Blackpool

On the afternoon of Wednesday 27 August 1941 four 256 Squadron Defiants took off from Squires Gate to practice formation flying. Their flight commander (whose name is unrecorded) was recalled back to the aerodrome, and so he handed his flight over to his No. 2, a Sergeant Leonard (RAF). Just after 3.00 p.m. the three Defiants were flying over the sea, a little West of Blackpool Tower, at an altitude of about 2,000 feet and on a North Easterly heading. Some 500 feet below them, flying in a North Westerly direction, was one of 3 SGR's Bothas, L6509. Eyewitnesses on the ground saw the Defiants break formation and, one by one, dive towards the Botha as if making a mock attack and then level out afterwards. Two of the fighters completed the manoeuvre successfully, but as the third Defiant began its dive the Botha suddenly banked to the right and the pilot of the diving fighter, Defiant N1745, JT-P, struck the Botha amidships, cutting it in two and itself losing a wing. The now tail-less Botha stalled and immediately went into a spiral dive, its descent being watched by hundreds-possibly thousands-of shocked civilians and servicemen on Blackpool's seafront. Seconds later it crashed through the roof of the entrance hall of the Central Station, showering aviation fuel over the platforms below, which erupted into a massive conflagration. A huge cloud of thick black smoke quickly rose to a height of several hundred feet over the center of Blackpool. All three occupants of the Botha and both pilots on board the Defiant were killed. At the station, 8 people on the ground were killed while 6 others died the following days.
Botha's crew (3rd SGR):
P/O A. A. Horne, pilot,
P/O K. J. A. Sale, pilot.
Passenger:
Mr. Frank Longson.
Source & photos: http://laituk.org/Botha-Defiant.htm

While on an observation flight, the crew encountered unknown technical problems and was forced to attempt an emergency landing on a beach located in Bispham, north of Blackpool. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair while both crew members were uninjured.

Shortly after takeoff from Blackpool-Stanley Park Airport, while climbing, the three engine aircraft hit a hangar and crashed, bursting into flames. Both occupants were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Charles Frederick O’Connell, pilot.
Passenger:
Eileen A. Miller.

Upon landing at Douglas-Ronaldsway Airport, the twin engine aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and collided with a hangar. All eight occupants were slightly injured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

The three engine aircraft departed Blackpool-Squires Gate Airport for a local flight with four passengers and one pilot on board. While flying over the city of Blackpool, it collided with an Avro 504N registered G-ACOD. Operated by the National Aviation Displays , the second aircraft was carrying two passengers and a pilot. After the collision, the Avro 504 dove into the ground and crashed in Swainson Street, in Cedar Square, bursting into flames. The pilot of the Westland was able to make an emergency landing.

The single engine aircraft departed Stanley Park in Blackpool for a local flight with two passengers and a pilot on board. While flying over the city of Blackpool, it collided with a Westland Wessex registered G-ADFZ. Operated by the Trafalgar Advertising Company, the second aircraft was carrying four passengers and one pilot. After the collision, the Avro dove dove into the ground and crashed in Swainson Street, in Cedar Square, bursting into flames. The pilot of the Westland was able to make an emergency landing. All three occupants were killed.
Crew:
Hugh William Patrick Stewart.
Passengers:
Doris Barnes,
Lillian Barnes.

While taking off from Douglas-Ronaldsway Airport, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed, bursting into flames. All seven occupants evacuated with minor injuries while the aircraft was destroyed by fire. The airplane was on its way to Manchester-Ringway Airport with intermediate stops in Blackpool-Squires Gate Airport and Liverpool-Speke Airport.
Crew:
Cpt Robert Pierce.
Passengers:
Mr. Cooper,
William Edwin Teare,
Mrs. Kathleen Isobel Teare,
C. Wilson,
J. A. Ridehalgh,
T. Robson.

Both men had taken off from Broxbourne in good weather conditions and proceeded northwest across England. As they reached the Pennines they reported encountering thick mist and a strong head wind (up to 60 km/h). The aircraft became difficult to control so the pilot decided to turn back and potentially forced land the aircraft. Before dropping clear of the low cloud, the aircraft struck rising ground on Burbage Edge. The aircraft turned over trapping the pair for about half an hour before they both managed to escape the wreck and walked to an AA box near the Cat & Fiddle public house.
Crew:
William James Alington, pilot.
Passenger:
H. Ellis.

Source: http://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/pages/peakdistrict/peakdistrictg-ebwa.htm