Crash of a Blackburn B-26 Botha I in Blackpool: 17 killed

Date & Time: Aug 27, 1941 at 1505 LT
Type of aircraft:
Blackburn B-26 Botha
Operator:
Registration:
L6509
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
Squires Gate - Squires Gate
Location:
Blackpool
Lancashire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Circumstances:
On the afternoon of Wednesday 27 August 1941 four 256 Squadron Defiants took off from Squires Gate to practice formation flying. Their flight commander (whose name is unrecorded) was recalled back to the aerodrome, and so he handed his flight over to his No. 2, a Sergeant Leonard (RAF). Just after 3.00 p.m. the three Defiants were flying over the sea, a little West of Blackpool Tower, at an altitude of about 2,000 feet and on a North Easterly heading. Some 500 feet below them, flying in a North Westerly direction, was one of 3 SGR's Bothas, L6509. Eyewitnesses on the ground saw the Defiants break formation and, one by one, dive towards the Botha as if making a mock attack and then level out afterwards. Two of the fighters completed the manoeuvre successfully, but as the third Defiant began its dive the Botha suddenly banked to the right and the pilot of the diving fighter, Defiant N1745, JT-P, struck the Botha amidships, cutting it in two and itself losing a wing. The now tail-less Botha stalled and immediately went into a spiral dive, its descent being watched by hundreds-possibly thousands-of shocked civilians and servicemen on Blackpool's seafront. Seconds later it crashed through the roof of the entrance hall of the Central Station, showering aviation fuel over the platforms below, which erupted into a massive conflagration. A huge cloud of thick black smoke quickly rose to a height of several hundred feet over the center of Blackpool. All three occupants of the Botha and both pilots on board the Defiant were killed. At the station, 8 people on the ground were killed while 6 others died the following days.
Botha's crew (3rd SGR):
P/O A. A. Horne, pilot,
P/O K. J. A. Sale, pilot.
Passenger:
Mr. Frank Longson.
Source & photos: http://laituk.org/Botha-Defiant.htm
Probable cause:
In-flight collision with an RAF Defiant following an error on part of the Defiant's crew.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF Manston: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 7, 1941 at 1755 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
R3816
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Manston - Manston
Location:
Manston
Kent
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local test flight out from RAF Manston on this aircraft that have been repaired. Upon takeoff from a grassy runway, it appears that the airplane became airborne sooner than normal due to a bump in the surface of the airfield. Shortly after liftoff, it entered a right turn then stalled and crashed. Two crew members were killed and a third was injured.
Crew:
P/O Harold Andrew Thomas Lind, pilot,
Sgt Norman William Paples, observer,
Sgt Eric Douglas Kennedy, wireless operator.
Probable cause:
The report, which fails to list details of the crew, carries on to describe the accident which befell the Blenheim. It appears that it became airborne sooner than normal due to a bump in the surface of the airfield ( Manston was, of course, a grass airfield in those days) and, almost immediately, it commenced a right-hand turn at a low speed, and the undercarriage was lowered as if the pilot was attempting to land again. Unfortunately the Blenheim stalled and crashed. Examination of the wreckage at the scene of the accident showed that the main controls were in order, but after removal of the aircraft for more detailed examination it was found that the starboard elevator was jammed 'solid' in the neutral position. Unbroken dope showed that this tab had not moved from the neutral position in which it had been left after the inspection on 26.7.41. The port tab was fully down in the tail heavy position but this was considered to be due to impact. All three hinges on the starboard tab were rusted tightly on the sleeves which form the bearing journals and which are pinned on to the elevator framework tubing. In the centre bearing which is nearest to the tab actuating lever the bearing journal locating rivet had sheared, possibly during an effort to alter the tab settings. There was no sign of lubrication on any of the hinges. The report concludes by running through the likely sequence of events that lead to the accident, beginning with the Blenheim being left outside for so long, which allowed the parts to rust solid, continuing with the suggestion that the pilot had relied on the tab position indicator being in neutral and hadn't tested the circuit, and ending with his decision to land so that the trim problems could be investigated. The ultimate cause of the crash was, of course, the low-speed stall.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I near Lincoln: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 1, 1941 at 1710 LT
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden
Operator:
Registration:
AD966
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Lincoln
Lincolnshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a test flight when the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances near South Park, in the south suburb of Lincoln. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Godfrey Michael Le Blanc Smith, pilot,
AC1 Arthur Douglas Clark, pilot,
Sgt Gilbert Derrick Dodds, observer,
Sgt Alan Forsythe, wireless operator,
AC1 Thomas Bernard Jeffcote.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I off Skegness: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 30, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden
Operator:
Registration:
AD970
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Coningsby - Coningsby
Location:
Skegness
Lincolnshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Coningsby on a test flight. While flying at low height over the sea off Skegness, the airplane stalled and crashed. A crew was killed and two others were injured.
Crew:
Sgt Stanley Edward Thurston, †
LAC T. Sissons,
Sgt C. H. Lockyer.

