Royal Air Force - RAF

On 19th February 1955, during what the then colonial government referred to as the "Emergency" enacted to combat the Mau Mau uprising, an RAF Lincoln bomber belonging to No. 49 Squadron based at Eastleigh aerodrome, crashed near the town of Githunguri some fifteen kilometers (eight miles) north-north-west of Kiambu. The bomber, serial number SX984, carrying six aircrew, was returning from a bombing and strafing mission over the Kipipiri Forest when the pilot, Flying Officer Alan Hunt, decided to carry out unauthorized low passes over the Police Officers' Mess where he knew a number of his RAF colleagues were spending the afternoon. The Mess was and is situated near the top of a hill overlooking the town with the police station itself lying half way down towards the main Uplands - Ruiru road. On the third pass, Hunt misjudged the height needed to clear the top of the hill with the result that parts of the starboard wing, tail plane and lower rudder were torn off after hitting three rondavel huts and a mess chimney, whereupon the aircraft went out of control, climbed steeply for about one hundred meters, then stalled before going into a near vertical dive and crashing half a kilometer south of the police station. Hunt and four other crew members died instantly in the resulting inferno, but the tail-gunner, Sergeant Stanley Bartlett was thrown clear and taken to Kiambu hospital and then to the Military hospital in Nairobi where he died five hours later as a result of burns and other serious injuries. Four civilians on the ground, one of them a child, also died. The six crew were buried with full military honors in City Park Cemetery.
Crew (49th Squadron):
F/O Hunt, pilot,
Sgt North, flight engineer,
Sgt Hollands, signaler,
Sgt Bartlett, air gunner,
F/O King, navigator,
F/O Parry, navigator.
Source:
Richard Bartlett-May, son of Sgt Stanley Bartlett.

While cruising off the Kuwait coast, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea few km off shore. All six occupants were killed and only few debris were found.
Crew:
G/C H. J. Irens, pilot,
Sgt Radley, signaler.
Passengers:
G/C. A. M. Aberdein,
W/C M. Dean,
S/L R. H. Stevenson,
F/L Cranley.

The aircraft left RAF St Eval at 1020LT for a 15 hours training mission, preceded by six minutes from a first RAF Avro 696 Shackleton MR.2 registered WG531 and carrying nine crew members as well. The last radio contact was recorded at 2058LT and two minutes later, both aircraft disappeared simultaneously. SAR operations were conducted but all operations were suspended few days later as no trace of both aircraft nor the 18 crew members was found. More than eleven years later, a fisherman found in is fishnet the engine number four from the Shackleton registered WL743 about 75 miles north of the assumed collision point.
Crew (42nd Squadron):
P/O L. W. Wood, pilot,
Sgt H. Davies, pilot,
F/O N. Horrocks, navigator,
F/O G. Molyneux, navigator,
Sgt D. Male, flight engineer,
Mst I. O. Cathcart, air signaler,
Sgt C. W. Scott, air signaler,
Sgt R. E. Ridgers, air signaler,
Sgt L. W. Cooper, air signaler.

The aircraft left RAF St Eval at 1014LT for a 15 hours training mission, followed six minutes later by a second RAF Avro 696 Shackleton MR.2 registered WL743 and carrying nine crew members as well. The last radio contact was recorded at 2058LT and two minutes later, both aircraft disappeared simultaneously. SAR operations were conducted but all operations were suspended few days later as no trace of both aircraft nor the 18 crew members was found. More than eleven years later, a fisherman found in is fishnet the engine number four from the Shackleton registered WL743 about 75 miles north of the assumed collision point.
Crew (42nd Squadron):
F/O G. Board, pilot,
F/O K. G. Richards, pilot,
F/O G. Rogers, navigator,
F/O B. H. Webb, navigator,
F/Sgt M. G. Rae, air signaler,
Sgt L. R. Swann, air signaler,
Sgt J. T. Goodwin, air signaler,
Sgt E. J. Morgan, air signaler,
Sgt G. Thompson, air signaler.

The crew left RAF Saint Eval to conduct a training mission consisting of a submarine attack. In unknown circumstances, the aircraft crashed into the Celtic Sea off the Cornwall coast. All seven crew members were killed.

The crew was performing a flight from Ireland to RAF Crosby, Cumbria. While overflying the Irish Sea, the crew encountered poor weather conditions but decided to continue. While approaching the Carlisle area, the twin engine aircraft went through a low pressure zone with heavy rain falls, turbulences and thunderstorm activity when the aircraft was struck by lightning. All instruments became unusable and the crew elected to locate RAF Crosby without success. Eventually, the captain decided to attempt an emergency landing in a field. The airplane belly landed and came to rest, damaged beyond repair. Both pilots were uninjured.

The crew (269th Squadron) was engaged in a training sortie. During the takeoff run, the pilot-in-command started the rotation but the aircraft did not respond. The captain decided to abandon the takeoff procedure and started an emergency braking maneuver. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran and came to rest dozen yards farther. While all seven crew members were unhurt, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

While completing a training sortie, the crew encountered a double engine failure and attempted an emergency landing. The aircraft belly landed in a field located near Fenton and came to rest in a river. While both crew members were uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Four crewmen of the 230th Squadron lost their lives when the seaplane crashed while attempting to alight in Tveraa Fjord in the Faroe Island to pick up a critically ill British seaman and convey him to hospital in Scotland. It is believed that the flying boat was struck by a squall just as it touched the water, causing it to capsize and sink almost immediately.
Crew:
F/Lt J. R. Hill, †
F/O A. A. Howardson, †
Sgt A. S. Cronk, †
F/S E. Davies, †
S/L E. C. Bennett,
F/Lt J. S. M. Jones 1.

Shortly after takeoff from RAF Middle Wallop, an engine failed. The aircraft stalled and crash landed in a field located one mile west of the airfield. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and the pilot, sole on board, was unhurt.