Bilbeis

During the take off run, the pilot attempted to rotate but the aircraft did not respond. Crew decided to abandon the take off procedure but the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining runway, overrun and came to rest into a ditch. While all occupants escaped unhurt, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

After takeoff from Bilbeis, the captain decided to make a low pass over the Officer's Mess. While flying at a height of eight feet, the aircraft hit the tent with its left wing tip that broke away. The aircraft overturned and crashed in a huge explosion. All 13 occupants were killed while there were no casualties on the ground.
Crew:
W/Cdr John Patrick Stracey Smyth, pilot,
P/O John Cecil Oliver Trench, pilot,
P/O David Maxwell Walker, pilot,
P/O Corliss St Leger Hawkes, pilot,
F/Lt Ernest Francis Victor Copsey, pilot,
W/O Vern Selby Irwin, observer,
W/O Walter Henry Plant, observer,
F/Sgt Brian Joseph O'Connor, observer,
Sgt George Rollinson MacBryde, wireless operator,
Sgt Arthur William Mills, wireless operator,
Cpl Reginald Benson,
Cpl Gerald Alexander Grant,
F/O Roy Anderson Harper.

While circling in the vicinity of Bilbeis Airport on a training exercise, the crew was forced to make an emergency landing following a dual engine failure. The airplane belly landed and was damaged beyond repair. Both occupants escaped unarmed.