Training | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The crew was performing a training flight at RAF Swinderby. Following a wrong approach configuration, the aircraft landed hard. The undercarriage collapsed, the airplane slid for few dozen metres and came to rest. While the airplane was damaged beyond repair, all seven crew members escaped uninjured.
Crew (50th Squadron):
Sgt P. H. Blaskey +6.

Probable cause:

The pilot misinterpreted the wind direction for the landing configuration.

Crash of a Martin B-26A-1 Marauder near Dixie: 8 killed

Date & Time: Aug 13, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Martin B-26 Marauder

Operator:

Registration:

41-7482

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Barksdale - Barksdale

MSN:

7482

YOM:

1941

Location:

Dixie

Louisiana

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane was engaged in a training sortie out from Barksdale AFB, carrying eight crew members. While cruising north of the airbase, it went out of control, entered a near vertical dive and crashed in an open field located near Dixie, about 30 km northwest of the airbase. All eight crew members were killed.
Crew:
Pvt Charles P. Harris,
Cpt Frank Ely Locke,
Cpl Harry C. McCarthy,
2nd Lt Albert J. Woodard +4.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7A Boston II at RAF Defford

Date & Time: Aug 12, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston

Operator:

Registration:

BB903

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Defford - Defford

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot was performing a solo training flight out from RAF Defford. The airplane suffered an engine failure and a loss of hydraulic pressure which caused the brakes to be almost ineffective. After landing at RAF Defford, the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and crashed into a ditch. The pilot escaped unhurt.

Probable cause:

Engine failure and brakes failure following a loss of hydraulic pressure.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7A Boston II in Elveden: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 12, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston

Operator:

Registration:

AW409

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Cranfield - Cranfield

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot departed RAF Cranfield on a solo training flight. The airplane crashed for unknown reasons in Elveden, killing the pilot.
Crew:
Sgt Alec Lawrence Osborne, pilot.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Reedy Creek: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 11, 1942 at 1430 LT

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

AW678

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Mount Gambier - Mount Gambier

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was performing a training exercise out from Mount Gambier Airport. For unknown reasons, the twin engine airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in Reedy Creek, some 19 km southeast of Kingston. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (2nd AOS):
Sgt William Nathaniel Higham Flemming,
Sgt John Edward Moorhouse,
LAC Charles Thomas Fletcher,
LAC William Ross Bremner Fenton,
Sgt Malcolm Albert Thiele.

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III at RAF Methwold

Date & Time: Aug 11, 1942 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 417 Wellington III

Operator:

Registration:

BJ593

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Methwold - Methwold

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was performing a training flight at RAF Methwold. On final approach, the airplane stalled, collided with tree tops and crashed. All three crew members were injured.
Crew:
F/Sgt T. R. Lewis,
Sgt P. Menzies,
Lac A. B. F. Bryant.

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III in Shippea Hill: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 11, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 417 Wellington III

Operator:

Registration:

BJ773

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While performing a training flight, the airplane suffered an engine failure and crashed 1,6 km southwest of Shippea Hill. A crew was killed and three others were injured.
Crew:
F/O A. Ashworth,
Sgt D. J. Melbourne,
Sgt W. D. McAlpine,
F/O T. H. W. Baker. †

Probable cause:

Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Junkers JU.523mge at Falkenberg-Lönnewitz AFB: 6 killed

Date & Time: Aug 10, 1942 at 1130 LT

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.52

Operator:

Registration:

D-APUN

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Falkenberg-Lönnewitz - Falkenberg-Lönnewitz

MSN:

5183

YOM:

1935

Location:

Falkenberg-Lönnewitz AFB

Brandenburg

Country:

Germany

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The three engine airplane was engaged in a local training flight at Falkenberg-Lönnewitz AFB, carrying six crew members, among them three pilots under training. The airplane crashed for unknown reasons while taking off and was destroyed. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
Uffz Rudolf Riess, pilot,
Uffz Gerhard Richter, radio operator,
Gefr Erich Lehr, mechanic,
Lt Heinz Jaskola, pilot,
Uffz Kurt Hanus, pilot,
Ofw Emil Walther, pilot.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford II at RAF Driffield

Date & Time: Aug 10, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Airspeed AS.10 Oxford

Operator:

Registration:

BM821

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Driffield - Driffield

MSN:

PAC.0445

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew departed RAF Driffield on a gunnery training sortie. Immediately after takeoff, at a height of 12 feet, the starboard engine failed. The airplane lost height, crash landed and came to rest. All three crew members were injured.
Crew:
Sgt H. Walmasley,
Sgt A. Payne,
Sgt G. Wildig.

Probable cause:

Failure of the right engine just after liftoff.