Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V off Saint Annes Head

Date & Time: May 3, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley
Operator:
Registration:
Z9318
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
2382
YOM:
1941
Location:
Saint Annes Head
Pembrokeshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane suffered an engine failure in flight and was ditched into the sea off Saint Annes Head. All five crew members were rescued by the crew of HMS Fury after having spent 7,5 hours in their dinghy.
Crew:
F/O Maurice George Harrison, pilot,
Sgt Cleaver,
F/Sgt Pryde,
P/O Rees,
Sgt Smith.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland III off Saint Annes Head

Date & Time: Nov 25, 1942 at 1530 LT
Type of aircraft:
Short S.25 Sunderland
Operator:
Registration:
DV972
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Saint Annes Head
Pembrokeshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The seaplane was engaged in a bombing practice mission. While dropping a depth charge into a suspected minefield off Trevose Head, Cornwall, the force of the explosion caused multiple damage to the starboard float, aileron and elevator as well a several holes in the hull and wings. In such conditions, the crew decided to ditch the airplane some 60 km off Saint Annes Head. All nine crew members found refuse in dinghies and the airplane sank five minutes after landing.
Probable cause:
Emergency landing in sea after being damaged by debris following a bombing practice flight.

Crash of a Heinkel He.111H-3 off Saint Annes Head: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 9, 1941 at 0950 LT
Type of aircraft:
Heinkel He.111
Operator:
Registration:
V4+CH
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
3328
Location:
Saint Annes Head
Pembrokeshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While on a reconnaissance mission, the airplane was shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the sea off St Annes Head, Pembrokeshire. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Lt Ludwig Rebensdorf, pilot,
Uffz Georg Petereit, observer,
Uffz Michael Franck, radio operator,
Fw Werner Fritzsche, mechanic.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.
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