East Sussex

Crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea off Rottingdean while completing a sortie from RAF Thorney Island. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Henry Alan Clark, pilot,
Sgt David Douglas Morton, observer,
Sgt Frank Clayton, wireless operator and air gunner.

While descending to RAF Tangmere in poor weather conditions, the aircraft hit a hill and disintegrated. All five crewmen were killed.
Crew (24th Squadron):
P/O Hedley Eric Large, pilot,
F/O Colman O'Shaughnessy Murphy, pilot,
AC1 Leonard Bradburn,
LAC Wilfred Arnol Harper,
LAC Ernest Wragg.

The twin engine airplane departed Rosières-en-Santerre at 0800LT on a flight to Kemble via Tangmere, carrying four crew members. After passing Brighton, the crew encountered poor visibility due to low clouds. Flying too low, the airplane impacted the slope of a hill and crashed in Jeffries Point, near Portslade. Two crew members were killed and two others were injured.
Crew:
P/O Henry Stephen Penton Hulton, pilot, †
Sgt Oliver William Dumbreck, observer, †
LAC Oultram,
Cpl G. E. Lapwood.

The crew departed Detling on a maritime patrol flight over the North Sea. While returning to his base, the crew encountered poor weather conditions when the aircraft ran out of fuel. All four crew members bailed out and abandoned the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed near Wilmington. Two crew were unhurt while two others were injured.
Crew:
F/O R. E. Jay,
LAC J. H. Baldry,
AC2 S. F. C. Cunningham,
AC2 H. G. Ridley.

The crew was returning to his base in Detling following a maritime patrol flight over The Channel. The twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances about 2 km south of Pett and sank. All four crew members were rescued.
Crew (48th Squadron):
F/Lt G. E. Ford,
Sgt F. M. Pennell,
Cpl Parkinson,
LAC A. G. Willis.

The crew departed RAF Wattisham on a training sortie. While cruising in mist, the pilot lost control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed in a pasture located in Beachy Head. All three crew members as well as one people on the ground (Mrs. Mary Florence Savery) were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Harry Donald Perry Farrow,
Sgt Alfred John William Sargeant,
AC2 Leslie Phillips.

The crew was performing a training flight out from RAF Thorney Island. While cruising in bad weather conditions, the crew failed to realize he was flying too low. The twin engine aircraft impacted the slope of a hill located in Kingstone Ridge, near Lewes. Both pilots were killed.

The crew was performing a night training exercise out from RAF Leuchars when he encountered problems and was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The airplane made wheels up landing in an open field located in Groombridge. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and all three crew from the 224th Squadron escaped uninjured.

On the day of the fatal crash, Air Taxis Ltd had not authorized the flight, although in the past they had allowed Tonge to use the Puss Moth for his own pleasure at weekends if it wasn't required for business. The passenger, Scrase, was apparently only slightly acquainted with the pilot - which didn't stop them drinking in a pub together through the afternoon. At 16.30 the pair arrived at the hangar and Scrase was installed in the plane - Tonge then asked the mechanic if he could tell him the compass course to Brighton. They took off, but G-ADLP landed a few minutes later at Kenley where the pilot sought out a friend and, together with his passenger, they retired to a pub for over an hour. It was reported that Tonge sank two pints in that time, and Scrase three. At 17.55 hours the pilot and passenger returned to the machine and took off to continue their journey to Brighton, but before leaving the vicinity of Kenley, the pilot made several steep dives at the aerodrome buildings. The Puss Moth then departed at a height of 1500 feet. About ten minutes later the aeroplane was seen flying over Ashdown Forest at around 600 feet - it descended and circled around an open space at Wych Cross, then headed south. After two miles G-ADLP was then seen to circle a football field twice, and head south again at 500 feet. A minute later the aircraft descended towards a field which, however, was obstructed by power cables - at a height of 30 feet, the engine was 'opened up' and the Puss Moth climbed away steeply to 1000 feet. It then appeared to commence a turn whilst still climbing, and it immediately fell into a spin which continued until the aircraft plunged into some trees. The first person to reach the scene found the pilot dead with extensive head injuries. The passenger was laid over the pilot's shoulder and, in a semi conscious condition, he uttered; "1,500 feet. 1,000 feet, we're falling: Can't you do something man! 500 feet Oh God!". There was a very pronounced smell of alcohol in the cabin, and particularly from the passenger's breath.
Source:
http://sussexhistoryforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=892.0;wap2

The airplane departed RAF Boscombe Down on an exercice with four crew members on board. En route, the airplane impacted the top of a hill and crashed in Broken Jill, near Midhurst. The pilot was seriously injured and three other occupants were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Charles Albert Deakin,
Sgt Edward Kenneth McDermott, †
LAC Cyril James Adams, †
LAC George John Westlake. †