West Freugh AFB

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

West Freugh - West Freugh

Location:

Bennanbrack

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

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Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in a night training exercise. En route, while cruising at an altitude of 2,250 feet, the twin engine aircraft hit a mountain slope located near Mt Bennanbrack, some 6 miles north of Newton Stewart. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Raymond John Crotty, pilot,
Sgt Darius Bede Northmore, navigator,
W/O Peter Smith, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Bertram Ernest William Becker,
Sgt Edward Hugh Patrick Cresswell, wireless operator and air gunner.
Source & photos:
http://www.aircrashsites-scotland.co.uk/anson_bennanbrack.htm

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Port Soderick: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 30, 1943 at 2100 LT

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

N5026

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

West Freugh - West Freugh

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Pax on board:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew left RAF West Freugh at 1953LT for a night training exercise. While approaching the Isle of Man, the crew encountered engine problems and the pilot elected to make an emergency landing in poor weather conditions when the twin engine aircraft hit a cliff located 1,5 mile from Port Soderick. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (4th AFU):
F/Sgt C. G. Eckersley, pilot,
Sgt H. Peters, navigator,
Sgt G. R. Tippett, bomb aimer,
Sgt H. C. Thompson, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt L. J. Henley, wireless operator.
Source: http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=144966

Probable cause:

An Inquiry into the accident found that the primary cause of the accident was “ the shearing of one of the propeller Boss belts, which caused spasmodic and intense vibration, and loss of engine revs as it came into contact with the nuts of the front cover. It was though that the Pilot decided to make an immediate forced landing, preferably on water near the coast, but that he overshot aiming north while flying in bad visibility, and faced with cliffs ahead, he opened up to try and clear them, but crashed head on into them.”

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson on Mt Green Gable: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 1, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

DJ410

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

West Freugh - West Freugh

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Pax on board:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in a night training exercise from RAF West Freugh. En route, while cruising in poor visibility due to the night and cloud, the pilot did not realize he was off course when the aircraft hit the slope of Mt Green Gable located southeast of Buttermere. The pilot was killed instantly while all four other occupants were wounded and walked away to find help. The aircraft was destroyed. Crew from the 4th AOS, pilot was W/O Frederick Orchard Cadham.

Crash of a Blackburn B-26 Botha I at RAF West Freugh: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 18, 1941 at 1010 LT

Type of aircraft:

Blackburn B-26 Botha

Operator:

Registration:

L6195

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

West Freugh - West Freugh

MSN:

7864/42

YOM:

1940

Location:

West Freugh AFB

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after take off from RAF West Freugh, while climbing, the aircraft stalled, dove into the ground and crashed in a wooded area located near the airport. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (4th AOS):
Sgt Walter Francis Godfrey Hobby, pilot,
LAC Robert Charles Sharp, observer,
AC1 William Charles Ellis, wireless operator and air gunner,
AC2 George William King, wireless operator and air gunner,
LAC Ciaran Anzlony Clarke, air gunner.

Probable cause:

It appears that the aircraft stalled during initial climb following a loss of power on the right engine. This was caused by a false move on part of the captain who throttled back the right power lever while trying to remove his hand to select the undercarriage up. This caused the right engine to lose power and the aircraft to stall.

Crash of a Blackburn B-26 Botha I off RAF Valley: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 28, 1941 at 1130 LT

Type of aircraft:

Blackburn B-26 Botha

Operator:

Registration:

L6417

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Valley – West Freugh

Location:

Valley AFB (Anglesey)

Gwynedd

Country:

Region:

Handley Page H.P.54 Harrow

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Valley at 1130LT on a flight to RAF West Freugh, carrying three crew members. During the takeoff run, the pilot-in-command aborted the procedure but was unable to stop the airplane within the available distance. The Botha overran and crashed into the sea about 500 metres off Rhosneigr. All three crew members were killed. It is also reported that 11 rescuers died while they were trying to save the crew.
Crew:
Sgt Kazimierz Stefan Rosiewicz,
LAC Thomas Alexander Dixon,
LAC Freferick Charles Glockler.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.54 Harrow II at RAF West Freugh

Date & Time: Sep 7, 1939

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

K7003

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

West Freugh - West Freugh

Location:

West Freugh AFB

Country:

Region:

Landing (descent or approach)

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The aircraft was approaching RAF West Freugh when it impacted the ground, lost its undercarriage and came to rest in a field. All five crew members evacuated safely.

Probable cause:

Too low approach.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I at RAF West Freugh

Date & Time: Nov 14, 1938

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L1108

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Cranfield – West Freugh

MSN:

8391

YOM:

1938

Location:

West Freugh AFB

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

After landing at RAF West Freugh, the crew encountered brakes difficulties. The pilot veered off runway when the left wing collided with the duty pilot's office. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

The aircraft overshot the runway and the brakes were ineffective because of the muddy ground.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I near RAF Wigtown

Date & Time: Nov 8, 1938

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L1116

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Cranfield – West Freugh

MSN:

8399

YOM:

1938

Location:

Wigtown AFB

Country:

Region:

Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II

Crew on board:

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Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After running over the target, the airplane stalled and belly landed in the Luce Bay Range near RAF Wigtown. All three crew members were uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.54 Harrow II in Halewood

Date & Time: Oct 21, 1938 at 1825 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

K7019

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Liverpool-John Lennon (ex Speke)

Schedule:

West Freugh - Marham

MSN:

435062/35

YOM:

1937

Location:

Merseyside

Country:

Region: