Zone

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

Date & Time: Mar 8, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
Z6342
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Leuchars - Worthy Down - Thorney Island
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Leuchars on a flight to RAF Thorney Island with an intermediate stop at RAF Worthy Down. After takeoff, while climbing to a height of 100 feet, the airplane suffered an engine failure and crashed, bursting into flames. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Francis Henry Wilkinson, pilot,
F/Sgt Jack Adrian Colin London, observer,
P/O Cedric Hubert Owen Priest, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Engine failure upon takeoff.

Crash of a Vickers 139 Virginia X at RAF Worthy Down

Date & Time: Jul 24, 1935
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
K2672
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Manston – Worthy Down
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft caught fire just after landing at RAF Worthy Down. The pilot was able to stop the airplane and all four occupants evacuated safely. The aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Crash of a Vickers 139 Virginia X in Compton: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 6, 1932
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
J8237
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Worthy Down - Worthy Down
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Worthy Down for an exercise. After passing over Farncombe, one of the engines was misfiring. Three crew members bailed out and abandoned the airplane that crashed shortly later in a pasture located in Compton. Two crew members were killed while the third was injured.
Crew:
F/O Arthur Wilfrid Brian Page, †
P/O Bernard Henry Gully, †
AC1 Reginald Charles Lewis,
AC1 George Henry Ralphs,
LAC William Herbert Quane,
Cpl Frederick Edward Brooks.
Probable cause:
Engine problems.

Crash of a Vickers 139 Virginia X at RAF Worthy Down: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 19, 1931
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
J8241
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Worthy Down - Worthy Down
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total hours on type:
200.00
Copilot / Total hours on type:
600
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Worthy Down on a local training mission. While on approach at an altitude of 700 feet, the pilot-in-command throttled back the engine. The airplane lost height, causing the left wing to hit the station headquarter building, and crashed. Three crew members were killed and a fourth occupant was injured as well as nine people inside the building.
Crew:
F/O Walter Sydney Monroe, †
F/O John Barton, †
LAC James Stanley Milner, †
F/O John Rene Whitley.

Crash of an Avro 504N in Pinner: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 30, 1930 at 1500 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
K1041
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Worthy Down – Henlow
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
En route from Worthy Down to Henlow, the pilot lost control of the aircraft that crashed in a park located in Pinner, bursting into flames. The pilot, Lt Douglas Wells Gibbon was killed.

Crash of a Vickers 128 Virginia IX at RAF Worthy Down: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 24, 1930
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
J7709
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Worthy Down - Worthy Down
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at RAF Worthy Down. Upon landing at night, the airplane crashed. Two crew members were killed and three other were injured.
Crew:
F/O Ernest Richard White, †
P/O Percy James Pratt, †
S/Ldr Alban Spencer Ellerton,
LAC Donald Angus Reich,
AC2 Frederick Bernard Palmer.

Crash of a Vickers 108 Virginia VI in Horsham

Date & Time: Aug 19, 1927 at 1215 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
J7418
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Worthy Down - Worthy Down
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Worthy Down on a training mission. En route, the left engine failed. The pilot attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in Broadbridge Heath, in the suburb of Horsham. All four crew members evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
Sgt Alyer,
P/O R. O. Oxley Taylor +2.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine due to a rod breaking and disconnecting the oil supply.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60 Moth at RAF Worthy Down: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 4, 1927
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-EBPG
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Worthy Down - Stag Lane
MSN:
359
YOM:
1927
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from RAF Worthy Down, outbound for Stag Lane, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in an open field, bursting into flames. Both crew members were killed.