Zone
Cornwall

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I near RAF Predannack: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1942 at 0300 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 683 Lancaster
Operator:
Registration:
W4359
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Predannack - Predannack
Location:
Predannack AFB
Cornwall
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Predannack on a night training exercise. While flying in the vicinity of the airfield, it caught fire and crashed in an open field 8 km northeast of the airbase. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Thomas Irvine Manson, pilot,
Sgt William Henry Taylor, flight engineer,
F/O Francis George Shell, observer,
Sgt John Oswald Irving, bomb aimer,
F/Sgt Ewen Cameron McPhee, wireless operator,
Sgt Herbert Munro Sims, air gunner,
Sgt Robert Sidney Doore, air gunner.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the bomber was struck by lightning, causing the photo flash flare to ignite.

Crash of a Boeing B-17F-5-DL Flying Fortress into the Celtic Sea: 11 killed

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
42-2969
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Predannack - Gibraltar - Algiers
MSN:
7905
YOM:
1942
Location:
Celtic Sea
World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Predannack on a flight to Algiers-Maison Blanche Airport with an intermediate stop in Gibraltar. On board were 11 crew members, among them Brigadier General Asa North Duncan (Chief of Staff, Headquarters, Eighth Air Force) who was flying to North Africa to witness Operation Torch. The aircraft was flying in loose formation at about 400 feet when it was seen with one engine on the right wing on fire. The formation had been flying about one hour after departure from Predannack and was about 145 km west of Brest, France. A propeller was feathered and the whole wing appeared to be on fire. Moments later it crashed in the Celtic Sea enveloped in a sheet of flames and sank immediately. One man was seen in a dinghy and five or six other in the water with Mae Wests. The men were over flown in the next hour by another B-17 and later by other aircraft but no one was rescued. Two bodies were later recovered and the rest of the crew and passenger were never located.
Crew:
Br Gen Asa North Duncan,
Maj John M. Knox,
1st Lt Leslie S. Birleson,
1st Lt Clark M. Garber Jr.,
1st Lt Joshua Kaplan,
1st Lt John C. Roysden,
T/Sgt Paul W. Padgett,
S/Sgt Roger J. Arendt,
S/Sgt Arthur B. Spell,
Sgt Lilburn L. Haddox,
Sgt Welcome L. Talbot.
Probable cause:
Engine fire in flight.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-CO Liberator III at RAF Predannack

Date & Time: Oct 20, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
FL910
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
214
YOM:
1941
Location:
Predannack AFB
Cornwall
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After a bomb stored in the cargo bay exploded in flight, the captain decided to divert to RAF Predannack for an emergency landing. After touchdown, the airplane went out of control and crashed, bursting into flames. All 10 occupants were rescued and the airplane was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Accidental detonation of a bomb stored in the cargo bay.
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