Silloth AFB

Operator:

Registration:

N7304

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Silloth - Silloth

MSN:

414-1700

YOM:

1940

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane departed RAF Silloth on a local training exercise. While flying at an altitude of 250 feet off the airbase, the airplane stalled and entered an uncontrolled descent until it crashed in the Solway Firth. All six occupants were killed.
Crew:
P/O Malcolm Schofield Smith, pilot,
Sgt William George Elliott, wireless operator,
Sgt Hubert William Lee,
Sgt Edward Salmons, wireless operator,
Sgt Robert James Strickland,
Sgt Roderick Barker Taylor.

Probable cause:

Loss of control while manoeuvring at an unsafe altitude (below the minimum height of 300 feet).

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60G Gipsy Moth at RAF Squires Gate

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1940

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

Operator:

Registration:

X5111

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Ferry

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Silloth - Squires Gate

MSN:

1838

YOM:

1931

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot, sole on board, was convoying the aircraft from RAF Silloth to RAF Squires Gate. In windy weather, the aircraft crashed upon landing and was damaged beyond repair. The pilot was unhurt.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I off RAF Silloth: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

P5142

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Silloth - Silloth

MSN:

414-1831

YOM:

1940

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after take off from RAF Silloth, while climbing, the pilot lost control of the aircraft that crashed in the Solway Firth. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was ever found.
Crew (1st OTU):
Sgt Samuel Butler,
AC1 Alfred William Davies,
Sgt Thomas Charles Illingworth,
Sgt Anthony St John Lilley.

Crash of a Bristol 152 Beaufort I at RAF Kirkbride

Date & Time: Jul 30, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 152 Beaufort

Operator:

Registration:

L4473

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Silloth - Kirkbride

MSN:

8334

YOM:

1939

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane crashed for unknown reasons upon landing at RAF Kirkbride and was damaged beyond repair. The pilot escaped.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I at RAF Silloth

Date & Time: Jul 10, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

K8818

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

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Circumstances:

Following a wrong approach configuration, the crew landed on a closed runway portion. The twin engine aircraft hit several obstacles, lost its undercarriage and came to rest. While the crew was unhurt, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Wrong approach configuration and poor flight preparation on part of the crew.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I in RAF Silloth

Date & Time: Jul 9, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N7388

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Silloth - Silloth

Location:

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Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The crew (one instructor and one student pilot) was performing a training flight. During the last segment, just prior to touchdown, the aircraft stalled and hit violently the runway surface. All landing gears were sheared off and the aircraft slid for several yards before coming to rest. Both crew members were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I at RAF Silloth

Date & Time: Jul 8, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N7277

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Silloth - Silloth

MSN:

414-1673

YOM:

1939

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

During the takeoff run, the aircraft swerved, went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest in the adjacent grassy area, bursting into flames. Both pilots escaped unhurt while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Probable cause:

It was determined that a landing gear sank during the takeoff run and punctured a fuel tank, causing a fire that could not be extinguished in time.

Crash of a Blackburn B-26 Botha I in Horsforth: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 25, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Blackburn B-26 Botha

Operator:

Registration:

L6160

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Brough - Leeds - Silloth

MSN:

7864/7

YOM:

1940

Location:

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Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On May 24, the pilot departed Brough on a ferry flight to RAF Silloth. Due to poor weather conditions, he diverted to RAF Yeadon (Leeds Airport) where he spent the night. On May 25, as weather conditions improved, he took off from RAF Yeadon when, shortly after takeoff, he was facing houses and made a sharp turn to the right when the airplane impacted with a stone wall and crashed. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Crew:
P/O John Taverner Wilson Clark, pilot.

Ground collision of a Vickers 290 Wellington I at RAF Silloth

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1939

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 290 Wellington I

Operator:

Registration:

L4389

Flight Phase:

Parking

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site: