Halland | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The airplane departed RAF Hemswell on an operation to Kiel. It was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in Helsingborg, some 250 km northeast of Kiel. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Raymond Patrick Earl, pilot,
P/O William Duncan Hermon, pilot,
Sgt Donald Sinclair, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt James Clough Williams, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Fairey IIID off Halmstad

Date & Time: Jun 17, 1925

Type of aircraft:

Fairey III

Operator:

Registration:

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Karlskrona - Göteborg

MSN:

F5442

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On a flight from Karlskrona to Göteborg, the crew encountered strong and unfavorable winds. On approach to Halmstad, the fuel reserve was insufficient and the crew decided to make an emergency landing in the Laholm Bay, off Halmstad. In strong winds, the landing was missed and the aircraft crashed and sank. While both crew members evacuated safely, the aircraft was lost.

Probable cause:

Fuel starvation and ditching in unfavorable winds.