Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-125-CO Liberator on Mt Beinn Nuis: 10 killed

Date & Time: Aug 20, 1943 at 0810 LT
Operator:
Registration:
42-41030
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Gander – Prestwick
MSN:
2107
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The crew had left Gander in Newfoundland for Prestwick at 19:46 GMT on the 19th August, having been one of at least 23 aircraft to depart Canada bound for the UK. At 06:27 GMT the radio operator made contact with Prestwick who provided the crew with a QDM (a magnetic course to steer towards Prestwick) of 092° this placed the aircraft slight north of due magnetic west from the airfield. Contact was made again a few minutes later when the crew reported being 10 miles from Prestwick at 4500ft, the flying control at Prestwick, named Dogwatch, radioed to tell the pilots to hold their altitude until advised. No further contact radio was received from the aircraft and it was reported missing after the other aircraft in the flight that took off around it had arrived. The wreckage was located on the 23rd August by a shepherd on the western side of Beinn Nuis not far from the summit of the mountain. A watch recovered from the wreck showed the time of the crash to be 08:10. The aircraft that had taken off from Gander at around the same time were reported to have landed around 08:00. It would appear that the pilots were descending through the low cloud that covered the area that morning when they flew into the mountains of Arran.
Crew:
2nd Lt William M. Connolly, pilot,
F/O Francis J. Chew, copilot,
2nd Lt Albert T. Spindle, navigator,
2nd Lt Robert J. Hartl, bomb aimer,
S/Sgt Fred W. Brantner, flight engineer,
S/Sgt Joseph B. Moore, radio operator,
S/Sgt Chester E. Cislo, flight engineer,
Sgt Glen Mathew Canon Peyton, air gunner,
Sgt Robert F. Daub, air gunner,
Sgt Louis Stanley Golis, radio operator.
Source:
http://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/pages/scotland/scotland42-41030.htm
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I off Prestwick

Date & Time: Nov 14, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
K6309
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
West Freugh - West Freugh
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF West Freugh on a navigation exercise. For unknown reasons, the pilot was forced to ditch the airplane in the Firth of Clyde, off Prestwick. All four crew members were rescued while the aircraft sank and was lost.
Crew:
Lac R. K. Somervaille +3.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-CO Liberator III in Ayr: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 29, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
FK230
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
129
YOM:
1941
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
On final approach to Ayr Airport, the pilot failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane hit the roof of a house and crashed short of runway. Four crew members and the passenger were killed while three others crew were injured.
Crew:
Sgt Leonard Clarke Race, pilot, †
Sgt Sidney Burr, flight engineer, †
F/Sgt John Eric Armstrong, navigator, †
Sgt Francis Thomas George Hamlyn, wireless operator, †
P/O B. P. Liddington,
P/O W. J. McCafferey,
F/Sgt R. A. Denney.
Passenger:
Mrs. Sarah Cleary. †

Crash of a Blackburn B-26 Botha I off RAF Turnberry

Date & Time: Oct 2, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L6201
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Turnberry - Turnberry
MSN:
7864/48
YOM:
1940
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While on a training exercise out from RAF Turnberry, the airplane suffered a double engine failure. The crew ditched the airplane 2 km off the airbase and was rescued. The airplane was lost.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Bristol 152 Beaufort I on Mt Goat Fell: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 30, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L4479
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Turnberry - Turnberry
MSN:
8340
YOM:
1940
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Turnberry on a navigation exercise. In unclear circumstances, the twin engine airplane impacted the slope of Mt Goat Fell and was destroyed. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Louis Orlin Glay, pilot,
F/Sgt John Orville MacLean, observer,
F/Sgt John William Leyland, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Bristol 152 Beaufort I near RAF Turnberry: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 20, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L4480
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Turnberry - Turnberry
MSN:
8341
YOM:
1940
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a night training exercise out from RAF Turnberry. While flying in the vicinity of the airbase, the airplane impacted the ground and was destroyed. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (5th OTU):
P/O Denis Henry Battrick, observer,
F/O Eugene Victor Roy,
F/Sgt Donald Gordon Taylor, wireless operator,
F/Sgt William MacDonald Vacheresse, wireless operator.

Crash of a Bristol 152 Beaufort I off Girvan: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 16, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L4467
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
8328
YOM:
1939
Location:
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 when the airplane suffered an engine failure and crashed into the sea off Girvan. The sole occupant was killed.
Crew:
Sgt William Henry Fardoe, pilot.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Bristol 152 Beaufort I at RAF Turnberry: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 4, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L4496
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Turnberry - Turnberry
MSN:
8357
YOM:
1940
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training flight at RAF Turnberry. On final approach, one of the engine failed. The airplane stalled and crashed short of runway. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Francis Jonathan Henry Highmoor, pilot,
Sgt Douglas Burton St John Malcolm, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Engine failure on final approach.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I on Mt Caisteal Abhail: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 2, 1942 at 1800 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
DJ472
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Wigtown - Prestwick
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Wigtown on a training flight to Prestwick Airport, carrying a crew of five. En route, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm. In low visibility, the twin engine airplane impacted the slope of Mt Caisteal Abhail located in the northeast part of the Isle of Arran. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (1st AFU):
F/Lt Hugh Colin Campbell, pilot,
LAC Kenneth Whalley, pilot,
Sgt Henry Thomas Swain, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Gordon Ralph Lewis, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Reginald Richard Hinton.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland III into the Firth of Clyde: 11 killed

Date & Time: Jul 31, 1942 at 1025 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
W4025
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Castle Archdale - Castle Archdale
Region:
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The seaplane departed RAF Castle Archdale at 0855LT on an anti submarine mission in the River Clyde. Approaching friendly vessels in limited visibility due to poor weather conditions, the airplane was mistakenly shot down by friendly fire and crashed into the sea. A crew member was rescued while 11 others were killed.
Crew:
F/Lt Walter Harry Wakefield, pilot, †
F/O James Robert Traill, †
F/Sgt Maurice John Tomley, †
P/O John Allen, †
Sgt Norman Williams, †
Sgt William Bluck, †
Sgt John Robert Goodings, †
Sgt Harry Scrace, †
Sgt Clifford Gurnet Fort, †
F/Sgt James Andrew Collins, †
Sgt Vivian Lewis, wireless operator and air gunner, †
Sgt Peter Wheatley.
Probable cause:
Mistakenly shot down by friendly fire while approaching British vessels in poor weather.