Northamptonshire

The pilot was carrying out a local flight with a friend. The weather was good (CAVOK), with a westerly wind of about 12 to 15 kt. The passenger occupied the front cockpit and the pilot the rear. The engine started normally and the aircraft departed, climbing to an altitude of 1,200 ft. The pilot carried out two medium banked turns and a gentle wingover manoeuvre before entering another steep turn to the left. When established in the turn, the engine stopped and the aircraft entered a spin to the left. The pilot recovered from the spin but, due to the limited height available, could only pull out of the dive and carry out a forced landing in an isolated grass area, amongst trees and other obstacles. In doing so, the aircraft struck a ridge and furrow, which destroyed the landing gear and much of the forward fuselage. A member of the public witnessed the accident and called the emergency services, who recovered both occupants from the wreckage. The pilot and his passenger had suffered serious injuries and were transferred to hospital. There was no fire.The aircraft had recently been re-weighed. During that process, the fuel tank had been drained and the same fuel was then used to refill the tank. After that, the aircraft had flown some five hours, during which it had been refuelled twice at a licensed aerodrome. The second refuel had taken place prior to positioning the aircraft back to the private site from which the accident flight departed. It was reported that the engine had been consistently reliable. No reason for the engine failure was identified. The pilot considered that he had avoided a serious head injury because he was wearing a protective helmet. Also, he commented that he had since had discussions with others in the historic aircraft community regarding energy absorbing foam in seat pans and its potential for reducing the level of back injuries in the event of an accident.

The pilot was in charge to deliver the aircraft from Sywell to Bristol. En route, one of the engine caught fire and the pilot reduced his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in a field and came to rest. While the pilot was uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

En route to RAF Northolt, the crew encountered technical problem with the right engine and was forced to shut it down and to feather its propeller. As the aircraft was unable to maintain the prescribed altitude, the crew decided to divert to Sywell. On final approach, the aircraft was misaligned and overflew the runway at low height before colliding with power cables. Out of control, it crashed in a field and came to rest. All 19 occupants were slightly injured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

While approach RAF Polebrook, the Boeing B-17 registered 43-38080 collided with a second USAAF Boeing B-17 registered 43-37595 and carrying a crew of 9 and that was approaching the same airfield. Both aircraft went out of control and crashed in a field located in Lutton, east of the airbase. All 19 crew members on both aircraft were killed.
Crew on board B-17 43-38080:
T/Sgt James S. Allman,
1st Lt Edward R. Ashton,
F/O George Y. Bowman,
Sgt John C. Connelly,
S/Sgt Bruce Shaffer Cook,
2nd Lt Donald A. Cornell,
S/Sgt John P. Folks Jr.,
2nd Lt John F. McNeill,
Sgt John Y. Nelson,
Sgt Harold R. Wieland.

Crew on board B-17 43-37595:
St Albert Bingham Cantrelle,
Sgt Emerald G. Cutting,
F/O Stanley L. Dietel,
Sgt Francis T. Leonard,
Sgt Philip M. Singleton,
F/O Robert Earle Sollers,
Sgt Joseph E. Ventress,
2nd Lt Reinhold W. Vergen,
S/Sgt Robert L. Wheatley.

While approach RAF Polebrook, the Boeing B-17 registered 43-37595 collided with a second USAAF Boeing B-17 registered 43-38080 and carrying a crew of 10 and that was approaching the same airfield. Both aircraft went out of control and crashed in a field located in Lutton, east of the airbase. All 19 crew members on both aircraft were killed.
Crew on board B-17 43-37595:
St Albert Bingham Cantrelle,
Sgt Emerald G. Cutting,
F/O Stanley L. Dietel,
Sgt Francis T. Leonard,
Sgt Philip M. Singleton,
F/O Robert Earle Sollers,
Sgt Joseph E. Ventress,
2nd Lt Reinhold W. Vergen,
S/Sgt Robert L. Wheatley.

Crew on board B-17 43-38080:
T/Sgt James S. Allman,
1st Lt Edward R. Ashton,
F/O George Y. Bowman,
Sgt John C. Connelly,
S/Sgt Bruce Shaffer Cook,
2nd Lt Donald A. Cornell,
S/Sgt John P. Folks Jr.,
2nd Lt John F. McNeill,
Sgt John Y. Nelson,
Sgt Harold R. Wieland.

While cruising in a snowstorm, the pilot encountered a double engine failure and was forced to attempt an emergency landing. While trying to land, the aircraft impacted trees and crashed in a wooded area. A crew member was killed while both other occupants were injured.
Crew:
F/Lt Norman Butler Worswick, pilot,
F/Sgt J. R. Payne,
F/O Frank Reid Miller. †

The crew was involved in a supply mission from RAF Snitterfield. En route, severe icing conditions forced the crew to abandon the aircraft that crashed in a field and was destroyed. Both crew members escaped uninjured.

The aircraft suffered a ground accident at RAF Podington while taxiing. No casualties.

The aircraft left RAF Westcott at 1235LT on a training mission on behalf of the 11th OTU. En route, a technical failure occurred and the right wing was on fire. Crew attempted to divert to Milton and crew tried to extinguish the fire without success. On approach, the aircraft dove into the ground and crashed near the church of Rothersthorpe. The aircraft christened 'Bertie' was totally wrecked and all six occupants were killed.
Crew (11th OTU):
Sgt Norman H. Hewett, pilot,
Sgt Colin J. Mowatt, navigator,
Sgt John A. Freeman, air bomber
P/O Donald McTeer, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Joseph R. Dowling, air gunner,
Sgt Ernest V. Waller, air gunner.

En route, the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing following an engine failure. The aircraft crash landed in a field in Loddington Hall. While all occupants escaped uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.