Crash of a Vickers 607 Valetta T.3 off Hartland Point: 10 killed

Date & Time: May 7, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
WG258
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Hullavington - Hullavington
MSN:
506
YOM:
26
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The crew (six student-pilots and four pilots) left RAF Hullavington for a navigation training mission over the Celtic Sea. En route, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in unknown circumstances few miles off the Hartland Point Lighthouse. All ten crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson off Brixham

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VV899
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Hamble - Hamble
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While completing a training sortie from RAF Hamble, the crew encountered an engine failure in flight and decided to ditch the aircraft few miles off Brixham, Devon. While both crew members were rescued, the aircraft sank and was lost.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-70-DL near Bellever: 7 killed

Date & Time: Oct 13, 1945
Operator:
Registration:
42-100640
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Villacoublay – Exeter
MSN:
19103
YOM:
1943
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
While on approach to Exeter Airport, the crew was forced to divert to RAF Western Zoyland due to poor weather conditions. Few minutes later, while cruising in poor weather conditions, the aircraft hit stone wall on a hillside and crashed. All seven occupants were killed.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland off Plymouth: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 9, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ML829
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Plymouth - Plymouth
Region:
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Plymouth harbor, the aircraft failed to climb and crashed into the sea. Two crew members were killed while 9 others were rescued.
Crew killed (10th Squadron):
F/Sgt Harry Thomas Groennou,
P/O Peter Malcolm Hore.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-65-DL off the Lundy Island

Date & Time: Dec 3, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
42-100511
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
18974
YOM:
1943
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in the Bristol Channel, off the Lundy Island. While the aircraft sank and was lost, all occupants were rescued.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-CO Liberator IIIA near Princetown: 6 killed

Date & Time: Oct 30, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
FK242
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
211
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew was returning to his base in England following a maritime patrol flight over the Bay of Biscay. While flying northeast of Princetown, the bomber hit a barrage balloon and crashed in the Dartwood National Park. A crew member was seriously injured while six others were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Harry Olsen Dawe, pilot, †
Gavin Marton Sellar, pilot, †
F/O Victor Edward Crowther, observer, †
Sgt William Gilmore Fraser, flight engineer, †
P/O William Allen Cruickshanks, wireless op. and air gunner, †
William Ballantyne Martin, wireless operator and air gunner, †
Sgt Dennis Trevor Pass.
Special thanks to Peter Burke for crew details.
Probable cause:
In flight collision with a barrage balloon.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.5A Courier in RAF Bolt Head

Date & Time: Aug 1, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
X9344
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
11
YOM:
1934
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Just after lift off, the single engine aircraft went out of control, hit a hedge and crashed. Both occupants were slightly injured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I in Branscombe: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 17, 1942 at 1125 LT
Operator:
Registration:
P1226
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Exeter - Exeter
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Following repairs, the airplane departed Exeter Airfield on a local test flight prior to be delivered to RAF Scampton. While flying in foggy conditions, the airplane impact the slope of hilly terrain and crashed near Branscompe. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Derek Alfred Cook, pilot,
P/O Robert Emmett Manders, observer.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Bristol 152 Beaufort I off RAF Chivenor: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 1, 1942 at 1031 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L4445
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Chivenor - Chivenor
MSN:
8306
YOM:
1939
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training sortie at RAF Chivenor. While circling in the vicinity of the airbase at low altitude, the airplane impacted the water surface and crashed in the River Taw. Two crew members were killed and a third was injured.
Crew:
P/O Rafe Sherme Brimacombe, pilot, †
P/O Reginald Allan White, navigator, †
Sgt P. Scott, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the primary cause of the crash was the aircraft hitting the water of the River Taw, causing the port propeller to come off. A secondary cause was the stalling of the port wing during an attempt to carry out a forced landing due to:
a) the pilot attempted to reach the aerodrome with insufficient power or height to do so and
b) the use of flaps in the final stages of the approach.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24A-CO Liberator off Plymouth: 9 killed

Date & Time: Feb 15, 1942 at 0850 LT
Operator:
Registration:
G-AGDR
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Cairo – Bournemouth
MSN:
9
YOM:
1942
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Cairo-Almaza Airport on an unscheduled flight to Bournemouth. While approaching the British coast, it was mistakenly shot down by the pilot of a RAF Spitfire and crashed into the sea, eight km off the Eddystone lighthouse, near Plymouth. All nine occupants were killed. RAF said the pilot of the Spitfire was a Polish citizen who misinterpreted the identity of the airplane and thought this was an enemy bomber. Following this tragedy, RAF will increase the aircraft reconnaissance training to avoid such situation.
Crew:
Cpt John Alexander Stuart Hunter, pilot,
Cpt Robert Humphrey Page, pilot,
Horace Reginald Spicer, flight engineer,
F/O Richard John Williamson.
Probable cause:
Mistakenly shot down by a British fighter.