Country
United Kingdom
code

Fife

Crash of a Vickers 474 Warwick V in RAF Leuchars: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 16, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 474 Warwick V
Operator:
Registration:
PN749
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Leuchars - Leuchars
Location:
Leuchars AFB
Fife
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training mission. While completing an umpteenth approach, the aircraft banked left, dove into the ground and crashed in a huge explosion on a road leading to the airport. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all five crew members were killed.
Crew (6th OTU):
F/Sgt N. F. Bates, pilot,
W/O J. A. Willmott, pilot,
F/Sgt S. V. Titchener, navigator,
F/Sgt G. R. Green, wireless operator,
W/O J. P. Magee, wireless operator.
Probable cause:
The loss of control on approach was attributed to the failure of the left engine.

Crash of a Lockheed 18-56 LodeStar off RAF Leuchars: 10 killed

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1943 at 2245 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 18 LodeStar
Operator:
Registration:
G-AGDE
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Stockholm - Leuchars
MSN:
2086
YOM:
1941
Location:
Leuchars AFB
Fife
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Stockholm-Bromma Airport, the twin engine aircraft was descending to RAF Leuchars in marginal weather and icing conditions. By night, while cruising at a height of 6,000 feet, the aircraft went out of control and dove into the sea some 24 km off the Airbase. SAR operations were quickly deployed on site but no trace of the aircraft nor the 10 occupants was found.
Probable cause:
Control was lost on approach to RAF Leuchars due to excessive ice accumulation on wings surface and fuselage while the aircraft was flying in icing conditions.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.86 Express near RAF Donibristle: 7 killed

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1943 at 1521 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.86 Express
Operator:
Registration:
AX844
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
2322
YOM:
1934
Location:
Donibristle AFB
Fife
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
In unknown circumstances, the four-engine aircraft crashed in a field near the RAF Donibristle. A passenger was seriously injured while seven other occupants were killed.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I at RAF Leuchars: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 11, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden
Operator:
Registration:
AN166
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Leuchars - Leuchars
Location:
Leuchars AFB
Fife
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Leuchars on an operation along the Norwegian coast. Shortly after takeoff, it went out of control and crashed near the airbase. A crew was killed.
Crew:
Sgt S. A. Vincent, pilot,
F/Sgt A. L. W. Watt, navigator,
Sgt K. C. Applekemp, wireless operator,
Sgt Douglas Thorne Martin, air gunner. †

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I at RNAS Crail: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 19, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden
Operator:
Registration:
P2145
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Swinderby - Crail
Location:
Crail RNAS (HMS Jackdaw)
Fife
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane suffered an engine failure and crashed while landing at RNAS Crail (HMS Jackdow), Fife. The pilot was killed and the wireless operator was injured.
Crew:
Sgt Robert Douglas Wells, pilot,
Sgt Dawborn, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I near RAF Leuchars: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 16, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
V5765
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Leuchars - Leuchars
Location:
Leuchars AFB
Fife
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a target practice exercise at the Tentsmuir Range near RAF Leuchars when the airplane crashed for unknown reasons. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt James Irvine Mair, pilot,
Ac1 William Frederick Dunbar, mechanic,
F/Sgt Douglas William Campbell, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I at RAF Leuchars

Date & Time: Jun 8, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden
Operator:
Registration:
AT137
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Leuchars AFB
Fife
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances at RAF Leuchars and was destroyed. There were no casualties.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60M Moth at RAF Donibristle

Date & Time: Oct 20, 1941
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Registration:
W9368
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1600
YOM:
1930
Location:
Donibristle AFB
Fife
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane crashed upon takeoff from RAF Donibristle for unknown reasons. The pilot escaped uninjured.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson near Dunino: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 10, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
N7396
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Leuchars - Leuchars
MSN:
414-1795
YOM:
1940
Location:
Dunino
Fife
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from RAF Leuchars, while cruising at low height, the twin engine airplane impacted a hill and crashed 5 km west of Dunino, south of Saint Andrews. The airplane was destroyed and both crewmen were killed. The crew consisted of an instructor and a pilot under training.
Crew:
Sgt WILLEM Hijkoop, instructor,
Sgt Anton Marie Ten Herkel, student pilot.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Junkers JU.88A-5 off Crail: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 6, 1941 at 0151 LT
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.88
Operator:
Registration:
F6+DK
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
0332
Location:
Crail
Fife
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The bomber was approaching the British coast when it was shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the sea northeast of Crail. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Ofw K. Fischer, pilot,
Oblt H. Stefan, observer,
Uffz H. J. Nattkemper, radio operator,
Uffz A. Dietel, mechanic.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.
Subscribe to Fife