Crash of a Boeing B-17C Flying Fortress in Wilbarston: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jul 28, 1941 at 1700 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
AN534
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Polebrook - Polebrook
MSN:
2074
YOM:
1940
Location:
Wilbarston
Northamptonshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Polebrook to complete a high altitude test flight. It entered very severe turbulences and this was followed by a structural failure of the right wing. The bomber entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed near Wilbarston, 4 miles weest of Corby. All six crew members were killed.
Crew (90th Squadron):
F/S Reginald G. Bradley,
F/S Hubert C. G. Brook,
Sgt Robert Henderson,
F/S Ronald C. A. Muir,
Sgt Philip S. Pugh,
Sgt Roy Smith.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V near RAF Newmarket

Date & Time: Jul 25, 1941 at 1525 LT
Type of aircraft:
Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley
Operator:
Registration:
Z6727
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
2115
YOM:
1941
Location:
Newmarket AFB
Suffolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in an operation for testing secret equipment when engines failed. The crew made an emergency landing then the airplane collided with a telegraph pole and crashed near RAF Newmarket. All eight occupants were injured.
Crew:
F/Lt A. D. Jackson,
Sgt L. R. Burgan,
Sgt R. J. Bramley,
Sgt A. Hughes,
2nd Lt Helat,
Sgt Laverdet,
Lt Baessonas,
Lt Stewart.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC at RAF East Wretham

Date & Time: Jul 19, 1941 at 1145 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 416 Wellington IC
Operator:
Registration:
R1804
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
East Wretham - East Wretham
Location:
East Wretham AFB
Norfolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local test flight at RAF East Wretham. During the takeoff roll, the airplane developed an uncontrolled swing and crashed into a steam roller, ripping off the starboard wing and badly crushing the forward fuselage. The airplane caught fire and the crew was injured.
Crew:
F/O J. Stransky +3.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Worth Matravers: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 17, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
P4832
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Christchurch - Christchurch
MSN:
9347
YOM:
1939
Location:
Worth Matravers
Dorset
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Christchurch on a local test flight. While cruising off the Dorset coast, the airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea some 24 miles south-southwest of Worth Matravers. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Lt Douglas Leonard Rayment,
Sgt Raymond Sadler.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the accident may be the consequence of an engine fire in flight.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC at RAF Methwold: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 7, 1941 at 1215 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 416 Wellington IC
Operator:
Registration:
W5616
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Methwold - Methwold
Location:
Methwold AFB
Norfolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Methwold on a local test flight. While making a single-engine approach, the airplane undershot the runway, struck a tree and crashed, bursting into flames. A crew was killed and five others were injured.
Crew:
Sgt Raymond Burn Turner, air gunner, †
Sgt E. K. Cameron,
Sgt Marshall,
AC1 A. H. Brear,
Cpl Laidlaw,
AC1 R. Eaves,
Sgt Jenkins.

Crash of a Boeing B-17C Flying Fortress in Catterick Bridge: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jun 22, 1941 at 1710 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
AN522
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
West Raynham - West Raynham
MSN:
2054
YOM:
1940
Location:
Catterick Bridge
North Yorkshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in an experimental flight and departed RAF West Raynham at 1610LT. The purpose of the flight to allow physiological research and tests to be done at high altitude. While cruising at FL330, the four engine airplane entered a cumulonimbus. The temperature of the airplane dropped by some 20° and pieces of ice entered through the open rear gun ports. After a minute in such conditions, the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and the port wing spar failed at an altitude of about 25,000 feet. A crew member was able to bail out before the aircraft crashed in a field and was totally wrecked. All seven other crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O John Charles Michael Hawley, pilot, †
F/Lt John Bernard William Humpherson, pilot, †
1st Lt Follett Bradley Jr., pilot, †
Sgt Horace Philip Black, observer, †
F/Sgt George James Garwood, wireless operator, †
S/L David Alan Hoper Robson, †
Sgt Thomas James Wills, wireless operator, †
F/Lt William Kilpatrick Stewart.
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