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West Sussex

Crash of a Vickers 619 Wellington X in RAF Tangmere

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 619 Wellington X
Operator:
Registration:
PF988
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Tangmere AFB
West Sussex
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a training flight over The Channel. While flying off the Channel Islands, the crew informed ground about an engine fire. The captain decided to divert to RAF Tangmere for an emergency landing. On final approach, he was unable to lower the gear so the aircraft belly landed, slid for several yards and came to rest in flames. While all three occupants were uninjured, the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Engine fire.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster B.1 off Selsey: 7 killed

Date & Time: Nov 3, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Avro 683 Lancaster
Operator:
Registration:
TW908
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Upwood - Upwood
Location:
Selsey
West Sussex
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a night training exercice called 'Bullseye', consisting of an in flight interception of a RAF Mosquito. While flying by night over The Channel, both aircraft collided and crashed into the sea about 8 miles south of Selsey. All seven crew members were killed as well as both pilots on board the Mosquito registered RL116.
Crew (148th Squadron):
F/O Jack Oldham, pilot
Donald McUsbie McCall, navigator,
William Meldrum, navigator,
Lyndon Harold Stevens, flight engineer,
Eric George Clarke, signaler,
Sydney Arthur Mason, gunner,
Cyril James Chapman, gunner.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-CO Liberator in London-Gatwick

Date & Time: Oct 15, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
FL966
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
150
YOM:
1941
Location:
London-Gatwick
West Sussex
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The nose gear collapsed on landing. The aircraft skidded on runway and came to rest. There were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Nose gear collapse.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DL near RAF Tangmere: 7 killed

Date & Time: Feb 11, 1945 at 1130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-16394
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Paris-Le Bourget - Tangmere
MSN:
20860
YOM:
1944
Location:
Tangmere AFB
West Sussex
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Captain / Total flying hours:
79
Captain / Total hours on type:
79.00
Circumstances:
While flying at a too low altitude in poor weather conditions (rain and low clouds), the aircraft hit the slope of a hill located 5 miles northeast of RAF Tangmere. All seven occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was fixed to 100 yards.
Crew (27th Air Transport Group):
1st Richard Lee Pogue, pilot,
2nd Lt Robert G. Robinson, copilot,
Cpl Jerome T. Smith, radio operator,
S/Sgt Victor C. Corson, flight engineer,
Sgt Robert S. Norris, flight engineer.
Passengers:
2nd Lt Craig C. Moore,
Sgt Carl G. Clayton.
Probable cause:
The investigation shows that the aircraft was too low while under instrument conditions to clear the hills in the area. It is believed that the pilot had let down over The Channel to a few hundred feet but did not break out and did not know that he crossed the southern coast of England.
Final Report:

Crash of a Consolidated B-24H-20-FO Liberator in Arundel: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 22, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
42-94825
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1590
Location:
Arundel
West Sussex
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
En route, the crew encountered unknown technical problems. Seven crew members decided to bail out while three others tried to maintain the control of the aircraft in an attempt to make an emergency landing. The aircraft eventually hit tree tops and crashed in a field. All three crew members were killed.

Crash of a North American B-25D-20 Mitchell in Horsham: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 8, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
North American B-25 Mitchell
Operator:
Registration:
FR182
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Morley - Morley
MSN:
87-8889
Location:
Horsham
West Sussex
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The aircraft left RAF Morley on a bombing mission to France with another B-25 Mitchell registered FR150. En route, while cruising over Sussex, both aircraft collided and crashed in Horsham. All eight occupants in both aircraft were killed.

Crash of a North American B-25C-10 Mitchell in Horsham: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 8, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
North American B-25 Mitchell
Operator:
Registration:
FR150
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Morley - Morley
MSN:
94-12692
Location:
Horsham
West Sussex
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The aircraft left RAF Morley on a bombing mission to France with another B-25 Mitchell registered FR182. En route, while cruising over Sussex, both aircraft collided and crashed in Horsham. All eight occupants in both aircraft were killed.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-CO Liberator III in RAF Thorney Island

Date & Time: Jan 12, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
LV346
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Thorney Island - Thorney Island
MSN:
48
YOM:
1941
Location:
Thorney Island AFB
West Sussex
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to RAF Thorney Island, one (maybe two) engine lost power. The aircraft stalled and crashed short of runway. While all three crew members were slightly injured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Crew (86th Squadron):
Sgt John Murray,
P/O Ronald Harwood,
P/O Alfred W. Dungate.
Probable cause:
Loss of power on one or two engine on final approach.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7B Boston III at RAF Thorney Island

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
W8388
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Great Massingham - Great Massingham
Location:
Thorney Island AFB
West Sussex
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Great Massingham at 1440LT on an operation to Le Havre. Hit by the German Flak over the target area, it subsequently crashed upon landing after it diverted to RAF Thorney Island. All three crew members were uninjured.
Crew:
Sgt Barker, pilot,
F/Sgt Attwood, observer,
Sgt Hastings, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Attacked by the German Flak.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7 Boston III at RAF Tangmere: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
AL268
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Attlebridge - Attlebridge
Location:
Tangmere AFB
West Sussex
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Attlebridge at 1431LT on an operation to Le Havre. While returning to base, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and two crew members bailed out over The Channel. The airplane then crashed upon landing at RAF Tangmere. The pilot was injured and the bodies of both other occupants were never recovered.
Crew:
Sgt W. D. Wren, pilot,
Sgt Thomas William Elliott,
Sgt William Venn Frame.
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