Chivenor AFB | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Following an uneventful training mission from RAF St Athan, the crew mistakenly belly landed at RAF Chivenor. The aircraft slid for several yards before coming to rest and was damaged beyond repair. Both pilots were unhurt.

Probable cause:

The crew mistakenly raised the landing gear on approach instead of lowering the flaps.

Ground accident of an Avro 652 Anson T.22 at RAF Chivenor

Date & Time: Jul 4, 1958

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

VV362

Flight Phase:

Parking

Flight Type:

Ambulance

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

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 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

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Chivenor - Chivenor

MSN:

8306

YOM:

1939

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Circumstances:

The crew was completing a local training sortie at RAF Chivenor. While circling in the vicinity of the airbase at low altitude, the airplane impacted the water surface and crashed in the River Taw. Two crew members were killed and a third was injured.
Crew:
P/O Rafe Sherme Brimacombe, pilot, †
P/O Reginald Allan White, navigator, †
Sgt P. Scott, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the primary cause of the crash was the aircraft hitting the water of the River Taw, causing the port propeller to come off. A secondary cause was the stalling of the port wing during an attempt to carry out a forced landing due to:
a) the pilot attempted to reach the aerodrome with insufficient power or height to do so and
b) the use of flaps in the final stages of the approach.

Crash of a Bristol 152 Beaufort I at RAF Chivenor: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 7, 1942 at 2032 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 152 Beaufort

Operator:

Registration:

L9935

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Chivenor - Chivenor

MSN:

9049

YOM:

1940

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Shortly after a night takeoff from RAF Chivenor, while climbing, the pilot initiated a turn to the left when the airplane stalled and crashed one mile east of the airfield. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Victor Meldrum, pilot,
Sgt Clarence Colville McLennan, observer,
Sgt George Alexander Blackwood, wireless operator,
Sgt Norman Battram, air gunner.

Crash of a Bristol 152 Beaufort I at RAF Chivenor: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 6, 1942 at 0605 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 152 Beaufort

Operator:

Registration:

L4499

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Chivenor - Chivenor

MSN:

8360

YOM:

1940

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Shortly after takeoff from RAF Chivenor, while on a local training exercise, the airplane suffered an engine failure and crashed near the airfield. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Robert Frank Spencer-Schrader, pilot instructor.
P/O Anthony Hugh Denison Reffell, pilot,
F/Sgt william Leonard Hheavisides, wireless operator.

Probable cause:

Engine failure after takeoff.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson V near Saint-Viaud: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-414 Hudson

Operator:

Registration:

AM837

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Chivenor - Chivenor

MSN:

414-2919

YOM:

1941

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Chivenor at 1530LT to bomb a refinery located in Donges. Flying west of Nantes, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in the hamlet of Les Bretêches, near Saint-Viaud. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Errington Douglas Rawes, pilot,
F/Lt Ian Wingate Terry, navigator,
Sgt James William Durrant, wireless operator,
Sgt Ronald Leslie Watts, wireless operator.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Camaret-sur-Mer: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 15, 1941 at 1537 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

R3841

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Chivenor - Chivenor

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The airplane departed RAF Chivenor on an anti-shipping mission. While climbing to an altitude of 1,000 feet towards the French coast, the airplane crashed into the sea off Camaret-sur-Mer. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt John Frodsham,
W/Cdr Christopher Grant Hill,
F/Sgt Charles Duthrie McPhee.