Country
code

West Sussex

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I off Bracklesham Bay: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 24, 1940 at 1645 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
T1804
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Thorney Island - Thorney Island
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane was completing a local training exercice out from RAF Thorney Island when it was mistakenly shot down by the pilot of a Hurricane. It crashed into the sea off Bracklesham Bay, killing bot crew members.
Crew:
P/O David Noel Woodger,
Sgt Daniel Leslie Wright.
Probable cause:
Mistakenly shot down by a British fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I at RAF Thorney Island

Date & Time: Aug 24, 1940 at 1640 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
Z5736
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Thorney Island - Thorney Island
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane was completing a local training exercice out from RAF Thorney Island when it was mistakenly shot down by the pilot of a Hurricane. It crashed upon landing at RAF Thorney Island and was damaged beyond repair. Both crew escaped unhurt.
Crew:
Sgt K. E. Naish,
Sgt Owen.
Probable cause:
Mistakenly shot down by a British fighter.

Crash of a Heinkel He.111P in High Salvington: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 16, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G1+FR
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
MSN:
1582
YOM:
1936
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane was shot down by the pilot of an RAF Spitfire and crashed in Honeysuckle Lake in High Salvington, north of Worthing. Three crew members became PoW while two others, Albert Weber and Johannes Moorfeld, were killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a British fighter.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I off RAF Thorney Island

Date & Time: Jun 4, 1940 at 0010 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L7047
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Thorney Island - Thorney Island
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While returning to RAF Thorney Island following a maritime patrol flight over the North Sea, the aircraft went out of control on final approach and plunged into the sea, few hundred yards offshore. All four crew members were rescued while the aircraft sank and was lost.
Crew (48th Squadron):
P/O Carson C. Proby,
P/O B. A. P. Williams,
LAC W. McIlvenney,
LAC A. V. Wallace.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the pilot was blinded by searchlight on approach, causing the airplane to crash into the sea.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in West Wittering

Date & Time: Feb 7, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
K6224
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While on a territorial surveillance mission along the south coast, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. The pilot decided to reduce his altitude and to attempt an emergency landing in a field when the aircraft hit the ground and crashed. All four crew members were injured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. Crew from the 48th Squadron.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I at RAF Tangmere: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 15, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L1127
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Tangmere - Tangmere
MSN:
8410
YOM:
1938
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training mission at RAF Tangmere. On final approach in poor weather conditions, the pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed in a field. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O John Monroe-Hinds, pilot,
P/O Hugh Kendrick Arthur Drummond,
P/O Martin Victor Dugdale.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I off Selsey

Date & Time: Oct 20, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
K8790
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During a night training exercise, while flying along the West Sussex coast, both engines failed. The crew ditched the aircraft into The Channel, off Sisley. Both pilots were quickly rescued while the aircraft sank and was lost.
Probable cause:
Dual engine failure caused by a fuel exhaustion.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I off RAF Thorney Island

Date & Time: Sep 4, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
K8704
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Thorney Island - Thorney Island
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training exercise on behalf of the 48th Squadron. On final approach in foggy conditions, the aircraft was too low and the pilot initiated a go around when an engine failed. The aircraft stalled, impacted the runway surface, overshot and finally crashed into the Emsworth Channel. The twin engine aircraft sank rapidly. All four crew members were rescued, two were injured.
Crew:
Sgt R. E. Williams, pilot,
Sgt F. Burton, copilot,
LAC J. Meek,
AC1 D. Hider.
Probable cause:
Engine failure while initiating a go around.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60G Moth off Shoreham: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 27, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-ABBW
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Shoreham - Shoreham
MSN:
1277
YOM:
1930
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, departed Shoreham on a local private flight. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing, the airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea off Shoreham. The pilot was seriously injured but he died the following day due to injuries sustained.

Crash of a Supermarine Walrus I off Littlehampton: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 2, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L2173
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Ford - Ford
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The float plane stalled and crashed into The Channel some 7 km off Littlehampton. Two crew members were killed and the third occupant was injured.
Crew:
S/Lt Jack Robertson, †
MSM Hugh Lawley Charteris, †
P/O Antonio Simmons Dini.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined.