Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I in Buxton: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 12, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EB717
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Wheaton Aston - Wheaton Aston
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
During the early hours the 12th May 1943, the pilot took off for a night cross country flight from Wheaton Aston to the south west of Stafford. His route was to have been Wheaton Aston - Shawbury - Condover - Wheaton Aston, this triangular route was a distance of just over 50 miles. At some point, the pilot became disorientated, whether he missed one of his waypoints or saw one of the other airfields in the area is unknown, and ended up flying North East. As the sun was coming into view the aircraft was seen circling over Buxton, shortly afterwards the aircraft flew west into low cloud and struck a dry stone wall which runs the length of Burbage Edge. The stone wall destroyed the forward end of the aircraft killing the lone occupant, the aircraft broke up as it traveled across the moor land for another 30 to 40 yards.
Crew (11th AFU):
Sgt John Henry Langley Wilson.
Source:
http://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/pages/peakdistrict/peakdistricteb717.htm
Probable cause:
The Investigating Officer from No.21 Group concluded that the pilot had set the wrong course on his final leg from Condover back to Wheaton Aston.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I in RAF Ramsbury

Date & Time: May 11, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L4534
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing. No casualties.

Crash of a Blackburn B-26 Botha I in Hazeltonrig: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 10, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L6531
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While flying in low visibility due to heavy snow falls, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located in the Cheviot Hills, near Hazeltonrig, north of Rothbury. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (4th AGS):
Sgt Zawalinski, pilot,
LAC H. Carter, radio operator,
LAC K. Bradley, air gunner,
LAC Donald Campbell, air gunner.

Crash of a Martin B-26A-1 Marauder in Abu Sueir: 6 killed

Date & Time: May 10, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
FK376
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
7424
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Went out of control and crashed in a field located 2 miles southwest of Abu Sueir Airport, killing all six crew members.
Probable cause:
Structural failure of the tail.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling in Akkerwoude: 6 killed

Date & Time: May 1, 1943 at 0252 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
R9263
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Oakington - Oakington
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The bomber left RAF Oakington after midnight to attack the city of Bocholt in Germany. While flying over The Netherlands, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter and crashed in a field located in Akkerwoude. Six crew members were killed and one survived.
Crew (7th Squadron):
P/O E. C. Hallding, pilot, †
P/O Geoffrey Wragge, navigator, †
Sgt Arhur Eward Emms, air gunner, †
W/O Loois Nutik, wireless operator and air gunner, †
F/Sgt H. Sobel, air gunner, †
Sgt Norman Arthur Peachey, air bomber, †
Sgt F. A. Painter.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester I in RAF Swinderby

Date & Time: May 1, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L7468
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to RAF Swinderby, an engine caught fire and exploded. The aircraft stalled and crashed in flames in an open field short of runway. All seven crew were injured while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Engine fire.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Pant Glas

Date & Time: Apr 29, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EF823
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While flying by night and in poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of Mt Pencreigiau'r Llan, near Pant Glas, Wales. All five crew members were injured while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by a navigation error on part of the crew who was following a wrong track.

Crash of a Martin B-26A-1 Marauder into the Tyrrhenian Sea: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 25, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
FK371
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
7408
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Crashed into the Tyrrhenian Sea while performing a maritime patrol flight. No trace of the aircraft nor the six crew members was ever found.
Crew:
F/Sgt T. C. Bullock,
W/O F. L. Trovillo,
P/O J. L. Mouatt,
Sgt C. Warburton,
F/O D. G. Bentham,
F/Sgt J. S. Patman.

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

Date & Time: Apr 24, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
FK364
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bône - Bône
MSN:
7433
YOM:
1941
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from Bône Airfield (now Annaba), en engine failed. The aircraft stalled and crashed. The copilot was killed while five other crew members were injured.
Crew:
F/O Slade,
F/O MacDonald,
F/Sgt Lindschau,
Sgt Mutch,
Sgt Lovelace,
F/Sgt Beddell. †
Probable cause:
Engine failure after rotation.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura II in Springhaven: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 23, 1943 at 1230 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AE878
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Yarmouth - Yarmouth
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While on a training mission from Yarmouth, the crew lost control of the aircraft that crashed in Springhaven, 25 km east of Yarmouth. The aircraft was destroyed by fire and all three crew members were killed.
Crew (34th OTU):
Sgt Kenneth George Calvert, pilot,
Sgt John Edward Franckeiss, pilot,
Sgt Keith Robert Self, pilot.