Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

N5220

Flight Phase:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Detling - Detling

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Circumstances:

While on a maritime patrol flight over the North Sea, the twin engine aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a He.111 and crashed in Pernis, in the suburb of Rotterdam. Three crewmen were killed while the fourth occupant was injured and became PoW.
Crew (500th Squadron):
P/O Arthur Wilfred Alexander Whitehead, †
P/O Anthony Ronald Mathias, †
Sgt H. W. J. Smith,
AC1 William Charles Hubbard. †

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I at RAF Detling: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 10, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Operator:

Registration:

N5228

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Site:

Schedule:

Detling - Detling

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The airplane was engaged in a maritime patrol flight out from RAF Detling. Shortly after takeoff, it stalled and crashed, bursting into flames. Four crew members were killed and a fifth was injured.
Crew:
Sgt James Wilson, pilot, †
Sgt William George Shier, observer, †
Sgt Leo Frederick James O'Kelly, wireless operator, †
Sgt Horace George Worton, air gunner, †
LAC James Wilson.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I at RAF Silloth

Date & Time: Jul 10, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

K8818

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

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Following a wrong approach configuration, the crew landed on a closed runway portion. The twin engine aircraft hit several obstacles, lost its undercarriage and came to rest. While the crew was unhurt, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Wrong approach configuration and poor flight preparation on part of the crew.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I near Llanwrthwl: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 9, 1940 at 2330 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N5019

Flight Phase:

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While flying at night in poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft impacted the slope of Mt Y Gamrhiw located near Llanwrthwl, Wales. Four occupants were killed while a passenger was injured.
Crew (15th OTU):
AC2 Thomas Colvin Watson, pilot, †
Sgt Christopher Joseph Dent, observer, †
Sgt Arthur Williams, wireless operator, †
Sgt Hugh Hannan, wireless operator and air gunner, †
Sgt A. C. Smith.

Probable cause:

The board of inquiry determined that the cause of the accident was attributed to a navigation error following wrong information transmitted by ground observer.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I into the North Sea: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 28, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N5226

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Detling - Detling

Location:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Detling and crashed in unknown circumstances into the North Sea. No trace was ever found.
Crew:
P/O Ian F. Lothian,
P/O Alan Swainston,
Sgt John P. Morgan,
Sgt John W. T. Alderslade.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Prestwick: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 21, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

K6272

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Saint Athan – Prestwick

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On approach to Prestwick Airport, the twin engine aircraft stalled and crashed few hundred yards short of runway. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt William Rowan Speir, pilot,
Sgt Charles Bernard Hazel, pilot,
Sgt Irving Alfred Haig Gliddon, navigator,
Sgt James Percy Ross, wireless operator.

Probable cause:

Low speed on approach caused the aircraft to stall.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Guisborough: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 16, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N5067

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

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Schedule:

Thornaby - Thornaby

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While on a connection flight, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. The pilot did not realize he was flying too low when the aircraft hit telephone wires, stalled and crashed onto a hill, bursting into flames. All crew were seriously injured and the captain died three days later from injuries sustained.
Crew (608th Squadron):
Sgt Leslie Bertram Walpole, †
P/O B. Duncan,
Sgt O. Shepherd,
AC1 George Edward Lumley.

Probable cause:

Poor judgment on part of the crew.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Stoney Lake

Date & Time: Jun 14, 1940 at 0810 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

6057

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Camp Borden - Camp Borden

Location:

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Circumstances:

After departing RCAF Camp Borden on an advanced training - practice instrument flying exercise, the pilot continued to Stoney Lake. He descended too low over the water, causing the airplane to impact the water surface and to crash. Both occupants escaped uninjured.
Crew:
Sgt C. F. K. Mews, pilot.
Passenger:
Sgt W. A. Winder.

Probable cause:

Error in judgment on part of the pilot coming to close to surface of water before trying to level off. Low flying on the part of the pilot over Stoney Lake, when not authorized to do so.

Final Report:

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I into the North Sea: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 13, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N5225

Flight Phase: