Gwynedd

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EF823

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While flying by night and in poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of Mt Pencreigiau'r Llan, near Pant Glas, Wales. All five crew members were injured while the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

The accident was caused by a navigation error on part of the crew who was following a wrong track.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Penygroes: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 1, 1943

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Registration:

EG129

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Military

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The twin engine airplane departed RAF Penrhos on a cross country flight. While cruising at night, one of the engine failed. The pilot lost control of the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed in a field. All five occupants were killed.
Crew (9th AFU):
F/O Jack W. Croudis, pilot,
Lac Oscar Brayshay,
Lac Norman W. French,
Lac Alwyn T. J. Phillips,
Sgt Phillip Saer.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of a Vickers 440 Wellington X on Mt Foel Grach: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 13, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 440 Wellington X

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Registration:

HE466

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Hixon - Hixon

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While on a night navigational exercise out from RAF Hixon, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions. Too low, the airplane impacted the slope of Mt Foel Grach located southeast of Bangor, north of Wales. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (30th OTU):
Sgt Edward Gerrard Frezell, pilot,
P/O Frederick Keith Thorogood, navigator,
Sgt Cecil Gordon Bennett, bomb aimer,
Sgt George Newton Rafferty, wireless operator,
Sgt Edwin Towler, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson on Mt LLechog : 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 4, 1943 at 0030 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-414 Hudson

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Registration:

AM832

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Vickers 429 Wellington VIII

MSN:

414-2914

YOM:

1941

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The airplane departed its base in the evening of February 3 on a night training exercise. One hour into the flight, following a navigational error, it went off course and was flying over the Snowdonia mountains. While cruising at an altitude of 2,300 feet in limited visibility due to poor weather conditions, the airplane impacted the slope of Mt Llechog located northeast of Beddgelert. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (1st OTU):
Sgt R. J. Bennett, pilot,
Sgt J. C. Sharpley, navigator,
Sgt S. J. Meddings, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt A. W. Peach, wireless operator and air gunner.
Source: Alan Storr

Probable cause:

A Court of Inquiry into the accident reported that : “ In our opinion the cause of the accident was faulty navigation resulting in an aircraft flying to a position approx 60 miles south of its intended turning point at Kish Lt. W/T facilities for checking the position do not appear to have been initiated at all apart from obtaining the one QDM. The aircraft was airborne at 2201 hours and using still air conditions should have turned at Kish Lt at 2306 hours. In actual fact it will be seen that it did not make this turn until 2342 hours ie. 36 minutes late. He stayed on the leg from South Rock to Kish Lt for a period of one hour instead of 31 minutes. The aircraft after leaving its estimated position at Kish Lt lost height and apparently obeyed the QDM which was passed as a weak signal and should have been treated with caution. It crashed on a mountain side at approx 2300 feet causing the death of the crew and the complete destruction of the aircraft.” The Grp Capt.CO RAF Silloth stated “ The cause of the accident remains obscure, but the findings of faulty navigation recorded by the Court is not an unlikely reason for the accident.”

Crash of a Vickers 429 Wellington VIII off RAF Penrhos: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 3, 1943 at 1430 LT

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Registration:

HX596

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Military

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Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

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Chivenor - Tain

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The crew departed RAF Chivenor on a transit flight to RAF Tain. Around 1430LT, the crew informed ground about engine problems. Few minutes later, the crew sent a distress call and nothing further was heard. Despite intense SAR operations, no trace of the airplane nor the crew was found. It is believed that the airplane may have crashed into the sea some 30 km off RAF Penrhos. Lost without trace.
Crew:
Sgt Francis Louis Ayley, pilot,
F/O Raymond Donald Hann, navigator,
Sgt Peeti Rotana Karena, wireless operator.

Probable cause:

Engine trouble in flight.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I on Mt Foel Grach: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 14, 1943 at 2100 LT

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Registration:

EG110

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Llandwrog - Llandwrog

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The crew were on a night navigation training exercise from RAF Llandwrog near Caernarfon. While on the return leg, the airplane impacted the south face of Mt Foel Grach. All four crew members survived the initial impact though three of them were seriously injured and were unable to leave the wreckage. P/O Archer, being the least injured, was the only man able to walk out for help. Rescuers arrived on site on January 16 around 1000LT. Sgt Brocklehurst was found lying across the navigator's table, apparently as though he had fallen asleep there and died, Sgt Barnett was in the co-pilot's seat and was also found to be dead. Sgt Paterson was alive and reported to be warm.
Crew (9th AFU):
P/O Kenneth Archer, pilot,
Sgt William Henry Barnett, navigator, †
Sgt Frank Paterson, navigator,
Sgt Eric Thomas Brocklehurst, wireless operator and air gunner. †
Source:
http://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/pages/wales/waleseg110.htm

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I on Mt Foel Gron: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 28, 1942

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Registration:

DJ635

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Penrhos - Penrhos

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While on a night navigation exercise out from RAF Penrhos, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. In low visibility, the twin engine airplane impacted the slope of Mt Foel Gron located east of Salem. Four crew members were killed while the Sgt Knight was seriously injured. He died a day later from injuries sustained.
Crew (9th AFU):
Sgt David Earl Johnson, pilot,
Lac James Robert Knowles, observer,
Sgt Clement Robert Morgan, navigator,
Lac George Ross, navigator,
Sgt Cecil Knight, wireless operator.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I on Mt Moel Eilio: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 20, 1942 at 1435 LT

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Registration:

N4981

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Penrhos - Penrhos

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While flying in a valley in limited visibility due to cloudy conditions, the twin engine airplane impacted the south slope of Mt Moel Eilio located 10 km southeast of Caernarfon, near the village of Betws Garmon. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (9th AFU):
Sgt Alfred Edward Clay, pilot,
Sgt Frederick Herbert George Trimmer, observer,
Sgt Bernard Henry Walter, observer,
Sgt Albert Walton, wireless operator and air gunner,
LAC Arthur Charles Lever, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I off RAF Penrhos: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 14, 1942 at 0200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

DJ628

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