Training | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The crew was engaged in a training mission out of RAF Millom. En route, in unknown circumstances, the twin engine aircraft crashed into the sea off the airbase. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (2nd AFU):
Sgt Arthur Page,
Sgt Thompson,
F/Sgt Harry Smith,
Sgt James Thomas.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson near Beddgelert : 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 4, 1943 at 0030 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-414 Hudson

Operator:

Registration:

AM832

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Location:

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The aircraft left its base in the evening of February 3 on a night training exercise. One hour into the flight, following a navigational error, the aircraft went off course and was flying over the Snowdonia mountains. In poor visibility due to poor weather conditions, while cruising at an altitude of 2,300 feet, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of Mt Llechog located northeast of Beddgelert. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (1st OTU):
Sgt R. J. Bennett, pilot,
Sgt J. C. Sharpley, navigator,
Sgt S. J. Meddings, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt A. W. Peach, wireless operator and air gunner.
Source: Alan Storr
http://static.awm.gov.au/images/collection/pdf/RC09125_022--1-.pdf

Probable cause:

A Court of Inquiry into the accident reported that : “ In our opinion the cause of the accident was faulty navigation resulting in an aircraft flying to a position approx 60 miles south of its intended turning point at Kish Lt. W/T facilities for checking the position do not appear to have been initiated at all apart from obtaining the one QDM. The aircraft was airborne at 2201 hours and using still air conditions should have turned at Kish Lt at 2306 hours. In actual fact it will be seen that it did not make this turn until 2342 hours ie. 36 minutes late. He stayed on the leg from South Rock to Kish Lt for a period of one hour instead of 31 minutes. The aircraft after leaving its estimated position at Kish Lt lost height and apparently obeyed the QDM which was passed as a weak signal and should have been treated with caution. It crashed on a mountain side at approx 2300 feet causing the death of the crew and the complete destruction of the aircraft.” The Grp Capt.CO RAF Silloth stated “ The cause of the accident remains obscure, but the findings of faulty navigation recorded by the Court is not an unlikely reason for the accident.”

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-CO Liberator in Arnold

Date & Time: Feb 2, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated B-24 Liberator

Operator:

Registration:

41-11885

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

381

YOM:

1941

Location:

Arnold

Kansas

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

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While performing a training sortie under instrument flight rules, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. The aircraft went out of control and dove into the ground. During the descent, all 10 crew members were able to bail out before the aircraft crashed in a field located in Arnold. While all 10 occupants were unhurt, the aircraft was unhurt.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Great Kimble: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 30, 1943 at 0250 LT

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

L7964

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Cranage - Cranage

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While on a night training sortie from RAF Cranage, the crew encountered poor weather conditions when the twin engine aircraft crashed in a field at 0250LT near Great Kimble. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Edward A. Merry, pilot,
Sgt James R. Craven, pilot,
Sgt Kenneth R. Blaskey, pilot,
Sgt Albert C. Poulton, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III in Gladwins Mark: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 30, 1943 at 0200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 417 Wellington III

Operator:

Registration:

X3941

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

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Schedule:

Church Broughton - Church Broughton

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The crew left RAF Church Broughton at 1915LT on January 29 for a night training exercise. At 0059LT, all crews were informed about the deterioration of the weather conditions but for unknown reason, the crew of X3941 did not receive this message. While returning to his base in low visibility, the bomber hit tree tops and crashed in a field located in Gladwins Mark, some three miles north of Matlock. Two crew members were killed while three others were injured.
Crew (27th OTU):
Sgt William Alan Catron, pilot, †
Sgt Kenneth Barton Killeen, air bomber, †
P/O Neil Garrett Traylen, navigator,
Sgt Neil Charles Craigie, wireless operator,
Sgt Thomas Somerville Easton, air gunner.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC in Birchen Bank Moss: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 30, 1943 at 0145 LT

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 416 Wellington IC

Operator:

Registration:

R1011

Flight Phase:

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Schedule:

Wymeswold - Wymeswold

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The aircraft left RAF Wymeswold, Leicestershire, at 1919LT on January 29. While cruising in poor visibility due to night and marginal weather conditions, the aircraft crashed in a pasture located in Birchen Bank Moss. Three crew members were killed while two others were injured.
Crew (28th OTU):
F/O Anthony Winter Lane, pilot,
P/O Charles Douglas Brown, bomb aimer,
P/O Charles Leslie Grisdale, navigator,
Sgt Raymond Gerard Rouse, air gunner,
Sgt Miller, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Douglas UC-67 Dragon in McCall

Date & Time: Jan 29, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Douglas B-23 Dragon

Operator:

Registration:

39-52

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

2738

Location:

McCall

Idaho

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

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While performing a training flight in poor weather conditions, the aircraft disappeared in an uninhabited and mountainous area. SAR operations were conducted but the wreckage was eventually found on February 13 only. All eight occupants, still alive, were evacuated to regional hospital with various injuries.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-2 Catalina in Lake Pontchartrain: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 28, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated PBY Catalina

Operator:

Registration:

0455

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Location:

New Orleans

Louisiana

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

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The seaplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the Lake Pontchartrain, near New Orleans. Three crew members were killed in the accident while 13 others were injured.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IVA in Picton: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1943 at 1320 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-414 Hudson

Operator:

Registration:

A16-152

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Camden - Camden

MSN:

414-6081

YOM:

1941

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While on a training sortie from Camden, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in flames in a prairie located in Picton, south of Camden. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (32nd Squadron):
F/Sgt S. K. Scott, pilot,
F/Sgt H. B. L. Johns, navigator,
Sgt B. C. J. Pearson, wireless operator,
Sgt G. D. Voyzey,
Sgt G. T. Lawson.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson V in Omata: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 25, 1943 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-414 Hudson

Operator:

Registration:

NZ2005

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Levin - Levin

MSN:

414-2675

YOM:

1941

Location:

New Plymouth

Taranaki Regional Council

Country:

New Zealand

Region:

Oceania

Crew on board:

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While cruising in poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft hit a cliff located in Omata, near New Plymouth. The aircraft was destroyed and all four crew members were killed.
Crew (1st OTU):
F/Lt John Deans,
F/O James Philson,
Sgt John Power,
Sgt Hugh Steel.