Cumbria

Operator:

Registration:

N7308

Flight Phase:

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Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Silloth - Silloth

MSN:

414-1704

YOM:

1940

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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 Avro 652 Anson I near Caldbeck: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 1, 1943 at 1930 LT

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Registration:

W2629

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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

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Registration:

AX145

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Wigtown - Wigtown

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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 a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I near RAF Silloth: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 30, 1942 at 2355 LT

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

N7207

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Silloth - Silloth

MSN:

414-1603

YOM:

1940

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On final approach to RAF Silloth by night, the twin engine aircraft crashed in Abbeytown, 3 miles southeast of the airbase. All four crew members were killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was poor due to the night.
Crew (1st OTU):
Sgt J. Fisher, pilot,
Sgt Ronald Creighton, observer 2.

Probable cause:

Loss of control on approach caused by the inexperience of the pilot in flying on non-moon lit night.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson V near Martindale: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 10, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

AM680

Flight Phase:

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Lockheed 12 Electra Junior

Schedule:

Silloth - Silloth

MSN:

414-2762

YOM:

1941

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The twin engine aircraft left RAF Silloth at 0050LT on a night navigation exercise. At 0114LT, the crew informed ground by radio he would call later, this was the last recorded message. The wreckage was found at the end of the afternoon of November 11, on the western slope of Mt Beda Head, south of Martindale. All four crew members were killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was poor due to the night and the bad weather conditions.
Crew (1st OTU):
F/Sgt John Frederick Saunders, pilot,
F/O Derric Isaac Jones, navigator,
Sgt Stanley Alfred Veasey, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Harold Dickinson, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Lockheed 12 Electra Junior on Mt Low Water Tarn: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 14, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

LA622

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Ferry

Survivors:

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Schedule:

Ayr – Hendon

MSN:

1277

YOM:

1942

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En route to Hendon, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of Mt Low Water Tarn located near Coniston, Cumbria. All three occupants were killed, two pilots from the American manufacturer Lockheed and an Inspector of the Royal Air Force.
Crew:
George Werner Bransom, pilot.
Osbourne R. Keith, pilot.
Passenger:
F/O George Bevil Grenfell.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson on Mt Green Gable: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 1, 1942

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Registration:

DJ410

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West Freugh - West Freugh

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The crew was engaged in a night training exercise from RAF West Freugh. En route, while cruising in poor visibility due to the night and cloud, the pilot did not realize he was off course when the aircraft hit the slope of Mt Green Gable located southeast of Buttermere. The pilot was killed instantly while all four other occupants were wounded and walked away to find help. The aircraft was destroyed. Crew from the 4th AOS, pilot was W/O Frederick Orchard Cadham.

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

Date & Time: Sep 20, 1942

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Registration:

N4869

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During a night training exercise, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of Mt Muncaster Fell located some 3 km northeast of Ravenglass, Cumbria. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (2nd AFU):
F/Sgt T. W. Jupp, pilot,
LAC E. G. Goodall, navigator,
Cpl S. Elliot, navigator,
Sgt C. H. Kemp, wireless operator and air gunner,
LAC D. C. Lord, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I near Penrith: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 6, 1942 at 0030 LT

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Registration:

N7325

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