Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I on Mt Cross Fell: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 6, 1942 at 0030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7325
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Silloth - Silloth
MSN:
414-1721
YOM:
1940
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Silloth in the evening of September 5 on a night training exercise. After completing a flight over Northern Ireland, he was returning to base in the middle of the night. On the return leg, the crew encountered poor visibility due to low clouds. The twin engine airplane went off track to the east by 60 km when it impacted the slope of Mt Cross Fell located 17,5 km northeast of Penrith. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (1st OTU):
P/O Paul Arthur Bourke, pilot,
Sgt John Bumpstead, navigator,
Sgt Robert Band, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Leslie Thomas Griffin, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Richard William Hewitt, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Because of the lack of contact it was assumed by the investigating officer that the aircraft's radio equipment had failed, leaving the crew with only dead reckoning as a means of navigating. Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson III off Allonby: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 25, 1942 at 1620 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AM676
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Silloth - Silloth
MSN:
414-2758
YOM:
1941
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Silloth on a local training exercise. In unclear circumstances, the pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed into the Solway Firth, few hundreds metres off Allonby. All five crew members were killed. The wreckage was found on September 6.
Crew:
Sgt Alexander Cowie,
Sgt Peter Hamilton Dawson,
F/Sgt Robert Douglas McKenzie, wireless operator,
F/Sgt Harold Roy McMillan, wireless operator,
Sgt Ernest Lloyd Randall, wireless operator.

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

Date & Time: Aug 20, 1942 at 2010 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AE646
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Silloth - Silloth
MSN:
414-2999
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a combined training exercise with a second RAF Lockheed L-414 Hudson I registered T9273 and also carrying four crew members. While cruising in formation, both airplanes collided and crashed into the Solway Firth, off RAF Silloth. All eight crew members in both airplanes were killed.
Crew (1st OTU):
Sgt John Brown, wireless operator,
Sgt Keith John Chandler,
Sgt Leslie Hargrave,
Sgt Alfred John Philip Howe.

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

Date & Time: Aug 20, 1942 at 2010 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
T9273
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Silloth - Silloth
MSN:
414-2308
YOM:
1940
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a combined training exercise with a second RAF Lockheed L-414 Hudson I registered AE646 and also carrying four crew members. While cruising in formation, both airplanes collided and crashed into the Solway Firth, off RAF Silloth. All eight crew members in both airplanes were killed.
Crew (1st OTU):
Sgt Robert McHeilage Jack,
P/O Francis Ratcliffe, observer,
P/O Ifor Glyn Thomas Roberts,
Sgt Stanley McDonald Wilson, wireless operator.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I at RAF Silloth: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 9, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7307
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Silloth - Silloth
MSN:
414-1703
YOM:
1940
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training exercise at RAF Silloth. Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a huge explosion. Both crewmen were killed.
Crew (1st OTU):
Sgt Ernest Alfred Jefferson, pilot,
Sgt Donald William Shirley, observer.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson V off RAF Silloth: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1942 at 2250 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AM699
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Silloth - Silloth
MSN:
414-2781
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training exercise at RAF Silloth. While cruising at night in the vicinity of the airbase, the twin engine airplane collided with a second RAF Lockheed L-414 Hudson registered N7392 and also carrying a crew of four. Following the mid-air collision, both airplanes crashed in the Solway Firth, some 3 miles southwest of Silloth Airfield. All eight crew members were killed.
Crew (1st OTU):
Sgt Thomas Essam,
Sgt Peter Field,
Sgt Mervyn Charles Taylor,
Sgt Jack Oldknow.

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

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1942 at 2250 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7392
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Silloth - Silloth
MSN:
414-1788
YOM:
1940
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training exercise at RAF Silloth. While cruising at night in the vicinity of the airbase, the twin engine airplane collided with a second RAF Lockheed L-414 Hudson registered AM699 and also carrying a crew of four. Following the mid-air collision, both airplanes crashed in the Solway Firth, some 3 miles southwest of Silloth Airfield. All eight crew members were killed.
Crew (1st OTU):
Sgt Ronald Henry Bester,
Sgt Stanley Charles George Blowes,
Sgt William James Thomas Bogg,
Sgt George William Searle.

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

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1941 at 2135 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AM624
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Silloth - Silloth
MSN:
414-2706
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Silloth on a night training exercise. En route, one of the engine caught fire. The airplane lost height and eventually impacted the slope of Mt Dent Fell located northeast of Egremont, Cumbria. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Stuart Daniel John Dalgleish, pilot,
Sgt Earle Douglas Parrish, observer,
Sgt Charles Harry Page, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt John William Leadill, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Engine fire in flight.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I at RAF Silloth: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 14, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7223
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Silloth - Silloth
MSN:
414-1619
YOM:
1939
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane was engaged in a local training exercise at RAF Silloth. On final approach, it went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed few hundred metres short of runway, bursting into flames. A crew was killed and a second was injured.
Crew (1st OTU):
Sgt Alan James Birchwood, pilot, †
Sgt J. F. Griffiths.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson V off RAF Silloth: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 14, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AM534
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Silloth - Silloth
MSN:
414-2616
YOM:
1941
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 Silloth on a local training exercise. While flying at night, it suffered an engine failure, entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed into the Solway Firth off the airbase. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (1st OTU):
Sgt John Alexander Stark, pilot,
Sgt George Richard Stookes,
Sgt John Wycliffe Watson, wireless operator,
Sgt Frank Prime.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.