Crash of a Vickers 271 Wellington in Maryport: 5 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HZ637
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While performing a training flight, the aircraft collided with a RAF Anson registered DJ239 and carrying a crew of five as well. The collision occurred in unknown circumstances east of Maryport and both aircraft crashed in a field, killing all ten crew members on both aircraft.
Crew:
Sgt Charles S. Anderton, pilot,
F/O Edwin Creed,
LAC Harry Hudson, wireless operator and air gunner,
F/O Lyn Rees,
LAC Fred Wilson, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Martin B-26A-1 Marauder in Sarasota: 5 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
41-7477
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
7477
YOM:
1941
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances near Sarasota-Bradenton Airport. All five crew members were killed.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Maryport: 5 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
DJ239
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While performing a training flight, the twin engine aircraft collided with a RAF Vickers 271 Wellington registered HZ637 and carrying a crew of five as well. The collision occurred in unknown circumstances east of Maryport and both aircraft crashed in a field, killing all ten crew members on both aircraft.
Crew (10th AFU):
P/O Alexander Iver MacRae, pilot,
Sgt Geoffrey Basil Temple Wymer, navigator,
F/Sgt Michael Henry Cornell, navigator,
Sgt Thomas Green, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt John Thomas Sutherland, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Mid-air collision.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson III in RAF Kirkbride

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
V9197
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kirkbride - Kirkbride
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off, while in initial climb, the aircraft was caught by strong cross winds, nosed down and crashed in a field. Both pilots were injured.

Crash of a Boeing B-17F-45-BO Flying Fortress near Covelo: 6 killed

Date & Time:
Operator:
Registration:
42-5318
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Hamilton - Hamilton
MSN:
3857
YOM:
1942
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Captain / Total flying hours:
204
Circumstances:
The crew left Hamilton AFB in the morning on a routine training sortie. En route, the pilot informed ground about his position and a little later, the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed on a hilly terrain located ten miles northeast of Covelo. All six crew members were killed.
Photos on http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/b17tday.htm
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined. Nevertheless, it is believed that weather conditions deteriorated in flight and the crew encountered poor visibility and marginal weather conditions between 1,500 and 5,000 feet with fog and turbulence. It is possible that the crew lost his orientation. The PIC was young with a total experience of 204 flying hours.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.41 Albemarle II in Fearnan: 4 killed

Date & Time:
Operator:
Registration:
P1503
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Errol - Errol
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew consisted of three members of the Soviet Air Force and a Czech interpreter. En route, the aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed north of Fearnan. All four occupants were killed.
Crew (305th FTU):
Maj Aleksandr Gruzdin, pilot,
S/Lt Aleksandr Andrejevich Aleksejev, flight engineer,
S/Lt William Dramin.
Passenger:
Sgt Francis Drahovzal.
Probable cause:
The ballast weights slid forward, causing the aircraft to dive and crash.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I off Millom: 2 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AX407
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Llandwrog - Llandwrog
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
During a training sortie, while cruising off Millom, the twin engine aircraft crashed into the sea in unknown circumstances, killing both crew members.

Crash of a Blackburn B-26 Botha I in RAF Hooton Park: 2 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L6290
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Hooton Park - Hooton Park
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
On final approach to RAF Hooton Park, while performing a training mission, the captain decided to make a go around. While climbing, the aircraft stalled, dove into the ground and crashed in a field. All four crew members were critically injured. Few hours later, two of them died from their injuries.
Crew (11th RS):
F/Sgt Russell Charles Denny, †
Sgt J. T. R. Bazire, †
Sgt Austin,
Sgt F. J. Spillane.
Probable cause:
An engine failed during the go around procedure.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson in RAF Silloth

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Silloth - Silloth
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to RAF Silloth, at a height of less than 10 feet, the aircraft stalled and hit the runway surface. While the aircraft was damaged beyond repair, both pilots were unhurt.
Probable cause:
It seems the approach speed during the last segment was insufficient.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson IA in Tadcaster: 5 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EG269
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Jurby - Jurby
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training sortie from RAF Jurby, Isle of Man. En route, the twin engine hit telegraph wires and flew into the ground some one mile north of Tadcaster. All five crewmen were killed.
Crew (5th AOS):
P/O Harry Rhodes, pilot,
Sgt George Ervin Bleier, observer and navigator,
LAC Peter Geoffrey Wilson, observer and navigator,
Sgt Percy Annetts, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Gerald Henry Charles Watkins, wireless operator and air gunner.