Crash of a Vickers 648 Varsity T.1 near RAF Tangmere: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 19, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Vickers Varsity
Operator:
Registration:
WF381
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Boscombe Down - Boscombe Down
MSN:
540
YOM:
1952
Location:
Tangmere AFB
West Sussex
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was involved in a test flight for an asymmetric safety speed assessment out from RAF Boscombe Down. At an altitude of 10,000 feet, the crew lost control of the airplane after applying full power on one engine in takeoff configuration. The aircraft stalled, dove into the ground and crashed in an open field. Both crew members were killed.

Crash of a Vickers 619 Wellington X in RAF Tangmere: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 2, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 619 Wellington X
Operator:
Registration:
LN376
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Tangmere - Tangmere
Location:
Tangmere AFB
West Sussex
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training sortie at RAF Tangmere. On final approach, the right engine failed. The pilot-in-command continued the approach but on short final, decided to make a go around when the aircraft stalled and crashed in a field located short of runway. Three crew members were injured while the captain was killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right engine on final approach for undetermined reason.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I in RAF Tangmere

Date & Time: Nov 27, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Airspeed AS.10 Oxford
Operator:
Registration:
PG969
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Tangmere - Tangmere
Location:
Tangmere AFB
West Sussex
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While completing a GCA approach to RAF Tangmere in poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft hit the ground and crashed short of runway threshold. Both pilots were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Vickers 619 Wellington X in RAF Tangmere

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 619 Wellington X
Operator:
Registration:
PF988
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Tangmere AFB
West Sussex
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a training flight over The Channel. While flying off the Channel Islands, the crew informed ground about an engine fire. The captain decided to divert to RAF Tangmere for an emergency landing. On final approach, he was unable to lower the gear so the aircraft belly landed, slid for several yards and came to rest in flames. While all three occupants were uninjured, the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Engine fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DL near RAF Tangmere: 7 killed

Date & Time: Feb 11, 1945 at 1130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-16394
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Paris-Le Bourget - Tangmere
MSN:
20860
YOM:
1944
Location:
Tangmere AFB
West Sussex
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Captain / Total flying hours:
79
Captain / Total hours on type:
79.00
Circumstances:
While flying at a too low altitude in poor weather conditions (rain and low clouds), the aircraft hit the slope of a hill located 5 miles northeast of RAF Tangmere. All seven occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was fixed to 100 yards.
Crew (27th Air Transport Group):
1st Richard Lee Pogue, pilot,
2nd Lt Robert G. Robinson, copilot,
Cpl Jerome T. Smith, radio operator,
S/Sgt Victor C. Corson, flight engineer,
Sgt Robert S. Norris, flight engineer.
Passengers:
2nd Lt Craig C. Moore,
Sgt Carl G. Clayton.
Probable cause:
The investigation shows that the aircraft was too low while under instrument conditions to clear the hills in the area. It is believed that the pilot had let down over The Channel to a few hundred feet but did not break out and did not know that he crossed the southern coast of England.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DB-7 Boston III at RAF Tangmere: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
AL268
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Attlebridge - Attlebridge
Location:
Tangmere AFB
West Sussex
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Attlebridge at 1431LT on an operation to Le Havre. While returning to base, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and two crew members bailed out over The Channel. The airplane then crashed upon landing at RAF Tangmere. The pilot was injured and the bodies of both other occupants were never recovered.
Crew:
Sgt W. D. Wren, pilot,
Sgt Thomas William Elliott,
Sgt William Venn Frame.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Le Havre: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 15, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
Z7494
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Tangmere - Tangmere
Location:
Le Havre
Seine-Maritime
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Tangmere at 1346LT to attack a tanker reported at Le Havre. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by a Me.109 and crashed into the sea. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Seymour Leslie Thomas Paine, pilot,
Sgt Reginald George Banks,
Sgt William James Stanley Wolstenholme.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Le Havre: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 15, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
Z7493
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Tangmere - Tangmere
Location:
Le Havre
Seine-Maritime
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Tangmere at 1346LT to attack a tanker reported at Le Havre. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by a Me.109 and crashed into the sea. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Raymond Meredith Hudson, pilot,
Sgt George Stephenson Needler,
Sgt Derek Poulston.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V at RAF Tangmere: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 11, 1941 at 0320 LT
Type of aircraft:
Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley
Operator:
Registration:
T4165
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Tangmere - Tangmere
MSN:
1858
YOM:
1940
Location:
Tangmere AFB
West Sussex
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Tangmere on April 10 on a special duty to Passac with six Polish saboteurs on board. While over the River Loire, the airplane developed an electrical fault and the crew decided to return to base. On final approach, the airplane stalled and crashed. Two crew members were killed and four others were injured.
Crew:
Sgt Alfred uliusJ Cowan, observer, †
Sgt Lloyd George Morris, wireless operator, †
F/Lt A. J. Oettle,
P/O J. E. Willson
Sgt Briscoe,
Sgt Pacy.
Probable cause:
Failure of the electrical system.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Hiesse: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 18, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L9315
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Tangmere - Marseille
Location:
Hiesse
Charente
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Tangmere in the early morning on a transfer flight to the Middle East via Marseille. En route, the crew encountered poor weather conditions when the airplane crashed in Hiesse, some 60 km northwest of Limoges. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O James McCash, pilot,
Sgt Ronald Micklethwaite, radio operator,
AC1 George Harris, air gunner.
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