athan

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1940 at 0200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley

Operator:

Registration:

T4335

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Topcliffe - Topcliffe

MSN:

1968

YOM:

1940

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Topcliffe at 1627LT on December 27 on an operation to Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport. While returning to base the following night, it crashed into a small copse near RAF St Athan. All five crew members evacuated safely.
Crew:
S/L B. V. Robinson,
Sgt E. B. Cahusac,
Sgt E. E. Welden,
Sgt J. C. Kesson,
Sgt K. Howard.

Probable cause:

At the time of the accident, the bomber was well east of its intended track. This was attributed to w/t failure and a very strong easterly wind.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IF off Worm's Head: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 31, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L1408

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Saint Athan - Saint Athan

MSN:

8691

YOM:

1939

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane was engaged in a test flight out from RAF St Athan when it collided with a second RAF Blenheim registered L6722. Both aircraft went out of control and crashed into the Bristol Channel off Worm's Head, Wales. All six occupants in both aircraft were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Joseph Beckett Thompson, pilot,
AC2 Edward John Toy, mechanic.
Passenger:
Mr. D. M. Gordon.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Worm's Head: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 31, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L6722

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Saint Athan - Saint Athan

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane was engaged in a test flight out from RAF St Athan when it collided with a second RAF Blenheim registered L1408. Both aircraft went out of control and crashed into the Bristol Channel off Worm's Head, Wales. All six occupants in both aircraft were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Edward Waite, pilot,
Sgt Cecil James Richardson,
LAC Thomas Arthur Ward.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Prestwick: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 21, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

K6272

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Saint Athan – Prestwick

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On approach to Prestwick Airport, the twin engine aircraft stalled and crashed few hundred yards short of runway. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt William Rowan Speir, pilot,
Sgt Charles Bernard Hazel, pilot,
Sgt Irving Alfred Haig Gliddon, navigator,
Sgt James Percy Ross, wireless operator.

Probable cause:

Low speed on approach caused the aircraft to stall.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I near Rhossili: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

N5086

Flight Phase: