Country
code

Pembrokeshire

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland MR.5 off Milford Haven: 7 killed

Date & Time: Mar 3, 1954
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NJ267
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Just after takeoff, while climbing, the seaplane nose down, hit the water surface and crashed upside down, broken in two. Quickly on the scene, rescuers were able to evacuate four people while seven others, including four members of the crew, were killed.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland GR.5 off Pembroke Dock

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1954
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NJ180
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Pembroke Dock - Pembroke Dock
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Hit a buoy while landing off Pembroke Dock. There were no casualties but the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Collision with a buoy upon landing.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland MR.5 into Angle Bay

Date & Time: Jan 30, 1954
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RN290
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training sortie when an engine caught fire in flight. The pilot-in-command attempted an emergency landing in Angle Bay but the airplane touchdown hard, causing a float to be sheared off. The aircraft came to a halt in flames. While all six crew members were able to evacuate the cabin and were uninjured, the airplane was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
Engine fire in flight.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-40-DL near Haverfordwest: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 5, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
42-24018
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
9880
YOM:
1943
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances some 13 miles northeast of Haverfordwest, Wales. The crew Richard Jack Burr was killed in the accident.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I near Haverfordwest: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 24, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EG603
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Carew Cheriton - Carew Cheriton
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot was performing a solo training flight out from RAF Carew Cheriton on behalf of the RAF Radio School. After descending through cloud to gain a navigational fix from the ground, the pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed 7 km northwest of Haverfordwest. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot was killed.
Crew:
Sgt Charles Evrard, pilot.

Crash of a Martin B-26C-5-MO Marauder near RAF Saint Davids: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 4, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
41-34765
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Port Lyautey - St Eval
MSN:
4456
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane was on a final stage of a transatlantic flight from the US to England via South America and Africa. On the last leg from Port Lyautey (Kenitra) to RAF St Eval, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. Due to the lack of visibility, the crew failed to realize he was off course when the airplane collided with a crag located near RAF Saint Davids. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Robert E. Lawrence, pilot,
F/O James G. Jackson, copilot,
2nd Lt Hulbert H. Robertson, navigator,
S/Sgt William A. Brown, flight engineer.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland II at RAF Angle Bay

Date & Time: May 29, 1943 at 2022 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
T9114
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Pembroke Dock - Pembroke Dock
Region:
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The seaplane departed Pembroke Dock on a Air Sea Rescue operation after another Sunderland crashed southwest of Scilly Island a day before. After all survivors were rescued and embarked on a French boat, the Sunderland took off back to base but hit a wave that caused a large hole in the hull. Decision was taken to divert to RAF Angle Bay. After landing, it came to rest with the port wingtip on the ground after tearing off the port float and was damaged beyond repair. All 11 crew members escaped unarmed.
Crew:
F/O George Singleton, pilot,
P/O Howe, copilot,
F/Sgt Taplin, flight engineer,
F/Sgt Hules, bomb aimer,
F/O Harry Winstanley, navigator,
Sgt H. Hall, wireless operator,
Sgt Hammond, air gunner,
F/Sgt Ronald Church, air gunner,
F/Sgt John Lewis, air gunner,
F/Sgt Stevens, air gunner,
P/O George Viner, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Damaged after hit a wave while taking off.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7B Boston III at RAF Talbenny: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 28, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
AL750
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Talbenny - Talbenny
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training flight at RAF Talbenny. The approach was completed with the port engine unserviceable. The pilot overshot and initiated a turn to the left, probably for a second approach to land, when the airplane entered a dive from a height of 100 feet and crashed 1,5 km from the airbase. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Harold Empsall Tyas, pilot,
Sgt Ernest Fred Jesse Oliver, navigator,
F/Sgt Montagu Norminton Williams, radio operator,
F/Sgt Gordon John Rankmore, air gunner.

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

Date & Time: May 3, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
Z9318
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
2382
YOM:
1941
Region:
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 Vickers 440 Wellington X near Tenby: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 11, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HE422
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Middleton Saint George - Middleton Saint George
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Middleton Saint George at2305LT on April 10 on an operation to Frankfurt. While returning to base the following night, it strayed from track and with the automatic pilot system selected, it was abandoned by the crew and crashed near Tenby. Four crew members parachuted to safety while the pilot was killed after he fell into the sea and drowned.
Crew:
F/O Charles Warner Jackson, pilot, †
Sgt H. B. Elhorn, navigator,
Sgt Alexander Hugh MacDonald, bomb aimer,
Sgt James Thomson Kydd, wireless operator,
Sgt K. T. Allan, air gunner.