Crash of a Blackburn B-26 Botha I off Girvan: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 19, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L6418
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Prestwick - Prestwick
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
En route, an engine failed, forcing the crew to ditch the aircraft off Girvan. The radio operator sunk with the aircraft and drowned. All three other occupants took refuge in a dinghy and were rescued three hours later.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Blackburn B-26 Botha I off Balintore

Date & Time: Mar 30, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L6384
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While engaged in a training flight, the airplane suffered an engine failure and crashed into the sea off Balintore. All crew members were rescued.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Blackburn B-26 Botha I in Port Erin: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L6314
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Squires Gate - Squires Gate
MSN:
7870/11
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Squires Gate on a training exercise. While cruising in low visibility, it impacted a cliff located near the bay of Port Erin. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (3rd SGR):
F/Sgt Leonard Charles Storey, pilot,
Sgt Bernardus Maria,
P/O Leonard Dobson,
AC2 William James Sydney J. Heap, wireless operator,
P/O John Albert Williams, wireless operator.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Blackburn B-26 Botha I in Luce Bay: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 11, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L6396
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
For unknown reasons, the crew lost control of the airplane that crashed on sand dunes located in Luce Bay, northwest of Port William. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (4th AOS):
Sgt John K. Westwater, pilot,
F/Sgt Norman Collins-Campbell, observer,
Cpl James Craig,
LAC Sealand D. Jones.

Crash of a Blackburn B-26 Botha I on Mt Cairnsmore of Fleet: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 2, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L6539
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
In unclear circumstances, the airplane impacted the slope of Mt Cairnsmore of Fleet and crashed. A crew member was killed and three others were injured.
Crew:
LAC Douglas James Thom, wireless operator, †
Sgt A. Dixon,
LAC R. C. Phillips,
LAC D. J. Ross.

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

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L6211
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Turnberry - Turnberry
MSN:
7866/8
YOM:
1940
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training exercise at RAF Turnberry on behalf of the 3rd Radio School. On final approach, the pilot-in-command initiated a go around procedure when one of the engine failed. The airplane stalled and crashed, bursting into flames. Three crew members were injured and a fourth was killed. The next day, one of the survivors died from injuries sustained.
Crew:
Sgt William Tyndall Sheppard, †
Sgt Esmond Elliott Browne, †
Sgt T. F. Mayho,
Sgt C. Balmain.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Blackburn B-26 Botha I in New Brighton

Date & Time: Feb 7, 1942 at 1920 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L6249
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
North Coates - Squires Gate
MSN:
7866/46
YOM:
1940
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane was on a reconnaissance flight from RAF North Coates to RAF Squires Gate. After passing Liverpool, while flying over the Mersey River, it collided with the cable of a barrage balloon and crash landed in New Brighton. Both crew members were injured.
Crew:
F/O Jackson-Smith,
P/O Griffin.
Probable cause:
Collision with the cable of a barrage balloon.

Crash of a Blackburn B-26 Botha into the Irish Sea: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L6213
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
7866/10
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane failed to return to base following a maritime patrol flight over the Codling Bank and is believed to have crashed somewhere in the Irish Sea. Lost without trace.
Crew:
W/O W. J. Jewell,
F/O M. Prusek,
F/O S. Gruszecki,
AC1 J. W. March.

Crash of a Blackburn B-26 Botha I in Bridge of Dumfries

Date & Time: Jan 6, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L6466
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane suffered an engine failure and crash landed in Bridge of Dumfries. Upon touchdown, it lost its undercarriage and came to rest. There were no injuries among the crew.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Blackburn B-26 Botha I on Mt Bleaklow: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 10, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
W5103
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Sherburn-in-Elmet – Hawarden
MSN:
3241/39
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
En route from Sherburn-in-Elmet to Hawarden, while flying over the Peak District National Park, the twin engine airplane impacted the slope of Mt Bleaklow located east of Manchester. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Crew (6th FPP):
F/O Thomas William Rogers.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined. However, it is believed that it was the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain as the pilot was attempting to establish a visual contact with the ground while flying in clouds.