Crash of a Blackburn B-26 Botha I near Bethesda: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 28, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L6202
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Hooton Park - Hooton Park
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While performing a training sortie from RAF Hooton Park, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located seven miles south of Bethesda. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (11th RS):
Sgt George Markham Heppinstall, pilot,
Sgt William Frearson, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Douglas Owen Hargreaves, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Wendelin Bernard Bettin, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Blackburn B-26 Botha I at RAF Silloth

Date & Time: Jun 25, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L6375
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Silloth - Silloth
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
An undercarriage collapsed while taxiing and the airplane was damaged beyond repair. There were no casualties.
Probable cause:
An undercarriage collapsed during taxi.

Crash of a Blackburn B-26 Botha I at RAF Morpeth: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 9, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L6441
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Morpeth - Morpeth
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
On final approach to RAF Morpeth, the airplane suffered an engine failed and crashed, bursting into flames. A crew as killed.
Crew:
P/O Maciej Stefan Zaleski-Slubicz, pilot.

Crash of a Blackburn B-26 Botha I at RAF Hooton Park: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 27, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L6290
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Hooton Park - Hooton Park
MSN:
7868/37
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
On final approach to RAF Hooton Park, while performing a local training exercise, the captain decided to initiate a go around procedure. He increased engine speed at full power when the airplane stalled and crashed 2 km from the airbase. All four crew members were critically injured. Few hours later, two of them died from injuries sustained.
Crew (11th RS):
F/Sgt Russell Charles Denny, †
Sgt J. T. R. Bazire, †
Sgt Austin,
Sgt F. J. Spillane.
Probable cause:
An engine failed during the go around procedure.

Crash of a Blackburn B-26 Botha I at RAF Mona

Date & Time: May 17, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L6419
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Mona - Mona
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 flight at RAF Mona. On final approach, the airplane struck a boulder and crash landed. It was damaged beyond repair and all four crew members escaped unhurt.

Crash of a Blackburn B-26 Botha I at RAF Mona

Date & Time: May 14, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L6373
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Mona - Mona
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 exercise at RAF Mona. On final approach, the airplane collided with a RAF Avro 652 Anson registered LT528 that was overshooting. Both airplane crashed and were damaged beyond repair. There were no fatalities.

Crash of a Blackburn B-26 Botha I near Rothbury: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 10, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L6531
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Morpeth - Morpeth
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Morpeth on a navigation training exercise. While flying in low visibility due to heavy snow falls, the airplane impacted the slope of hilly terrain located in the Cheviot Hills, Hazeltonrig, north of Rothbury. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (4th AGS):
Cpl Stefan Zawalinski, pilot,
Lac Harold Carter, air gunner,
Lac Kenneth Bradley, air gunner,
Lac Donald Campbell, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Blackburn B-26 Botha I at RAF Hooton Park

Date & Time: Apr 27, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L6172
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Hooton Park - Hooton Park
MSN:
7864/19
YOM:
1940
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 flight at RAF Hooton Park. On approach, the airplane suffered an engine failure and crashed. All four crew members were rescued.
Probable cause:
Engine failure on approach.

Crash of a Blackburn B-26 Botha I at RAF Evanton

Date & Time: Apr 16, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L6284
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Evanton - Evanton
MSN:
7868/31
YOM:
1941
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 flight at RAF Evanton. Upon takeoff, the airplane collided with a bank, causing a wheel to detach. On return to the airfield, the airplane crash landed and was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Blackburn B-26 Botha I at RAF Hooton Park

Date & Time: Apr 14, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L6266
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Hooton Park - Hooton Park
MSN:
7868/13
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Hooton Park on a cross country navigation exercise. En route, one of the engine failed, forcing the crew to return to base. The approach was tricky and the aircraft landed too far down the runway. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, it overran, lost its undercarriage and slid for few dozen metres before coming to rest. While all four crew members escaped unhurt, the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.