Swinderby AFB

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Swinderby - Swinderby

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The crew was performing a local training flight at RAF Swinderby. While in the circuit and conducting landings, one of the engine caught fire. The pilot attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crashed near the River Brandt, bursting into flames. Three crew members were killed and three others were injured. The airplane was destroyed by fire.
Crew:
F/Lt Jack Martindale Whitwell, pilot, †
Sgt Robert Davies, flight engineer, †
Sgt H. M. Scott,
Sgt W. J. Robinson,
Sgt B. R. Traves,
Sgt Arthur James Brooks, air gunner, †

Probable cause:

Engine fire in flight probably caused by the failure of a hydraulic pipe.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I at RAF Swinderby

Date & Time: Apr 10, 1943 at 2332 LT

Type of aircraft:

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Registration:

R5848

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

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Swinderby - Swinderby

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The airplane departed RAF Swinderby at 2307LT on a night conversion training flight. At 2332LT, while taking off for another circuit, the airplane swung on runway and went out of control. It veered off runway, lost its undercarriage and came to rest, bursting into flames. All crew members escaped uninjured while the airplane was destroyed by fire.
Crew:
F/Lt R. O. Calvert, instructor pilot,
F/O W. N. Lewis, student pilot +3.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I at RAF Swinderby

Date & Time: Mar 30, 1943 at 0400 LT

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

R5504

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Handley Page H.P.63 Halifax V

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Swinderby - Swinderby

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The crew was performing a local night training exercise at RAF Swinderby consisting of circuits and landings. After landing, the airplane swung on runway and the pilot failed to correct this. The airplane went out of control, lost its undercarriage and came to a halt, bursting into flames. All crew members escaped unhurt.
Crew:
Sgt A. Anderson, pilot +4.

Probable cause:

Pilot error.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.63 Halifax V at RAF Swinderby

Date & Time: Mar 24, 1943 at 1045 LT

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Registration:

DG362

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

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Swinderby - Swinderby

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The crew was engaged in a conversion training sortie out from RAF Swinderby. During the takeoff roll completed in crosswind conditions, the pilot applied full right rudder to correct the swing. When he tried to ease off the rudder, the control became locked in the full right position. The aircraft swung and both undercarriage legs were torn off. The airplane came to rest and was damaged beyond repair. Both crew members escaped uninjured.
Crew:
F/Sgt W. J. Wilkinson, instructor pilot,
P/O J. L. Cooper, student pilot.

Probable cause:

The starboard strap lug of the starboard rudder pedal fractured.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester I at RAF Swinderby

Date & Time: Mar 24, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Avro 679 Manchester

Operator:

Registration:

L7453

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Handley Page H.P.63 Halifax V

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Swinderby - Swinderby

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Almost immediately after takeoff, one of the engines caught fire. The crew decided to land promptly while the landing gear have just been retracted. The airplane belly landed and skidded for few hundred metres before coming to rest. All seven crew members escaped uninjured while the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
S/L Rupert Gordon Westley Oakley, pilot,
Sgt George Stanley Cole, copilot +5.

Probable cause:

Engine fire at takeoff.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.63 Halifax V near RAF Cranwell: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 11, 1943 at 1230 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

DK117

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Site:

Landing (descent or approach)

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Swinderby - Swinderby

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The crew departed RAF Swinderby at 1150LT on a training exercise. While completing a 3-engine practice at an altitude of 2,000 feet, the pilot elected to unfeather the port outer propeller when he lost control of the airplane that crashed in a pasture located east of RAF Cranwell, bursting into flames. Five crew members were injured, one escaped unhurt and the wireless operator was killed.
Crew:
Sgt W. J. King,
Sgt K. L. Howard,
Sgt C. E. Towill,
P/O Bowden,
Sgt R. Stevens, †
Sgt N. Jackson,
Sgt S. J. Proctor.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester I at RAF Waddington

Date & Time: Feb 14, 1943 at 1100 LT

Type of aircraft:

Avro 679 Manchester

Operator:

Registration:

L7286

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Swinderby - Swinderby

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The airplane departed RAF Swinderby at 0916LT on a navigation training sortie. While cruising at an altitude of 1,000 feet, the right engine caught fire. The captain decided to divert to RAF Waddington to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft belly landed and came to rest. All seven crew members (1660 OCU) escaped unhurt.

Probable cause:

The flame traps burned in flight, causing the right engine to catch fire.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I in Sturton by Stow: 8 killed

Date & Time: Feb 12, 1943 at 1005 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

R5676

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

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Swinderby - Swinderby

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The airplane departed RAF Swinderby in the morning on a test flight on behalf of the 1660 Conversion Unit. While in cruise altitude, the airplane broke up in the air after the right wing failed. It dove into the ground and crashed in an open field located in Sturton by Stow. All eight crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Sydney Rhys Jones, pilot,
Sgt William Turnbull Raeside, flight engineer,
Sgt John Westwood, wireless operator,
F/O Stanley Hoy, bomb aimer,
F/O Felix Maurice Krish, bomb aimer,
Sgt Thomas Henry Jackson, air gunner,
F/Sgt Gerald William Kennedy, air gunner,
Lac Elijah Reginald Redfern.

Probable cause:

In-flight breakup and subsequent loss of control after the right wing failed.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I near Wittmund: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

R5843

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