Crash of a Douglas C-50A-DO in Fayetteville-Pope AFB: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
41-7710
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Fayetteville-Pope - Fayetteville-Pope
MSN:
4804
YOM:
1941
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was involved in a test flight from the Fayetteville-Pope AFB. Shortly after take off, while climbing to a height of 250 metres, the crew made a turn to the left when left engine failed. The aircraft stalled and crashed in an open field located 10 km from the airfield. Two crew members were killed while all four other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder in Hickam AFB

Date & Time: Apr 1, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
40-1398
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
MSN:
1398
YOM:
1940
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknow circumstances at Hickam Field, Pearl Harbour. Crew fate unknown.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24 Liberator II in Lytchett Minster: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 24, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
AL546
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Boscombe Down - Boscombe Down
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Boscombe Down on a test flight consisting of a series of climb tests when the starboard outer engine (n°4) oversped and caught fire. The captain ordered his crew to abandon the airplane which they did successfully. Unfortunately, the airplane broke up and crashed in Lytchett Minster, killing the pilot.
Crew:
W/Cdr John William McGuire, pilot, †
W/O F. Robinson.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I in Branscombe: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 17, 1942 at 1125 LT
Operator:
Registration:
P1226
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Exeter - Exeter
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Following repairs, the airplane departed Exeter Airfield on a local test flight prior to be delivered to RAF Scampton. While flying in foggy conditions, the airplane impact the slope of hilly terrain and crashed near Branscompe. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Derek Alfred Cook, pilot,
P/O Robert Emmett Manders, observer.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

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

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1942 at 1300 LT
Operator:
Registration:
P5326
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Wigsley - Wigsley
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local test flight at RAF Wigsley. Upon takeoff, the airplane suffered an engine failure and crashed. A crew was killed and a second was injured.
Crew:
Sgt Keith Alexander Andrews, pilot, †
Sgt E. G. Miflin, navigator.
Probable cause:
Engine failure upon takeoff.

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

Date & Time: Mar 7, 1942 at 1630 LT
Operator:
Registration:
AE387
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Skellingthorpe - Skellingthorpe
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in a test flight at RAF Skellingthorpe. It swung upon takeoff in strong winds and crashed, bursting into flames. A crew was killed and two others were injured.
Crew:
P/O P. W. W. Nook,
Sgt P. Wood,
LAC Harry Lees. †

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III in Brandon: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 28, 1942 at 1600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
X3355
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Feltwell - Feltwell
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Feltwell for an engine check. En route, the starboard engine failed, followed soon afterwards by the port engine. The crew attempted an emergency landing when the airplane stalled and crashed in a field at Lime Kiln Farm near Brandon, bursting into flames. Two crew members were killed and three others were injured. Few hours later, one of the survivors died from injuries sustained.
Crew:
Sgt Henry William Woodham, pilot, †
Cpl Kenneth John Howes, †
AC2 Wilfred Pownall, †
Sgt R. A. Colville,
AC2 Goodwin.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure in flight.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.41 Albemarle I in Shalbourne: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 28, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
P1368
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Boscombe Down - Boscombe Down
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Boscombe Down on a test flight. En route, the starboard engine failed, forcing the crew to feather the propeller. At an altitude of 500 feet, the crew initiated a right turn when the right wing dropped. The airplane entered a stall and crashed in a field. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Thomas Walker Caston, pilot,
P/O John Cobean Fisher, navigator,
F/Sgt David Lewis Mullins, wireless operator.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right engine and subsequent stall while the airplane was close to stall speed.

Crash of a Short S.23 Empire Flying Boat off Townsville: 6 killed

Date & Time: Feb 27, 1942 at 1802 LT
Operator:
Registration:
A18-12
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Townsville - Townsville
MSN:
S.849
YOM:
1938
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew was involved in a 50 hours inspection flight. While approaching Townsville, the floatplane named 'Coogee' hit the water surface and crashed in the Cleveland Bay. Six crew members were killed while five other occupants were injured.
Crew killed:
F/O Robert John Love, pilot, †
P/O Harold John Wagner, pilot, †
LAC Maurice Clayton, †
Cpl William James French, †
P/O Peter Satterswaite Devonshire, †
Sgt John Gordon Nicholson. †

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson III in Ponterwyd: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 10, 1942 at 1330 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
V9127
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Honeybourne - Honeybourne
MSN:
414-3752
YOM:
1941
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Honeybourne at 1100LT on a test flight consisting of navigation tests and fuel consumption check. While cruising in limited visibility due to poor weather conditions, the twin engine airplane impacted the slope of a hill located near Ponterwyd, some 10 miles east of Aberystwyth. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and all four crew members were killed.
Crew (FTU):
F/O David Campbell Anderson, pilot,
F/Sgt Gordon Robert Duncan, observer,
Sgt John Hammond Harker, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Ronald Hodgson, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the airplane was flying at a too low altitude in limited visibility over hilly terrain.