Royal Air Force - RAF | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

While approaching the Dutch coast, the bomber went out of control and crashed into the sea. All seven crew were killed.
Crew (51st Squadron):
F/Sgt R. E. Dorman,
Sgt A. R. Harding,
P/O A. L. Holmes,
Sgt P. J. McAleese,
Sgt J. G. Ramshaw,
Sgt G. Tombe,
P/O J. E. Ulrich.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-CO Liberator III in Manchester

Date & Time: Mar 7, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated B-24 Liberator

Operator:

Registration:

FK218

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

YOM:

1941

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On landing at Manchester-Ringway Airport, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overrun and came to rest in a field. While there were no casualties, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster III off Texel: 7 killed

Date & Time: Mar 5, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Avro 683 Lancaster

Operator:

Registration:

ED431

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Fiskerton - Fiskerton

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The aircraft left RAF Fiskerton in the evening on a bombing mission over Essen. While approaching the Dutch coast by night, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter and crashed into the North Sea, about 15 km off Texel. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew (49th Squadron):
Sgt James Myles Thom, pilot,
Sgt David Gow Fairlie, flight engineer,
F/S John Henry Prior, navigator,
F/S Kenneth Bolton, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Douglas Stuart Bratt, air gunner,
W/O Alexander Manson Horne, bomb aimer,
Sgt Frank Harry Liddon Vines, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

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

Date & Time: Mar 3, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Airspeed AS.10 Oxford

Operator:

Registration:

BG197

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Ossington - Ossington

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The pilot was completing a solo training sortie from RAF Ossington. En route, he lost his orientation and while descending, the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in a wooded area located in Matlock. The pilot was killed.
Crew (14th AFU):
Sgt George Howard McIlraith, pilot.

Probable cause:

The pilot became disoriented in flight.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester in North Scarle

Date & Time: Mar 2, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Avro 679 Manchester

Operator:

Registration:

L7277

Flight Phase:

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En route, an engine failure forced the crew to attempt an emergency landing near North Scarle. On approach, the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in a field. While the aircraft was written off, all occupants were unhurt.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of a Martin B-26A-1 Marauder in Fayid AFB: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 1, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Martin B-26 Marauder

Operator:

Registration:

FK117

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Fayid - Fayid

MSN:

7364

YOM:

1941

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The crew was practicing single-engine circuits at Fayid AFB. On final approach, the pilot lost control of the aircraft that stalled and crashed short of runway. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O H. Fletcher, pilot,
LAC J. I. Lewis, flight engineer.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

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

Date & Time: Mar 1, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

EG129

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

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En route, while on a night liaison flight, an engine failed. The pilot lost control of the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed in a field. All five occupants were killed.
Crew (9th AFU):
F/O Jack W. Croudis, pilot,
LAC Oscar Brayshay,
LAC Norman W. French,
LAC Alwyn T. J. Phillips,
Sgt Phillip Saer.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

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

Date & Time: Feb 28, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated B-24 Liberator

Operator:

Registration:

FL957

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Delivery

MSN:

183

YOM:

1941

Location:

United States of America

All United States of America

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

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Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in the US. Crew fate unknown.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24 Liberator III in Compton

Date & Time: Feb 28, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated B-24 Liberator

Operator:

Registration:

FK237

Flight Phase:

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Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

108

YOM:

1941

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En route, while conducting a training flight, the crew attempted to drop a life raft but the dinghy struck the elevators. The bomber went out of control and crashed in a field. All eight occupants were injured.

Crash of a North American B-25B Mitchell in Delaport: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 26, 1943

Type of aircraft:

North American B-25 Mitchell

Operator:

Registration:

FK176

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

City

Schedule:

Nassau - Nassau

MSN:

3012

YOM:

1940

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The crew departed Nassau on a local night training cession. While flying at low height, the airplane crashed onto a house located in Delaport, some 7 km northeast of the airfield. All four crew members escaped uninjured while three people in the house were killed.