Country
United Kingdom
code
Devonshire

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

Date & Time: May 7, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Vickers Valetta
Operator:
Registration:
WG258
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Hullavington - Hullavington
MSN:
506
YOM:
26
Location:
Hartland Point
Devonshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
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:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
VV899
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Hamble - Hamble
Location:
Brixham
Devonshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
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
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-100640
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Villacoublay – Exeter
MSN:
19103
YOM:
1943
Location:
Bellever
Devonshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
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:
Short S.25 Sunderland
Operator:
Registration:
ML829
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Plymouth - Plymouth
Location:
Plymouth
Devonshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
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
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-100511
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
18974
YOM:
1943
Location:
Lundy Island
Devonshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
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 Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II at RAF Harrowbeer

Date & Time: Feb 28, 1943 at 2315 LT
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II
Operator:
Registration:
W7906
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Graveley - Graveley
Location:
Harrowbeer AFB
Devonshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Graveley at 1849LT on an operation to Saint-Nazaire. Outbound at 13,000 feet it became necessary to feather the port outer due to engine overheating. Course for the target was maintained and a successful attack made at 2112LT from 9,000 feet. Soon after getting course for base, the starboard inner engine failed and as height was reduced to 3,000 feet, the crew prepared to ditch. Searchlights, however, were sighted and following further difficulties the Halifax landed at 2315LT midway along the 1,100 foot runway at RAF Harrowbeer. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the bomber overran onto rough ground and was wrecked. All six crew members escaped unhurt.
Crew:
S/L D. F. E. C. Dean, pilot,
Sgt D. R. Craig,
P/O D. P. D. Archer,
P/O A. E. R. Dexton,
P/O A. R. Ball,
Sgt J. Griffin, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling in Exeter

Date & Time: Feb 18, 1943 at 1600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Short S.29 Stirling
Operator:
Registration:
BF441
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Exeter
Devonshire
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 departed Exeter on a transit flight, having collected a Squadron crew. During takeoff, it swung violently and veered off runway. While taking action to avoid a collision with a parked Typhoon, the starboard oleo collapsed and the airplane slid to a stop and was damaged beyond repair. There were no casualties.
Crew:
F/O W. H. Hoult, pilot +4.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster III of Plymouth: 7 killed

Date & Time: Feb 13, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Avro 683 Lancaster
Operator:
Registration:
ED450
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Fiskerton - Fiskerton
Location:
Plympton
Devonshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Fiskerton at 1859LT on an operation to Lorient. It collided with barrage balloon cables and crashed into the sea off Plymouth. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Gifford Benjamin Miller, pilot,
Sgt Kenneth Hands,
F/O Ronald Allin,
Sgt Stanley Young,
Sgt William Noble,
Sgt William Halsall,
Sgt Francis Henry Allen, air gunner.
Probable cause:
In-flight collision with barrage balloon cables.

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III in Exeter: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 29, 1943 at 2310 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 417 Wellington III
Operator:
Registration:
DF626
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Middleton Saint George - Middleton Saint George
Location:
Exeter
Devonshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Middleton Saint George at 1632LT on an operation to Lorient. While returning to base in the late evening, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to jettison the bomb load. Shortly later, the airplane crashed in Exeter. Four crew members were killed and two others were injured.
Crew:
Sgt Delmer Ray Sanderson, pilot, †
F/Sgt Charles Murray Downton, †
F/Sgt Harold Hogarth Sealy, †
F/Sgt John Drake Bittner, †
Sgt P. G. E. Beauchamp,
Sgt H. R. Ernst, air gunner.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-15-CO Liberator near Hartland Point: 10 killed

Date & Time: Jan 22, 1943 at 1650 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
41-24019
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Chivenor - Chivenor
MSN:
814
YOM:
1942
Location:
Hartland Point
Devonshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
Following a maritime patrol flight (antisubmarine mission), the airplane was returning to base at RAF Chivenor when the crew encountered poor weather conditions with limited visibility. The crew contacted ATC to obtain assistance but the frequency used was not the correct one. Approaching the coast at a very low altitude, the airplane collided with the shoreline cliff located about 3 km east of Hartland Point. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all 10 crew members were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt George Oscar Broussard Jr., pilot,
2nd Lt Leonard L. Deshant, copilot,
T/Sgt Grant L. Craig, flight engineer,
T/Sgt George Malham Shaheen, assistant flight engineer,
2nd Lt Robert Lucian Shedden, navigator,
T/Sgt Harold Kaplan, radio operator,
T/Sgt Frank Kozjak Jr., assistant radio operator,
S/Sgt Louis A. Nagy, radar operator,
2nd Lt Elliot Ernest Stone, bombardier,
T/Sgt Bernard F. Hickman, air gunner.
Probable cause:
In the judgment of the American Unit, this loss was quite unnecessary, and could have been avoided either by the pilot who had adequate fuel, remaining off the coast until he was able to get ground assistance, or "if he was going on instruments, to proceed to do so at a safe altitude," or by "the exercise of better judgment by the officer in charge of the 19 Group radio station." With some feeling, the loss report observed: "he aircraft was obviously in difficulty, consequently it is believed that the 19 Group Station should not have quibbled about a technicality." The report also noted that "strong verbal representation has been made to the AOC, 19 Group (that it was essential) that in an emergency, all possible assistance will not be withheld because of a technicality." The radio operator had requested homing assistance from the 19 Group Controller seven times in the space of 38 minutes, four times prefaced immediate or priority.
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