Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford in Wigram AFB: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 3, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NZ1221
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Wigram - Wigram
MSN:
2599
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training flight in the vicinity of the Wigram FB, Christchurch. While flying at low altitude, the twin engine aircraft collided with another RNZAF Airspeed AS.10 Oxford registered NZ1303. Following the collision, the first aircraft dove into the ground and crashed, killing all three occupants. The second aircraft was able to land safely at Wigram AFB.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson in Ravenglass: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 27, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7226
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Millom - Millom
MSN:
414-1622
YOM:
1940
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a night exercise from the RAF Millom. En route, an undefined technical failure occurred and the pilot lost control of the aircraft that crashed near Ravenglass. Both occupants were killed.
Crew (1st OTU):
F/O Gerald J. T. Snoxell, pilot,
Sgt Gregor S. McGregor, navigator.

Crash of a Martin B-26A-1 Marauder near Shreveport: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 26, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
41-7451
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Barksdale - Barksdale
MSN:
7451
YOM:
1941
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a training flight from Barksdale AFB. En route, the pilot lost control of the aircraft following an engine failure. The aircraft crashed in a field located 10 miles south of Shreveport and all five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Louis F. Greis, pilot, 4.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson III off Silloth: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 25, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AM676
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Silloth - Silloth
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training mission from RAF Silloth. In flight, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed into the Solway Firth, few hundreds yards off shore. All three crew members were killed.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I off Tracadie

Date & Time: Aug 24, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
K6265
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Charlottetown - Charlottetown
Country:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was involved in a training exercise from Charlottetown. En route, the pilot was forced to ditch the aircraft for unknown reason in the Tracadie Bay, Nova Scotia. While all five crew members were rescued, the aircraft was lost.

Crash of a Blackburn B-26 Botha I near Rowen: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 23, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L6318
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Squires Gate - Squires Gate
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew left RAF Squires Gate for a navigation exercise. En route, the twin engine aircraft entered a cloudy area when it struck the northeast slope of Mt Tal-y-Fan. The wreckage and all five dead bodies were found a day later.
Crew (3rd School of General Reconnaissance):
W/O Herford Linton Pendal, pilot,
Sgt Robert Wilmore Patrick, navigator,
Sgt John Bernard Wood, navigator,
AC1 Ronald Ibbetson, wireless operator,
AC1 Andrew Smyth, wireless operator.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I off Thormanby Island

Date & Time: Aug 22, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N4901
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Patricia Bay - Patricia Bay
Country:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
751
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training exercise out from Patricia Bay airbase. En route, while cruising off Thormanby Island, the left engine failed. The captain decided to ditch the aircraft and all five crew members were quickly rescued while the aircraft was lost and later recovered.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Llangollen: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 21, 1942 at 0007 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N4966
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Cranage - Cranage
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
250
Captain / Total hours on type:
181.00
Circumstances:
The crew was involved in a night training exercise and left RAF Cranage in the evening. Following a navigation error, the aircraft was to far to the west and by night, went through an area of drizzle and low mist. The captain decided to reduce his altitude in an attempt to maintain a visual contact with the ground when the twin engine aircraft hit a mountain slope located northeast of Llangollen, near Garth. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Dennis Armstrong Wapshott, pilot,
Sgt Harry Doidge Searle,
W/O Charles Edward Wordsworth,
LAC John Francis Eckersley.
Probable cause:
Navigation error on part of the crew and inexperience of the captain (only 9 flying hours by night on type).

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson off Silloth: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 20, 1942 at 2010 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AE646
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Silloth - Silloth
MSN:
414-2999
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was involved in a combined training exercise with another RAF Lockheed L-414 Hudson registered T9273 and carrying four crew members as well. In flight, both twin engine aircraft collided and crashed into the Solway Firth, off RAF Silloth. All eight crew members on both aircraft were killed.
Crew (1st OTU):
Sgt K. J. Chandler,
Sgt L. Hargrave,
Sgt J. Brown,
Sgt Morse.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson off Silloth: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 20, 1942 at 2010 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
T9273
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Silloth - Silloth
MSN:
414-2308
YOM:
1940
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was involved in a combined training exercise with another RAF Lockheed L-414 Hudson registered AE646 and carrying four crew members as well. In flight, both twin engine aircraft collided and crashed into the Solway Firth, off RAF Silloth. All eight crew members on both aircraft were killed.
Crew (1st OTU):
P/O I. G. T. Roberts,
P/O F. Ratcliffe,
Sgt S. M. Wilson,
Sgt R. M. Jack.