Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Cardiff: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 10, 1940 at 0300 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
R3637
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Thorney Island - Thorney Island
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Thorney Island on a training mission. In unknown circumstances, the aircraft into the sea off Cardiff. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Alan Dunn Hopkin, pilot,
Sgt Thomas James Rowles,
Sgt James Falconer.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I off RAF Thorney Island

Date & Time: Jun 4, 1940 at 0010 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L7047
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Thorney Island - Thorney Island
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While returning to RAF Thorney Island following a maritime patrol flight over the North Sea, the aircraft went out of control on final approach and plunged into the sea, few hundred yards offshore. All four crew members were rescued while the aircraft sank and was lost.
Crew (48th Squadron):
P/O Carson C. Proby,
P/O B. A. P. Williams,
LAC W. McIlvenney,
LAC A. V. Wallace.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the pilot was blinded by searchlight on approach, causing the airplane to crash into the sea.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I into The Channel: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 27, 1940 at 1550 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
K6249
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Thorney Island - Thorney Island
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a navigation reconnaissance exercise (interception of launch) on behalf of the School of General Reconnaissance based in RAF Thorney Island, Sussex (17th Group). While overflying The Channel with two other similar aircraft, at a height of some 700 feet, the pilot started a turn when he lost control of the aircraft that crashed into the sea. Both other Ansons circled the area for some time but no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found.
Crew:
F/O Ewen Campbell Lilburn,
AC1 John V. Halliday,
P/O John E. G. Fennell,
F/O James Peter Henry Balston.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Saint Catherine’s Down: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 6, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
K6246
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Thorney Island - Thorney Island
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a maritime patrol mission along the south coast of England. While cruising at low height in poor visibility due to foggy conditions, the twin engine aircraft hit a hill located in Saint Catherine's Down, north of Niton, Isle of Wight. A crewman was seriously injured while three other occupants were killed.
Crew (48th Squadron):
F/O Humphrey Brisbane Maunsell Pearson, pilot, †
Sg Follett Mattinson Pennell, navigator, †
AC1 Francis Herbert Rook, wireless operator and air gunner, †
LAC C. M. Ritter.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Guernsey

Date & Time: Nov 5, 1939 at 1545 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
K8781
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Thorney Island - Saint Peter
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following a flight from Thorney Island, the twin engine airplane landed at St Peter-La Villiaze Airport, Guernsey, in strong crosswinds. After touchdown, the airplane swerved, veered off runway and came to rest against a hedge. All four crew members evacuated safely.
Crew:
Sgt Richard Arthur Bate, pilot,
P/O M. J. Hunter, copilot,
AC1 McIlvenny,
AC1 Leigh.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I off the Isle of Portland

Date & Time: Oct 14, 1939 at 2030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
K8711
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Thorney Island - Thorney Island
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a maritime patrol flight our from RAF Thorney Island. While cruising at night, the crew encountered poor visibility due to thick fog. Short of fuel, the captain decided to ditch the airplane some three km northeast of the Isle of Portland. All four crew members were rescued and the aircraft later sank.
Crew:
Sgt Bodien, pilot,
Sgt Williams, copilot,
AC1 D. Hider,
AC1 Fog.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I off Hayling Island

Date & Time: Oct 2, 1939 at 2030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
K6234
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Thorney Island - Thorney Island
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane was dispatched in a striking force mission when it suffered an engine failure. While returning to RAF Thorney Island, it crashed into the sea off Hayling Island. All four crew members were rescued, among them one was injured.
Crew:
P/O M. V. Hunter, pilot,
Sgt Richard Arthur Bate, copilot,
AC1 Samuel Meek McCraken,
AC1 Hills.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I off RAF Thorney Island

Date & Time: Sep 4, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
K8704
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Thorney Island - Thorney Island
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training exercise on behalf of the 48th Squadron. On final approach in foggy conditions, the aircraft was too low and the pilot initiated a go around when an engine failed. The aircraft stalled, impacted the runway surface, overshot and finally crashed into the Emsworth Channel. The twin engine aircraft sank rapidly. All four crew members were rescued, two were injured.
Crew:
Sgt R. E. Williams, pilot,
Sgt F. Burton, copilot,
LAC J. Meek,
AC1 D. Hider.
Probable cause:
Engine failure while initiating a go around.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Kingstone Ridge: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
K8708
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Thorney Island - Thorney Island
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training flight out from RAF Thorney Island. While cruising in bad weather conditions, the crew failed to realize he was flying too low. The twin engine aircraft impacted the slope of a hill located in Kingstone Ridge, near Lewes. Both pilots were killed.