Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford in Waterhouses: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 21, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
R6271
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Ashbourne - Ashbourne
MSN:
2721
YOM:
1940
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Ashbourne on a short test flight, carrying two passengers and one pilot. While flying at a very low altitude, the twin engine airplane collided with power cables and crashed onto a small hill. All three occupants were killed.
Crew (42nd OTU):
F/O Archibald Douglas Vincent Forsyth, pilot.
Passengers:
Cpl Harry Garnet Sylvester,
Lac Harry Charles Halestrap.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford II in Sketty: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 14, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
W6590
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Weston-super-Mare - Weston-super-Mare
MSN:
PAC.0070
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in Sketty, west of Swansea. The pilot who was performing a solo training flight was killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Donald Douglas McLean, pilot.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I off Grimsby: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 13, 1943 at 1605 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N6296
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
238
YOM:
1939
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
On approach to RAF Grimsby, the right engine failed. The pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed into the sea. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Richard Davidson, pilot.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right engine on approach.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I in Buxton: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 12, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EB717
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Wheaton Aston - Wheaton Aston
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
During the early hours the 12th May 1943, the pilot took off for a night cross country flight from Wheaton Aston to the south west of Stafford. His route was to have been Wheaton Aston - Shawbury - Condover - Wheaton Aston, this triangular route was a distance of just over 50 miles. At some point, the pilot became disorientated, whether he missed one of his waypoints or saw one of the other airfields in the area is unknown, and ended up flying North East. As the sun was coming into view the aircraft was seen circling over Buxton, shortly afterwards the aircraft flew west into low cloud and struck a dry stone wall which runs the length of Burbage Edge. The stone wall destroyed the forward end of the aircraft killing the lone occupant, the aircraft broke up as it traveled across the moor land for another 30 to 40 yards.
Crew (11th AFU):
Sgt John Henry Langley Wilson.
Source:
http://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/pages/peakdistrict/peakdistricteb717.htm
Probable cause:
The Investigating Officer from No.21 Group concluded that the pilot had set the wrong course on his final leg from Condover back to Wheaton Aston.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I off Seaspray: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 12, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
BM711
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Sale - Sale
MSN:
PAC.366
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training sortie out from Sale Airport. While cruising at an altitude of 2,000 feet, the twin engine airplane entered a right turn then an uncontrolled descent until it crashed into the sea 8 km northeast of Seaspray. The wreckage was found some 400 metres offshore and all three crew members were killed.
Crew (3rd BGS):
F/Sgt Harry Alleyn Francis Dickinson,
Lac Vivian Arthur Westcott,
Lac Maurice White.
Probable cause:
Loss of control for undetermined reason.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I at RAF Ramsbury

Date & Time: May 11, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L4534
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Ramsbury - Ramsbury
MSN:
1
YOM:
1937
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training flight at RAF Ramsbury. The twin engine airplane crashed for unknown reasons upon landing and was damaged beyond repair. Both crew members escaped unhurt.

Crash of a Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I in Swannington: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 29, 1943 at 1600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AT797
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Attlebridge - Attlebridge
MSN:
3929
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training flight out from RAF Attlebridge. While flying at low altitude in the vicinity of the airbase, the twin engine airplane collided with power cables and crashed in a field located in Swannington, about 5 km northeast of the airfield. A crew was killed.
Crew:
F/O Roger Hubert Powell, instructor pilot +1.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I in Gelston

Date & Time: Apr 20, 1943 at 1525 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EB804
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Cranwell - Cranwell
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training flight out from RAF Cranwell. While flying southwest of the airbase, the airplane suffered an engine failure and belly landed in a field. Both crew members escaped unhurt and the airplane was written off.
Crew:
F/O E. McMillan, instructor pilot,
Lac K. Bowen-Bravery, student pilot.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford at RAF Cranwell: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 12, 1943 at 1650 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AB766
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Cranwell - Cranwell
MSN:
PAC.218
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
After takeoff from RAF Cranwell, while on a local training flight, the airplane went out of control and crashed. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Crew:
Lac F. Hughes.
Probable cause:
Loss of control after a towed drogue cable became fouled around the starboard wing shortly after takeoff.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford II near RAF Melton Mowbray: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 8, 1943 at 1815 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AB665
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Ossington - Ossington
MSN:
PAC.152
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Ossington on a night navigation exercise. While cruising at an altitude of 2,000 feet, the twin engine airplane collided with a RAF Lancaster. Registered L7545, it was carrying a crew of eight who were performing a training mission out from RAF Wigsley. Following the collision, both airplanes dove into the ground and crashed in a field located 3 km southeast of RAF Melton Mowbray. All 10 crew members in both airplanes were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Arthur Anthony Moors, pilot,
Sgt John Albert Lemmerick, pilot.
Probable cause:
Due to negligence, both crew were unable to see and avoid each other.