Zone
Derbyshire

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I in Matlock: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 3, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Airspeed AS.10 Oxford
Operator:
Registration:
BG197
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Ossington - Ossington
Location:
Matlock
Derbyshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot was completing a solo training sortie from RAF Ossington. En route, he lost his orientation and while descending, the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in a wooded area located in Matlock. The pilot was killed.
Crew (14th AFU):
Sgt George Howard McIlraith, pilot.
Probable cause:
The pilot became disoriented in flight.

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III in Gladwins Mark: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 30, 1943 at 0200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 417 Wellington III
Operator:
Registration:
X3941
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Church Broughton - Church Broughton
Location:
Matlock
Derbyshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew left RAF Church Broughton at 1915LT on January 29 for a night training exercise. At 0059LT, all crews were informed about the deterioration of the weather conditions but for unknown reason, the crew of X3941 did not receive this message. While returning to his base in low visibility, the bomber hit tree tops and crashed in a field located in Gladwins Mark, some three miles north of Matlock. Two crew members were killed while three others were injured.
Crew (27th OTU):
Sgt William Alan Catron, pilot, †
Sgt Kenneth Barton Killeen, air bomber, †
P/O Neil Garrett Traylen, navigator,
Sgt Neil Charles Craigie, wireless operator,
Sgt Thomas Somerville Easton, air gunner.
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