Crash of a Grumman OA-9 Goose in Río Hato

Date & Time: Jul 31, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Grumman G-21A Goose
Operator:
Registration:
38-571
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1037
YOM:
1939
Location:
Río Hato
Coclé
Country:
Panama
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
An engine failed in flight, forcing the pilot Thomas C. Darcy to attempt an emergency landing. The float plane crashed near Río Hato and was damaged beyond repair. There were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide at RAF Shawbury

Date & Time: Jul 31, 1940
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide
Operator:
Registration:
G-ADAI
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Castle Bromwich – Shawbury
MSN:
6287
YOM:
1935
Location:
Shawbury AFB
Shropshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft crashed for unknown reasons upon landing at RAF Shawbury. All three occupants were uninjured and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas B-18 Bolo near San Carlos

Date & Time: Jul 31, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Douglas B-18 Bolo
Operator:
Registration:
36-319
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1707
YOM:
1936
Location:
San Carlos
Panamá
Country:
Panama
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to abandon the aircraft and bailed out. The aircraft entered a dive and crashed in a pasture located about five km west of San Carlos. There were no casualties.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I at RAF Carew Cheriton: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 31, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
K8829
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Carew Cheriton AFB
Pembrokeshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from RAF Carew Cheriton, while in initial climb, the twin engine aircraft collided with a RAF Fairey Battle registered N2050. It entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed to the ground, bursting into flames. At the time of the accident, it was conducting a supply mission on behalf of the Royal Dutch Navy and was carrying two RAF officers and three Dutch officers. The exact circumstances of the accident was not determined. While both British officers were killed, all three other occupants were slightly injured.
Crew:
F/S Sydney Pryce Tomley, †
Sgt Archibald Gordon Willis. †
Passengers:
Sgt A. J. Daniels,
Lt Kolff,
Cpl J. van der Schaaf.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IF at RAF Catterick

Date & Time: Jul 30, 1940 at 1320 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L1109
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Catterick - Catterick
MSN:
8392
YOM:
1938
Location:
Catterick AFB
North Yorkshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The undercarriage was damaged upon takeoff from RAF Catterick. The crew elected to return when the airplane crashed upon landing. Both crew members were uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
Sgt Thomas Birkett, pilot,
Sgt Edward Richard Lacey, wireless operator.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.85 Leopard Moth in Yeovil

Date & Time: Jul 30, 1940
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.85 Leopard Moth
Operator:
Registration:
AV983
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bristol - Yeovil
MSN:
7030
YOM:
1934
Location:
Yeovil-Westland
Somerset
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to Yeovil-Westland Airport, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances near Western Avenue. The pilot escaped.

Crash of a Bristol 152 Beaufort I at RAF Kirkbride

Date & Time: Jul 30, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 152 Beaufort
Operator:
Registration:
L4473
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Silloth - Kirkbride
MSN:
8334
YOM:
1939
Location:
Kirkbride AFB
Cumbria
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane crashed for unknown reasons upon landing at RAF Kirkbride and was damaged beyond repair. The pilot escaped.

Crash of a Junkers JU.86K in Lärbro: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jul 30, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.86
Operator:
Registration:
166
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
0166
YOM:
1937
Location:
Lärbro
Gotland
Country:
Sweden
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in Lärbro, killing all six occupants.
Crew:
Sgt Bertil Vilhelm Sjöblom,
Fur Erik Gunnar Charles Jönsson,
Fur Bertil Gunnar Ewenberg,
Fur Bernhard Erik Sigurd Siegfrids,
Asp Johan Magnus Andersson,
Asp Karl Lennart Serge Johansson.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3m in the Mt Watzmann: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jul 30, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.52
Operator:
Registration:
VK+BG
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Schleissheim – Zeltweg
MSN:
6862
YOM:
1940
Location:
Mt Watzmann
Bavaria
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on its way from Schleissheim, in the suburb of Munich, to the Zeltweg Airfield located in Styria, Austria. En route, the crew encountered poor weather conditions when the airplane impacted the east slope of Mt Watzmann (2,713 metres high) located in the Berchtesgaden National Park, southeast Bavaria. No trace of the aircraft nor the six occupants was found until Summer 2003.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Dalby

Date & Time: Jul 30, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
L7963
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Location:
Dalby
Isle of Man
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While cruising at low altitude, the twin engine aircraft impacted the slope of a hill and was wrecked in Dalby, south of Peel, Isle of Man. All four occupants were slightly injured and the aircraft was written off.
Crew:
Robert Pierce Wigley-Jones, pilot,
Sgt D. A. Cruickshank,
Sgt R. C. Bryant,
LAC E. H. Parry.
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