Silloth AFB

Operator:

Registration:

N7337

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Silloth - Silloth

MSN:

414-1733

YOM:

1940

Location:

Country:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Silloth on a navigation training exercise. Prior to the mission, the crew was instructed to remain in areas free of fog and low cloud, however the aircraft ended up in low cloud. People living in the villages to the east of North Barrule heard the aircraft fly over head and then the sound of the aircraft crashing. The airplane crashed in a prairie and was destroyed by a post crash fire. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (1st OTU):
Sgt John Bruton Healey, pilot,
Sgt Joseph Anthony Moore, pilot,
Sgt Reginald Joseph Clarke, observer,
Sgt John Ker Noble Kerbey, wireless operator,
Sgt Norman Eric Eggleton, air gunner.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson near Skinburness: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 28, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

T9268

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Vickers 416 Wellington IC

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Silloth - Silloth

MSN:

414-2303

YOM:

1940

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Pax on board:

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Other fatalities:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Silloth on a night training exercise. In unknown circumstances, it crashed in a cliff in Grune Point near Skinburness. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Charles Thomas Dacombe, instructor,
Sgt Louis Brian Eugene Larsen, pilot,
Sgt Brynmor Jones, wireless operator.

Probable cause:

It is believed that the accident was the consequence of a bird strike.

Ground accident of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC at RAF Silloth

Date & Time: Jun 3, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

L7899

Flight Phase:

Taxiing

Flight Type:

Survivors:

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Schedule:

Silloth - Silloth

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Circumstances:

The airplane was engaged in a local training flight at RAF Silloth on behalf of the 1st Army Training Unit. While taxiing, it collided with a steam roller and was damaged beyond repair. A crew was injured and two others escaped unhurt.
Crew:
AC1 Holmes,
P/O A. D. Blair,
Sgt A. W. Wood.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I off RAF Silloth: 6 killed

Date & Time: May 4, 1941 at 1630 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N7304

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Silloth - Silloth

MSN:

414-1700

YOM:

1940

Location:

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Region:

Crew on board:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane departed RAF Silloth on a local training exercise. While flying at an altitude of 250 feet off the airbase, the airplane stalled and entered an uncontrolled descent until it crashed in the Solway Firth. All six occupants were killed.
Crew:
P/O Malcolm Schofield Smith, pilot,
Sgt William George Elliott, wireless operator,
Sgt Hubert William Lee,
Sgt Edward Salmons, wireless operator,
Sgt Robert James Strickland,
Sgt Roderick Barker Taylor.

Probable cause:

Loss of control while manoeuvring at an unsafe altitude (below the minimum height of 300 feet).

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60G Gipsy Moth at RAF Squires Gate

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1940

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

Operator:

Registration:

X5111

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Ferry

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Silloth - Squires Gate

MSN:

1838

YOM:

1931

Location:

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Circumstances:

The pilot, sole on board, was convoying the aircraft from RAF Silloth to RAF Squires Gate. In windy weather, the aircraft crashed upon landing and was damaged beyond repair. The pilot was unhurt.

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

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

P5142

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Silloth - Silloth

MSN:

414-1831

YOM:

1940

Location:

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Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

Shortly after take off from RAF Silloth, while climbing, the pilot lost control of the aircraft that crashed in the Solway Firth. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was ever found.
Crew (1st OTU):
Sgt Samuel Butler,
AC1 Alfred William Davies,
Sgt Thomas Charles Illingworth,
Sgt Anthony St John Lilley.

Crash of a Bristol 152 Beaufort I at RAF Kirkbride

Date & Time: Jul 30, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 152 Beaufort

Operator:

Registration:

L4473

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Silloth - Kirkbride

MSN:

8334

YOM:

1939

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The airplane crashed for unknown reasons upon landing at RAF Kirkbride and was damaged beyond repair. The pilot escaped.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I at RAF Silloth

Date & Time: Jul 10, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

K8818

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

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Location:

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Circumstances:

Following a wrong approach configuration, the crew landed on a closed runway portion. The twin engine aircraft hit several obstacles, lost its undercarriage and came to rest. While the crew was unhurt, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Wrong approach configuration and poor flight preparation on part of the crew.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I in RAF Silloth

Date & Time: Jul 9, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N7388

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site: