Upwood AFB

Operator:

Registration:

L8610

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Upwood - Llandow

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Upwood on a navigation exercice to RAF Llandow, Wales. While cruising north of Pontypool in low visibility due to poor weather conditions, the aircraft impacted the slope of Mt Garn Wern (425 metres high) located in Abersychan. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Hubert Henry Wilson, pilot,
P/O Anthony Drake Coplestone, observer,
Sgt John November, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV near RAF Warboys

Date & Time: Sep 4, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

L8682

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Upwood - Upwood

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot departed RAF Upwood on a solo training flight. En route, he encountered an unexpected situation, bailed out and abandoned the aircraft that crashed near RAF Warboys. The pilot was uninjured.
Crew:
P/O David Rockel, pilot.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF Upwood: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 3, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

R3621

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Upwood - Upwood

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from RAF Upwood, while on a training exercice, the airplane went out of control and crashed in Bury, east of the airfield. Two crew members were killed and a third was injured.
Crew:
Sgt John Wynne Turner, pilot, †
Sgt Melville Tanner, observer, †
Sgt W. Parker, wireless operator.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF Upwood: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 28, 1940 at 2145 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

L8843

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Upwood - Upwood

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Just after takeoff from RAF Upwood, while climbing at night, the pilot lot control of the airplane that crashed, bursting into flames. The pilot P/O Henry Michael Hoadley was killed.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF Upwood

Date & Time: Aug 14, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

L8839

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Upwood - Upwood

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot was completing a solo training flight at RAF Upwood. The airplane crashed upon landing after the undercarriage got jammed. The pilot F/Sgt T. J. Watkins was uninjured.

Probable cause:

Undercarriage jammed upon landing.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in North Crawley: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 7, 1940 at 2235 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

P4902

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Upwood - Upwood

MSN:

9384

YOM:

1939

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot’s instructions were to fly from Upwood to Bicester 53 miles, Bicester to Northampton, 25 miles and back to base 33 ½ miles. At a time when the aeroplane should have been near Northampton it was seen flying in an easterly direction 20 miles SE of the scheduled course and close to Cranfield Aerodrome where night flying was taking place. When opposite the wireless telegraphy station the machine was seen to stagger. Five seconds later at about 1500 feet and while still in flying position it lost speed and spun to the ground. The aeroplane struck the ground at a moderate speed and came to a stop pointing east, the engines were not at the time. From its position and the proximity of trees immediately behind it could be judged to have been flattening out, probably in a left hand spin. Fire occurred immediately and destroyed all the centre of the machine. All safety belts were burnt. One body was found in the navigator’s compartment and one in the gunner’s cockpit. The third, that of the pilot, was lying face down 72 yards east of the wreckage and he had evidently fallen from a considerable height. His parachute was unopened and was on the ground 4 feet away; the harness was free. The rip- cord had not been pulled. No parts broken or otherwise were found to show the circumstances under which he left the machine. The engines were extensively damaged by fire were stripped but appeared to have been in good order at the time of the accident. Examination of the pilot’s parachute harness showed that the release ring had not been turned and while in the locked position had been driven back by direct impact on the front. This had forced the spin- loaded plunger out through the aluminium casing and had released the catches and then the harness. From this it may be seen that the harness was in position on the pilot’s striking the ground.
Source:
http://www.rafupwood.co.uk/17otulosses.html
http://www.mackz.net/cm_samplearticles.htm#local%20hero

Probable cause:

The investigation concluded that the pilot may have lost his way, was trying to identify Cranfield aerodrome and on suddenly becoming aware of the risk of collision with the night flying machines stalled the aeroplane while climbing. Alternatively it was thought possible that on loosing sight of the aerodrome flares he lost control in the 'black-out'.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF Upwood

Date & Time: Aug 3, 1940 at 0610 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

L8846

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Upwood - Upwood

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot was engaged in a solo training flight out from RAF Upwood. A minute after takeoff, one of the engine suffered a power loss. The aircraft crash landed and was damaged beyond repair. The pilot P/O N. C. Green escaped uninjured.

Probable cause:

Engine power loss after takeoff.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Whitchurch

Date & Time: Jul 28, 1940 at 0745 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

L4869

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Upwood - Upwood

MSN:

8884

YOM:

1939

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot departed RAF Upwood on a solo training flight. An engine failed in flight, forcing the pilot to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft belly landed in an open field located in Whitchurch and was damaged beyond repair. The pilot P/O A. B. Smith was uninjured.

Probable cause:

Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Newnham

Date & Time: Jul 20, 1940 at 1230 LT

Type of aircraft: