Upwood AFB

Operator:

Registration:

L9172

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 airplane departed RAF Upwood on a training mission. While cruising at an altitude of 20,000 feet, the pilot radioed 'breaking up' and soon afterwards eye witnesses saw the Blenheim falling in a series of uneven rolls and slowly disintegrating. The main debris fell into the tinplate works area at Cwmafan, in the Afan Valley, 8 miles east south east of Swansea. The pilot bailed out and survived while both other occupants were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Victor Albert Bain, pilot,
Sgt William Hubert Wheeler, observer,
AC2 Sidney Boulton, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Towcester

Date & Time: Jun 5, 1940 at 1130 LT

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

N5112

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 crew was engaged in a training exercise and departed RAF Upwood in the morning. En route, an engine failed, forcing the crew to attempt an emergency landing in an open field. After touchdown, the aircraft hit a hedge and came to rest. All four occupants were unhurt and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Crew (17th OTU):
Sgt M. H. Farmer +3.

Probable cause:

Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV into the Tremadog Bay: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 24, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

P4907

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Upwood - Upwood

MSN:

9389

YOM:

1939

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane departed RAF Upwood on a navigation exercice. It crashed in unknown circumstances into the Tremadog Bay, Wales. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Ian Alan Mead, pilot,
Sgt Arthur Raymond Jackson, observer,
AC2 Roy South, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I at RAF Upwood

Date & Time: Apr 14, 1940 at 1420 LT

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

L1264

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Upwood - Upwood

MSN:

8547

YOM:

1938

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3070

Captain / Total hours on type:

235.00

Circumstances:

The pilot was completing a local solo training flight at RAF Upwood. After landing, the pilot mistakenly retracted the landing gear instead of raising the flaps. This caused the aircraft to slid on its belly and to be damaged beyond repair. The pilot was uninjured.
Crew:
S/L Hurll Fontayne Chester, pilot.

Probable cause:

Pilot error.

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

Date & Time: Apr 6, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

P6918

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Upwood - Upwood

MSN:

9443

YOM:

1939

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane crashed upon takeoff from RAF Upwood for unknown reasons. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Crew:
Sgt J. D. Stein, pilot.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I on Mt Foel Wen: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 23, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

L4873

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Upwood - Upwood

MSN:

8888

YOM:

1939

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew departed RAF Upwood on a formation exercice in the direction of Wales. En route, the pilot encountered clouds when the airplane impacted the slope of Mt Foel Wen located 15 km southeast of Bala. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Maurice Charles Cotterell, pilot,
Sgt Ronald Jesse Harbour, observer,
AC2 Kenneth Charles Winterton, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I at RAF Upwood

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1940 at 1000 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

L1396

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Upwood - Upwood

MSN:

8679

YOM:

1938

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 local solo training flight. While taking off, the airplane collided with a second RAF Blenheim registered L1396 with also one pilot on board. Both airplanes crashed and burst into flames. Both pilots were injured.
Crew:
Sgt Blanks, pilot.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF Upwood

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1940 at 1000 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

L8845

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Upwood - Upwood

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF Upwood: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 18, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

L4875

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site: