Crash of a Boeing B-50D-115-BO Superfortress in RAF Mildenhall

Date & Time: Oct 10, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
49-0318
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Mildenhall - Mildenhall
MSN:
16094
YOM:
1949
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training mission at RAF Mildenhall. After an engine failed and caught fire in flight, the captain Robert C. Reagle decided to return to Mildenhall for an emergency landing when the left wing dropped on touchdown. The underwing tank burst into flames when striking the ground and the aircraft went off runway before coming to rest in flames. All crew members were uninjured while the aircraft was partially destroyed by fire.

Crash of a Boeing B-29-65-BW Superfortress in RAF Lakenheath

Date & Time: Jun 16, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-69861
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
10693
YOM:
1944
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing. No casualties.

Crash of an Avro 694 Lincoln B.2 in RAF Mildenhall

Date & Time: Sep 29, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
SX990
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Mildenhall - Mildenhall
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew (35th Squadron) was performing a local training sortie in RAF Mildenhall. While approaching by night, the four engine aircraft was too low and crashed in a field located 5 miles from runway 11 threshold. All four crew members were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I in RAF Mildenhall

Date & Time: May 26, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PA383
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Belly landed and damaged beyond repair. No casualties.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I in RAF Shepherds Grove

Date & Time: Feb 14, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PA410
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following the failure of two engines, the aircraft belly landed at RAF Shepherds Grove and came to rest in flames. While all crew members of the 149th Squadron escaped unhurt, the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII in Lawshall: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 23, 1946
Operator:
Registration:
PP232
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While completing a training sortie at low height, the pilot lost control of the aircraft that crashed in a huge explosion in a field. All three crew members were killed.
Crew (304th Squadron):
F/Lt Dabrowski,
F/Lt Matylis,
F/Sgt Michalak.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by a pilot error.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I in RAF Mildenhall

Date & Time: Jul 17, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PB748
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Mildenhall - Mildenhall
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On touchdown, an undercarriage collapsed, causing the aircraft to slid on the runway. All five crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Undercarriage collapsed on landing.

Crash of an Avro 685 York I in RAF Stradishall

Date & Time: May 28, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
MW250
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
MW250
YOM:
1946
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown, the crew started to brake but the aircraft failed to stop, overran, lost its undercarriage and skidded for 100 yards before coming to rest in a ditch. All five crew members from the 51st Squadron were slightly injured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance due to a failure of the braking systems. It was determined that the failure of the braking systems was caused by an incorrect assembly on part of the RAF technicians.

Crash of an Avro 685 York I in RAF Woodbridge: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 11, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
MW252
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Woodbridge - Woodbridge
MSN:
MW252
YOM:
1946
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training mission at RAF Woodbridge on behalf of the 51st Squadron. The final approach was completed with one inoperative engine and for unknown reason, the aircraft landed hard. The captain then decided to make a go around but the aircraft went out of control, swerved on runway and eventually lost its undercarriage and came to rest in flames. Five crewmen were injured while the sixth occupant, F/Lt George Edward Brooks, was killed.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando off Orford: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 4, 1945 at 2005 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-77654
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Achiet - Folkingham
MSN:
33050
YOM:
1944
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was returning to his base in RAF Folkingham after he delivered a glider at Achiet-B54 AFB, Pas-de-Calais. Approaching the London area, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and low visibility. At 1925LT, the radio operator informed ground that he was lost and, while cruising at an altitude of 10,000 feet, was unable to locate the aerodromes of Hawkinge, Lympne or Detling. Thus, the crew decided to leave the area and continued to the east to reach an airport out of the London area. While approaching Ipswich, the aircraft was mistakenly shot down by a British antiaircraft battery and crashed into the sea few hundred yards off Orford. All four crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Mistakenly shot down by a British antiaircraft battery while overflying a prohibited area.