Royal Air Force - RAF | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

On final approach to Heliopolis, the twin engine aircraft lost altitude and crashed 3 km short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all 11 occupants were killed, among them Air Vice-Marshal Wilfred Ashton McClaughry, his wife and staff.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined. However, the assumption that the aircraft was caught by downdraft (micro-burst) during the final descent is not ruled out.

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

Date & Time: Jan 4, 1943 at 1028 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-414 Hudson

Operator:

Registration:

N7308

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Silloth - Silloth

MSN:

414-1704

YOM:

1940

Location:

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Circumstances:

The crew was involved in a training exercise including single engine practice. En route, the aircraft stalled and crashed into the Solway Firth, few hundred yards off shore. All three crew members were killed.
Crew (1st OTU):
Sgt D. J. Wearne, pilot,
Sgt Leo Francis Ryan, navigator,
P/O R. D. Hall.
Source: Alan Storr Compilation

Probable cause:

A Report into the accident, the Wg Cdr RAF Silloth stated : “ I commenced giving Wearne a check dual on Hudson N7308 previous to him flying solo. The behaviour of the aircraft was normal in every way. After about one hours flying I authorised Wearne to carry out various solo practices including single engine flying. I am quite satisfied that this pilot was quite competent to carry out the practices detailed. The pupil was a good average pilot who had been flying quite well that morning. I consider that the faulty handling of the engine controls referred to by the Investigating Officer caused the Pilot to pay too much attention to the engines, and not enough to the flying of the aircraft. with the result that the pilot stalled the aircraft and ‘spun in’. The Air Cdre Group Commander stated “ I do not agree with the findings of the Investigating Officer, as there is no evidence to justify the assumption that the cause of the accident was ‘due to the faulty handling of the engine controls.’ In my opinion the accident was caused by engine failure but the reason for the failure must remain a mystery.”
Source:
http://static.awm.gov.au/images/collection/pdf/RC09125_022--1-.pdf

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

Date & Time: Jan 3, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Airspeed AS.10 Oxford

Operator:

Registration:

V3888

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Cambridge - Cambridge

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Shortly after take off from Cambridge Airport by night, an engine failed. The pilot attempted to make an emergency landing but the aircraft hit a tree and crashed onto a house. The pilot was killed while there were no casualties on the ground.
Crew (5th FPP):
P/O Irene Arckless, pilot.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland off Port Said: 12 killed

Date & Time: Jan 2, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Short S.25 Sunderland

Operator:

Registration:

N9209

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Location:

Port Said

Country:

Egypt

Region:

Africa

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The crew left Alexandria Airport at 1600LT on January 1st on an anti-submarine mission between Alexandria and Port Said. Several radio contacts were made at 1730LT and 2345LT. Nothing further was heard from 0230LT to 0830LT. In the next morning, the wreckage was spotted at 1100LT off Port Said. The seaplane crashed in unknown circumstances, killing all 12 crew members.
Crew (230th Squadron):
F/O R. H. Holcombe, pilot,
F/O R. W. Meaton, pilot,
F/O L. S. Clayton, pilot,
Sgt L. J. Webber, observer,
Sgt W. G. Darge, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt A. G. Daniels, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt M. Dean, wireless operator and air gunner,
Cpl J. Barnard, air gunner,
Sgt V. F. Butcher, air gunner,
Cpl E. A. F. Nicholas, air gunner,
LAC J. Savidge, air gunner,
LAC W. L. Purkiss, radio mechanic.

Probable cause:

Investigations were unable to determine the exact circumstances and causes of the accident.

Crash of a Vickers 290 Wellington I in Wilford: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 2, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 290 Wellington I

Operator:

Registration:

L4379

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Bramcote - Bramcote

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Circumstances:

En route, the crew encountered unclear problems and elected to abandon the aircraft. The crew bailed out and was later found alive while the aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a field.
Crew (18th OTU):
P/O A. Ratajczak,
P/O C. Czekalski,
Sgt A. E. Korzeniowski, †
Sgt J. Drapala,
Sgt R. Baszowski,
Sgt M. Nogacki.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester I near Metheringham

Date & Time: Jan 2, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Avro 679 Manchester

Operator:

Registration:

L7482

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

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Site:

Schedule:

Swinderby - Swinderby

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En route, the crew encountered severe icing conditions and the aircraft's performances were seriously reduced. The crew decided to abandon the aircraft end bailed out. While all seven crew members were found alive, the aircraft crashed in a field and was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Icing.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I near Caldbeck: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 1, 1943 at 1930 LT

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

W2629

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Wigtown - Wigtown

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The crew was engaged in a night training mission from RAF Wigtown. While cruising in low visibility, the twin engine aircraft hit a hill located near Caldbeck. A crew member was killed while four others were seriously injured.
Crew (1st AFS):
F/O Blain, pilot,
Sgt William Alfred Leslie Babbington, †
Sgt N. J. Higgins, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt J. Phillip, navigator,
Sgt L. Doust, navigator.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I near Keswick: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 1, 1943 at 1900 LT

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

AX145

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Wigtown - Wigtown

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Circumstances:

The crew was performing a night training flight from RAF Wigtown. In low visibility, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of Mt Skiddaw located south of Keswick. SAR operations did not find any trace of the aircraft until January 29, 1943. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (1st AFU):
P/O William Basil Cheale Thompson, pilot,
P/O William Burt, navigator,
Sgt Edwin Omer Knight, navigator,
P/O Bruce Oswald Bown, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt George David Singleton, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Port Albert

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

K8760

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Port Albert - Port Albert

Location:

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Circumstances:

On final approach to Port Albert, the twin engine aircraft hit the ground short of runway threshold. The undercarriage were sheared off and the aircraft slid for several yards before coming to rest. While all five crew members were unhurt, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

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

Date & Time: Dec 27, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-414 Hudson

Operator:

Registration:

FH426

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Location:

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Region:

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Circumstances:

The twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea off Alicante, killing all four crew members based at Gibraltar.
Crew (223rd Squadron):
Sgt J. S. Greaves, pilot,
Sgt E. Brown, navigator,
Sgt E. V. Evans, bomber,
Sgt J. J. Griffin, bomber.

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