Zone

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Yolland Marsh: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 18, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N5024
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Harwell - Harwell
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a night training exercise and departed RAF Harwell in the evening. While cruising over Devon, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with heavy snow falls. The twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in a field located in Yolland Marsh, some 11 km west of Totnes. All five occupants were killed.
Crew (148th Squadron):
P/O Barry Cornelius Osborne Stevens,
AC2 Leslie James Wakely,
AC2 William Heron,
Sgt F. T. M. Smith,
Sgt L. C. Chenery.