Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I off Håkonshella: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 24, 1940 at 0730 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7283
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Leuchars - Leuchars
MSN:
414-1679
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed RAF Leuchars at 0504LT on an anti submarine patrol mission off the Norwegian coast. In unclear circumstances, the airplane crashed into the sea off Håkonshella at 0730LT. All four crew members were killed. It is possible that the aircraft was shot down by enemy fire.
Crew:
P/O Robert George Meadows Harmston, pilot,
F/O Anthony Alexander Talbot Bulloch, observer,
LAC, Alfred William Hallam, wireless operator and air gunner,
LAC Stanley Lane, air gunner.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I off Stavanger: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 15, 1940 at 1115 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7306
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Leuchars - Leuchars
MSN:
414-1702
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed RAF Leuchars on a reconnaissance mission along the Norwegian coast. While cruising along the shore, the airplane was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter and crashed into the sea off Stavanger-Sola Airport. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Laurence George Nolan-Neylan, pilot,
Sgt Thomas Gosling,
AC1 E. G. Newby,
LAC Alexander Murcar.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I off Hestholmen: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 13, 1940 at 1115 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7241
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Leuchars - Leuchars
MSN:
414-1637
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Leuchars at 0920LT on combat operations with four crew members on board. While approaching the Norwegian coast, the airplane was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter and crashed into the sea off Hestholmen. All four occupants were killed.
Crew:
Sgt John Llewellyn Hawken, pilot,
Sgt Samuel McCrossan,
LAC Alexander Raymond Selsby Brown,
AC1 Thomas Wiliam Lerway.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson III off Kristiansand: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 12, 1940 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7258
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Leuchars - Leuchars
MSN:
414-1654
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Leuchars on operations over Kristiansand, Norway. While approaching the target, the aircraft was shot down by enemy naval fire and crashed into the sea. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Lt Andrew H. McLaren,
LAC James Alexander Milne,
P/O George J. D. Yorke,
Cpl Matthew Wilson.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I at RAF Leuchars

Date & Time: Jan 15, 1940 at 0820 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7245
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Leuchars - Leuchars
MSN:
414-1641
YOM:
1939
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On 15 January 1940 the Hudson I N7245 ZS-F of 233 Sqn RAF was taking off at 0820 hrs from Leuchars for a patrol when the pilot, F/O Andrew Hood McLaren, raised the undercarriage too soon. The Hudson stalled and ran into an electric transformer in a wood and caught fire. The crew escaped uninjured through the cabin door and ran from the burning wreck before the bombs had time to explode. F/O McLaren when well clear of the aircraft observed the Fire Tender and crew approaching to render assistance without knowing that the crew had already escaped. Without any hesitation he returned to the crash, warned the Fire Tender crew of the danger, and ordered them to get clear. Immediately after they were at a safe distance the bombs exploded, four minutes after the crash, blowing into small fragments the whole aircraft, except the engines. Had it not been for the prompt action of this officer several lives might have been lost, and this deed and some others won him a DFC on 16 April 1940, sadly being lost four days before. Of the three other crew, only one name is known, P/O A. E. Evans.

Source: http://rcafassociation.ca/uploads/airforce/2009/07/canrafm-r.html
Probable cause:
Premature retraction of the landing gear during the takeoff roll on part of the pilot.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I off Blåvands Huk: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 11, 1940 at 1015 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7262
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Leuchars - Leuchars
MSN:
414-1658
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Leuchars at 0805LT on maritime patrol flight. While approaching the Danish coast, the airplane was shot down by the German Flak and crashed into the sea some 16 km off Blåvands Huk. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Richard Crozier Lloyd, pilot,
P/O Andrew Barkley, observer,
AC1 Robert Smith Morton, wireless operator,
Cpl D. Turner, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IF at RAF Leuchars: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 1, 1939 at 1035 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L8691
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Turnhouse – Leuchars
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
On approach to RAF Leuchars, while descending in clouds, the airplane went out of control and crashed. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Richard Michael Williams, pilot,
P/O Horace George Yelland, pilot,
AC2 Leonard Dale, wireless operator and air gunner,
AC2 John Cooper Hunt, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I at RAF Leuchars

Date & Time: Nov 19, 1939 at 1110 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7213
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Leuchars - Leuchars
MSN:
414-1609
YOM:
1939
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Upon takeoff, the right wing dropped. The aircraft swung and crashed. All four crew members escaped uninjured while the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
F/Lt Albert Edward Williamson +3.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I at RAF Leuchars

Date & Time: Oct 18, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7271
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Leuchars - Leuchars
MSN:
414-1667
YOM:
1939
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Leuchars on a patrol mission. During the takeoff roll, the airplane swung, veered off runway and collided with a parked RAF Avro 652 Anson registered K6268. It continued, off the airfield, went through the perimeter fence and came to rest into the Eden River. Both crew members were uninjured.
Crew:
F/O G. Edwards, pilot,
Sgt Frank Foster Hallam, copilot.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I near Freuchie: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 10, 1939 at 1940 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7227
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Leuchars - Leuchars
MSN:
414-1623
YOM:
1939
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was returning to RAF Leuchars following a patrol flight when he encountered poor visibility due to a low cloud base. Too low, the twin engine airplane impacted the ground and crashed about 2 km south of Freuchie. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all four crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Charles Hampton Clark, pilot,
P/O William Edward Lockley, copilot,
Basil Norman Blades, wireless operator,
AC2 W. M. Cochrane.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.