Gwynedd | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

While flying in a valley in limited visibility due to cloudy conditions, the twin engine airplane impacted the south slope of Mt Moel Eilio located 10 km southeast of Caernarfon, near the village of Betws Garmon. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (9th AFU):
Sgt Alfred Edward Clay, pilot,
Sgt Frederick Herbert George Trimmer, observer,
Sgt Bernard Henry Walter, observer,
Sgt Albert Walton, wireless operator and air gunner,
LAC Arthur Charles Lever, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I off RAF Penrhos: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 14, 1942 at 0200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

DJ628

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Llandwrog – Penrhos

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The twin engine airplane departed RAF Llandwrog, near Caernarfon, at 0124LT on a night training exercise to RAF Penrhos. The crew contacted ground at 0132LT and this was the last radio contact ever. It seems that the aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea while approaching RAF Penrhos. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was ever found.
Crew (9th AFU):
Sgt Trevor Morgan Blakemore, pilot,
P/O Keith Charman, navigator,
Sgt John George Cairns,
Sgt John Mallett,
Lac Ronald Adam Simpson.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7B Boston III on Mt Carnedd Dafydd: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 17, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston

Operator:

Registration:

Z2186

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

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Schedule:

Bradwell Bay - Bradwell Bay

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The crew departed RAF Bradwell Bay on a cross country navigation exercise. While cruising in limited visibility at an altitude of 3,000 feet, the airplane impacted the slope of Mt Carnedd Dafydd located in the Snowdonia. Two crew members were killed and the pilot was seriously injured.
Crew:
Sgt Mervyn Sims, pilot,
F/Lt Harold Francis Longworth, observer, †
Sgt Ronald Walker, navigator. †

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V on Mt Foel-Freas: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 26, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley

Operator:

Registration:

BD232

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Honeybourne - Honeybourne

MSN:

2552

YOM:

1942

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The airplane departed RAF Honeybourne on a cross country navigation exercise. While cruising at night, it impacted the slope of Mt Foel-Fras and was destroyed. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Charles Alexander Stuart,
Sgt Victor Ralph Smith,
Sgt William Robert Hughes,
Sgt Joseph Patrick Hookey,
Sgt John Hassall.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Blackburn B-26 Botha on Mt Moelwynion

Date & Time: Jul 20, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Blackburn B-26 Botha

Operator:

Registration:

W5142

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

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Site:

MSN:

3291/25

YOM:

1941

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While cruising over the Snowdonia area, the airplane stalled and crashed on Mt Moelwynion. All five crew members were rescued.
Crew:
F/Sgt J. M. Foster,
F/Sgt L. Moss,
Sgt L. H. Ganner,
Sgt J. Haig,
Sgt J. A. Rawlinson.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC on Mt Carnedd Dafydd: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 19, 1942 at 1230 LT

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 416 Wellington IC

Operator:

Registration:

DV800

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Lichfield - Lichfield

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The airplane departed RAF Lichfield in the morning on a cross country navigation exercise on behalf of the 27 Operational Training Unit. While cruising over the north part of Wales, the crew failed to realize that the airplane was off course by 16 km north from the intended route. After noon, it is believed that the pilot decided to descent below the clouds, most probably to ascertain his position, when the airplane impacted the slope of Mt Carnedd Dafydd located in the Snowdonia. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Rupert Theodore Bannister, pilot,
Sgt Richard Ivor Bowen, observer,
Sgt Eric Harvey Longbottom,
Sgt Lionel Denis Traylen, observer,
Sgt Samuel James Wilson, wireless operator.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Blackburn B-26 Botha I off Llanddwyn Island: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 30, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Blackburn B-26 Botha

Operator:

Registration:

W5088

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

3241/24

YOM:

1941

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Shortly after takeoff, the airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea off Llanddwyn Island. A crew was killed and a second was injured.
Crew:
Sgt Edward Andrew Clack, pilot, †
F/Sgt D. C. Wheeler.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I on Mt Foel-fras: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 20, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

N4980

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

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Schedule:

Moreton-in-Marsh - Moreton-in-Marsh

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The airplane departed RAF Moreton-in-Marsh on a training mission on behalf of the 21st OTU. While cruising at low altitude in poor weather conditions, the twin engine airplane impacted the east slope of Mt Foel-fras, in the Snowdonia, north of Wales. Three crew members were injured while the observer was killed.
Crew:
Sgt Thomas Crilly, observer, †
Sgt C. Symmonds,
Sgt L. Cooper,
Sgt D. Stokes.

Probable cause:

Navigational error caused by a wrong chart interpretation on part of the crew resulting in a controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC near Llanymawddwy: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 6, 1942 at 1312 LT

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 416 Wellington IC

Operator:

Registration:

P9299

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

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The airplane departed RAF East Wretham on a cross country flight. Over Wales, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. While descending into clouds, the airplane impacted hilly terrain near Llanymawddwy. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Aldis Keda,
P/O Jan Stefek,
Sgt Rudolf Grimm,
Sgt Jindrich Horinek,
F/Sgt Jan Stanovsky,
Sgt Rudolf Vokurka.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling I off Barmouth

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1942 at 0200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Short S.29 Stirling

Operator:

Registration:

N6074

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Oakington - Oakington

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The airplane departed RAF Oakington at 1911LT on March 25 on an operation to Saint-Nazaire. While returning to base the following night, it ran shot of fuel and ditched at 0200Lt in the Barmouth Bay off Barmouth, Gwynedd. At the time of the accident the bomber was many miles west of track and shortly before going into the sea, four crew members bailed out. By good fortune, no one was hurt. The Stirling was later salvaged and taken to RAF Llanbedr.
Crew:
S/L H. L. Legh-Smith,
Sgt Bird,
Sgt Fenton,
Sgt Cooper,
Sgt Bentham,
Sgt Williams,
Sgt Hudson.

Probable cause:

Fuel exhaustion.

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