Country
United Kingdom
code

Norfolk

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

Date & Time: Feb 11, 1938
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
K7119
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Hemswell - Hemswell
MSN:
8072
YOM:
1937
Location:
Oulton AFB
Norfolk
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 training mission out from RAF Hemswell. While cruising in heavy snow falls, the pilot lost control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed near RAF Oulton. All three occupants were killed.
Crew:
P/O Lawrence Clement Mitchell,
Cpl George Henderson,
AC1 Clifford Alfred Smith.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I at RAF Bircham Newton

Date & Time: Oct 26, 1937
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
K6205
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bircham Newton - Bircham Newton
Location:
Bircham Newton AFB
Norfolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training flight out from RAF Bircham Newton. On final approach, the pilot failed to realize he was flying too low. The twin engine aircraft hit the ground and came to rest short of runway. Both occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed. Crew from the 220th Squadron.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60M Moth in Norfolk

Date & Time: Sep 2, 1937
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Registration:
G-ABRF
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Norwich - Norwich
MSN:
1794
YOM:
1930
Location:
Norwich
Norfolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed shortly after takeoff from Norwich Airport. Both occupants were injured.

Crash of a Fairey Hendon at RAF Marham

Date & Time: May 26, 1937
Type of aircraft:
Fairey Hendon
Operator:
Registration:
K5091
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Marham - Marham
Location:
Marham AFB
Norfolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed upon landing for unknown reasons. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.54 Harrow I at RAF Methwold: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 29, 1937
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.54 Harrow
Operator:
Registration:
K6945
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Demonstration
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Methwold - Methwold
Location:
Methwold AFB
Norfolk
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 performing a local demonstration flight out from RAF Methwold in formation with another H.P.54 registered K6950. While flying in the vicinity of the airbase, while making a turn, both aircraft collided and crashed, bursting into flames. All five crew members in both aircraft were killed.
Crew:
F/O John Joseph McCarthy,
AC1 Thomas Garside,
AC1 John George Simpson.
Probable cause:
Poor judgement on part of each crew.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.54 Harrow I at RAF Methwold: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 29, 1937
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.54 Harrow
Operator:
Registration:
K6950
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Demonstration
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Methwold - Methwold
Location:
Methwold AFB
Norfolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local demonstration flight out from RAF Methwold in formation with another H.P.54 registered K6945. While cruising in the vicinity of the airbase, while making a turn, both aircraft collided and crashed, bursting into flames. All five crew members on both aircraft were killed.
Crew:
P/O Wilfred Lawrence Warner,
Sgt James Murray MacDonald.
Probable cause:
Poor judgement on part of each crew.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I at RAF Bircham Newton: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 9, 1936
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
K6199
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bircham Newton - Bircham Newton
Location:
Bircham Newton AFB
Norfolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from RAF Bircham Newton, while climbing, the twin engine aircraft stalled and crashed near the runway end. A crew member was killed while both other occupants were injured.
Crew:
P/O Peter White, pilot, †
S/L William Michael M. Hurley, pilot,
AC1 Reginald Kenneth Birtwistle.
Probable cause:
The takeoff procedure was completed with the control systems locked. Modifications to locking bars were recommended by the Court of inquiry following this accident.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth off Hunstanton

Date & Time: May 26, 1932
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth
Operator:
Eastern Air Transport (UK)
Registration:
G-AAXL
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Skegness – Hunstanton
MSN:
2010
YOM:
1930
Location:
Hunstanton
Norfolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While approaching Hunstanton on a taxi flight from Skegness, the pilot encountered engine problems. He attempted an emergency landing on a sand bar located about 8 km from Hunstanton. Both occupants escaped uninjured and later set the wreckage on fire to attract rescuers. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were rescued by the crew of the fishing boat named 'Lizzie Annie'.
Probable cause:
Engine failure caused by a connecting rod malfunction.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60X Moth in Mousehold Heath: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 19, 1932
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Registration:
G-EBZW
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Norwich - Norwich
MSN:
687
YOM:
1928
Location:
Norwich
Norfolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot Henry C. Wright was performing a private solo flight in the region of Norwich. In unknown circumstances, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in Mousehold Heath, in the suburb of Norwich. The pilot was killed.

Crash of an Avro 504N in East Winch: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 14, 1932 at 1300 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 504
Operator:
Registration:
K2352
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Digby – Marham – Bircham Newton
MSN:
K2352
Location:
East Winch
Norfolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot was performing his first solo flight from RAF Digby to RAF Bircham Newton with an intermediate stop at RAF Marham. Aircraft left RAF Digby at 1145LT bound for RAF Marham. On approach to Marham, at a height of 200-300 feet, he lost control of the aircraft that crashed in flames in a field. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and postcrash fire and the pilot was killed. The pilot A. J. Warford-Mein was a 23 years old Australian pupil who arrives at RAF Digby last January. He was fully competent, and the flight was authorized by the chief flying instructor, in addition to the pupil’s own instructor.
Probable cause:
Leslie Ruskin, a team man, employed at Home Farm, East Winch, which adjoins Station Farm, said that about 1.30 on Thursday afternoon, he and another man were working in a meadow when they saw an aeroplane hovering over a field nearby. It circled three times as if looking for a landing place. It turned towards Ashwicken and then came round into the wind and dropped suddenly in a nose dive. They ran towards it and saw it crash. He thought the machine was 200 or 300 feet up when it crashed. It was blazing when they got to it, and almost burnt up. They heard the sound of an explosion. The pilot’s body was in the middle of the flames and there was no sign of life at all. They had to wait until the flames died down before they could get the body out. He had noticed nothing wrong with the machine before it crashed, only that the pilot was looking for a landing. A very strong wind was blowing at this time and it had started to rain.
Final Report:
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