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Crash of a Consolidated 32-2 Liberator II in RAF Heathfield

Date & Time: Nov 13, 1948
Operator:
Registration:
G-AHYC
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
5
YOM:
1946
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
An undercarriage failed upon landing at RAF Heathfield. The aircraft slid for several yards before coming to rest. There were no injuries but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Gear collapsed on landing.

Crash of a Consolidated LB-30A Liberator at RAF Heathfield: 22 killed

Date & Time: Aug 14, 1941 at 2040 LT
Operator:
Registration:
AM260
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Heathfield – Gander – Montreal
MSN:
169
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
22
Circumstances:
The pilot started the take off procedure from runway 06. The aircraft failed to rotate, overran and impacted an embankment, bounced then crashed in a huge explosion on a second embankment. All 22 occupants were killed.
Crew (BOAC & ATA):
Cpt Richard Charles Stafford, pilot,
F/O Earl Wellington Watson,
Richard Coates, radio officer,
Roland Folford Davis, flight engineer.
Passengers:
F/O Elbert Beard Anding,
Joseph Culbert, radio officer,
Cpt Murray Benjamin Dilley Jr., pilot,
Robert Arnold Duncan, radio officer,
Cpt Alton Chester Earle, pilot,
Wesley Francis J. Goddard, radio officer,
Cpt Edward Hamel, pilot,
Donald Norman Hannant, radio officer,
Cpt Gerald Hull, pilot,
Cpt John Joseph Kerwin, pilot,
Philip Francis Lee, first officer,
Glenwood McKay, radio officer,
John Joseph MacDonald, radio officer,
Cpt James John Moffat, pilot,
Mr. Arthur Blakie Purvis (civilian),
Albert Tamblin, radio officer,
Walter Lee Trimble, first officer,
Martin Joseph Wetzel, first officer.
Source and photos:
http://www.aircrashsites-scotland.co.uk/liberator_lb-30a_heathfield.htm
Probable cause:
The pilot-in-command started the takeoff procedure from runway 06 which was too short for such type of airplane.

Crash of a Consolidated LB-30A Liberator on Mt Mullach Buidhe: 22 killed

Date & Time: Aug 10, 1941 at 2035 LT
Operator:
Registration:
AM261
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Heathfield – Gander – Montreal
MSN:
170
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
22
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Heathfield in Prestwick, in the evening, on a schedule service to Montreal-Saint Hubert Airport with an intermediate stop in Gander, carrying 19 passengers and a crew of three. After departure, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions and followed a wrong heading. In limited visibility due to low clouds, the airplane impacted the slope of Mt Mullach Buidhe (2,366 feet) located on the Isle of Arran, some 41 km northwest of the departure point. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all 22 occupants were killed, among them RAF personnel and civilians.
Crew (BOAC):
Cpt Ernest Robert Bristow White, pilot,
Cpt Francis Delaforce Bradbrooke, copilot,
Henry Samuel Green, radio officer.
Passengers:
Albert Alexander Oliver, radio officer,
George Herbert Powell, radio officer,
Herbert David Rees. radio officer,
Cpt James Josiah Anderson,
Ralph Bruce Brammer, radio officer,
John Beatty Drake, radio officer,
Cpt Daniel Joseph Duggan,
Cpt George Thomas Harris,
Cpt Hoyt Ralph Judy,
Wilfrid Groves Kennedy, radio officer,
Cpt Watt Miller,
George Laing, radio officer,
William Kenneth Marks, radio officer,
Hugh Cameron McIntosh, radio officer,
Cpt John Evan Price,
Ernest George Reeves, flight engineer,
F/O John James Rouleston,
Cpt Harold Clifford Wesley Smith,
Cpt Jack Wixen.
More info and photos on:
http://www.aircrashsites-scotland.co.uk/liberator_lb-30a_buidhe.htm
Probable cause:
The accident occurred in poor weather conditions with low visibility and the mountain was shrouded in clouds. According to the RAF investigation team, the accident was caused by a navigation error on part of the crew who followed a heading of 295° shortly after takeoff instead of 012°. It resulted in a deviation of the airplane which was flying 15 km north of the initial track. The crew was unable to know his real position due to low visibility and the absence of ground visual references. Therefore, the accident is the result of a controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I near Dalry: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 9, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L9153
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Heathfield - Heathfield
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a night training exercise out from RAF Heathfield (Prestwick). While flying over the Kirkcudbrightshire, the twin engine aircraft impacted the slope of a hill (2,448 feet high) located some 9 miles west of Dalry. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all four occupants were killed. The wreckage was spotted a day later on the slope of the mountain.
Crew:
F/O Iain Douglas Shields, pilot,
Norman Hector Duff, wireless operator,
LAC Gordon Eric Betts, navigator,
LAC Henry Gilbert Stewart Briggs, navigator.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.