Chivenor AFB

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

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After taxiing in at RAF Chivenor, Devon, an ambulance was reversed in front of it to transfer a patient from the Anson. The pilot increased rpm to prevent oiling the plugs but the aircraft moved forward and struck the ambulance. The fuselage was twisted and the tail damaged. There were no injuries.

Crash of a Vickers 429 Wellington VIII off RAF Penrhos: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 3, 1943 at 1430 LT

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 429 Wellington VIII

Operator:

Registration:

HX596

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

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Consolidated B-24 Liberator

Schedule:

Chivenor - Tain

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The crew departed RAF Chivenor on a transit flight to RAF Tain. Around 1430LT, the crew informed ground about engine problems. Few minutes later, the crew sent a distress call and nothing further was heard. Despite intense SAR operations, no trace of the airplane nor the crew was found. It is believed that the airplane may have crashed into the sea some 30 km off RAF Penrhos. Lost without trace.
Crew:
Sgt Francis Louis Ayley, pilot,
F/O Raymond Donald Hann, navigator,
Sgt Peeti Rotana Karena, wireless operator.

Probable cause:

Engine trouble in flight.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-15-CO Liberator near Hartland Point: 10 killed

Date & Time: Jan 22, 1943 at 1650 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

41-24019

Flight Phase:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

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Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Chivenor - Chivenor

MSN:

814

YOM:

1942

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Following a maritime patrol flight (antisubmarine mission), the airplane was returning to base at RAF Chivenor when the crew encountered poor weather conditions with limited visibility. The crew contacted ATC to obtain assistance but the frequency used was not the correct one. Approaching the coast at a very low altitude, the airplane collided with the shoreline cliff located about 3 km east of Hartland Point. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all 10 crew members were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt George Oscar Broussard Jr., pilot,
2nd Lt Leonard L. Deshant, copilot,
T/Sgt Grant L. Craig, flight engineer,
T/Sgt George Malham Shaheen, assistant flight engineer,
2nd Lt Robert Lucian Shedden, navigator,
T/Sgt Harold Kaplan, radio operator,
T/Sgt Frank Kozjak Jr., assistant radio operator,
S/Sgt Louis A. Nagy, radar operator,
2nd Lt Elliot Ernest Stone, bombardier,
T/Sgt Bernard F. Hickman, air gunner.

Probable cause:

In the judgment of the American Unit, this loss was quite unnecessary, and could have been avoided either by the pilot who had adequate fuel, remaining off the coast until he was able to get ground assistance, or "if he was going on instruments, to proceed to do so at a safe altitude," or by "the exercise of better judgment by the officer in charge of the 19 Group radio station." With some feeling, the loss report observed: "he aircraft was obviously in difficulty, consequently it is believed that the 19 Group Station should not have quibbled about a technicality." The report also noted that "strong verbal representation has been made to the AOC, 19 Group (that it was essential) that in an emergency, all possible assistance will not be withheld because of a technicality." The radio operator had requested homing assistance from the 19 Group Controller seven times in the space of 38 minutes, four times prefaced immediate or priority.

Crash of a Vickers 429 Wellington VIII off Swansea: 8 killed

Date & Time: Aug 19, 1942 at 1125 LT

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 429 Wellington VIII

Operator:

Registration:

HX482

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Vickers 429 Wellington VIII

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Chivenor - Chivenor

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The airplane departed RAF Chivenor on a training exercise with a crew of eight on board. While flying over the Swansea Bay, it was mistakenly shot down by the crew of the USS Gulf of Mexico, an American oil tanker, and crashed into the sea. All eight occupants were killed.
Crew:
P/O Gordon Cave Vincent Jamieson, pilot,
P/O John Stewart Haynes, pilot,
P/O Ross Pringle Fahrni, observer,
Sgt Edwin Thomas Arthur Deacon, wireless operator,
Sgt Edgar Harold Dawe, air gunner,
Sgt Jack Mullins, air gunner,
Ac1 Frederick Percy Charles Cross,
2nd Lt David Henry Kaufman.

Probable cause:

Mistakenly shot down by friendly fire.

Crash of a Vickers 429 Wellington VIII off Lorient

Date & Time: Aug 12, 1942 at 0355 LT

Type of aircraft:

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Registration:

BB503

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Bombing

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Site:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley

Schedule:

Chivenor - Chivenor

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The airplane departed RAF Chivenor on an operation to the west French coast. Following engine problems, it was ditched into the sea off Lorient and sank. All six crew members were rescued after five days and returned to UK.
Crew:
F/O A. W. R. Triggs,
Sgt N. P. G. Walker,
P/O C. Badham,
P/O J. C. Devonshire,
F/Sgt R. P. McLean,
F/Sgt A. S. Cartwright.

Probable cause:

Engine problems.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V into the Irish Sea: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 22, 1942

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Registration:

Z9215

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

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Schedule:

Chivenor - Chivenor

MSN:

2320

YOM:

1941

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The airplane departed RAF Chivenor on an operational mission over the English Channel. En route, both engine failed then caught fire. The airplane lost height and crashed into the Irish Sea some 100 km off Hartland Point, Devonshire. All six crew members were rescued by Royal Navy destroyer L115 but the wireless operator died a day later from injuries sustained.
Crew:
F/Sgt John Melville McDonald, wireless operator, †
F/Sgt R. E. Longard,
Sgt P. J. Russ,
Sgt B. Bushell,
Sgt J. A. Lovett,
Sgt J. G. Humphries.

Probable cause:

Double engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Bristol 152 Beaufort I off Girvan: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 24, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 152 Beaufort

Operator:

Registration:

L4459

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

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Site:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley

Schedule:

Chivenor - Chivenor

MSN:

8320

YOM:

1939

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The crew was completing a training sortie on behalf of the 5 OTU when the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea off Girvan. Sgt Jacob Lettersteid Smit was killed.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V on Lundy Island: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jun 1, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

AD698

Flight Phase:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Chivenor - Chivenor

MSN:

2492

YOM:

1942

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The airplane was returning to base at RAF Chivenor following an anti-submarine patrol flight. In poor visibility, it impacted ground and crashed on the west part of Lundy Island. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt John Edward Veal,
Sgt Oswald Austin Jones, air gunner,
Sgt Reginald Ellis,
Sgt Eric Hampson,
Sgt Harry Hannah,
Sgt Young John Markham.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Bristol 152 Beaufort I off RAF Chivenor: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 1, 1942 at 1031 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 152 Beaufort

Operator:

Registration:

L4445

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

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