Crash of an Avro 652A Anson I in Chester: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 21, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
R3331
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Upper Heyford - Upper Heyford
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Upper Heyford on a a training exercise with four people on board. An engine failed in flight, forcing the pilot to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft impacted the ground with a wing and crashed in a field. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Robert James Dufty, pilot,
P/O John Reynolds Spiers, pilot,
Sgt Robert Williams, wireless operator,
Sgt John Rennie King, wireless operator.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I at RAF Upper Heyford: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 7, 1941
Operator:
Registration:
P1302
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Upper Heyford - Upper Heyford
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training exercise at RAF Upper Heyford. On final approach, the airplane collided with a second RAF Hampden that just took off from the same airfield. Registered P1149, it was also engaged in a local training mission with two crew members on board. Following the collision, both airplanes dove into the ground and crashed near the airfield, bursting into flames. A crew on board P1149 was injured while the second was killed. Both crew on board P1302 were also killed.
Crew:
F/O Swain Moxham, pilot,
Sgt Richard Ernest Fenton, wireless operator.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I at RAF Upper Heyford: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 7, 1941
Operator:
Registration:
P1149
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Upper Heyford - Upper Heyford
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training exercise at RAF Upper Heyford. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing, the airplane collided with a second RAF Hampden that was approaching to land. Registered P1302, it was also engaged in a local training mission with two crew members on board. Following the collision, both airplanes dove into the ground and crashed near the airfield, bursting into flames. A crew on board P1149 was injured while the second was killed. Both crew on board P1302 were also killed.
Crew:
Sgt W. Walker, pilot,
Sgt Harry James, wireless operator. †

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I at RAF Bicester: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 7, 1940
Operator:
Registration:
P4292
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Upper Heyford - Bicester
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Upper Heyford on a training exercise to RAF Bicester. While on a night approach, the airplane crashed in Little Chesterton, near the airfield. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Alan James Coad, pilot,
Sgt Monty Richard Dards, pilot,
S/L Hugh Dennis Beck, navigator,
Sgt Thomas Hadfield, wireless operator and air gunner,
AC1 George Arnold Binks, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I in Highnam: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 8, 1940 at 1230 LT
Operator:
Registration:
P1271
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Upper Heyford - Upper Heyford
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Upper Heyford on a training exercice. While cruising in clouds, the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent, broke up in flight and crashed in an open field located in Highnam. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Albert Frederick Jefferys, pilot,
Sgt Joseph Desmond Sheils, pilot,
Sgt Richard Thomas Bowtell, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Ralph Alexander Walter Keeling, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I at RAF Upper Heyford: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 2, 1940 at 1700 LT
Operator:
Registration:
P1179
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Upper Heyford - Upper Heyford
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot departed RAF Upper Heyford at 1700LT on a local solo training flight. Immediately after liftoff, the airplane rolled to the left, impacted a tree and crashed, bursting into flames. The pilot was killed.
Crew:
P/O Basil Simpson, pilot.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I at RAF Upper Heyford

Date & Time: Apr 25, 1940
Operator:
Registration:
P1181
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Upper Heyford - Upper Heyford
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Upper Heyford on a local night training mission. Upon takeoff, the airplane suffered an engine failure, stalled and crashed. All three occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
Engine failure upon takeoff.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I near Banbury: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 22, 1940
Operator:
Registration:
L4148
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Upper Heyford - Upper Heyford
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Upper Heyford on a local test flight when the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances between the villages of Souldern and Fritwell, near Banbury. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
LAC Robert Holt,
LAC John Fisher Dobson.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I at RAF Upper Heyford: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 7, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L1209
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Upper Heyford - Upper Heyford
MSN:
8492
YOM:
1938
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
After a night takeoff, while climbing, the pilot lost control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed in a field located 3 km east of the airbase, bursting into flames. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Crew:
P/O Kenneth Frederick Fisk, pilot.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I at RAF Upper Heyford

Date & Time: Mar 4, 1940
Operator:
Registration:
P1270
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Upper Heyford - Upper Heyford
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after a night takeoff, the pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed, bursting into flames. The pilot was injured.
Crew:
P/O W. G. C. Edmonds, pilot.