Country
code

West Glamorgan

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Ynys Lanwol: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 1, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
Z6252
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Pembrey - Pembrey
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Pembrey on a gunnery exercise. It was seen to dive out of the clouds and to crash into the sea about a mile north of Ynys Lanwol. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Witold Bystrzynski, pilot,
LAC Arthur Edwin Lee, air gunner,
LAC Alexander McKay, air gunner,
LAC Wilfred Leonard Morris, air gunner.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Rhossili

Date & Time: Sep 29, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N9890
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Saint Eval -Saint Eval
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Saint Eval at 0005LT on September 29 for a strike on shipping in Cherbourg harbor. Over the target area, the airplane was hit by enemy fire (German Flak), sustaining slight damage to the fuselage and port engine manifold. While returning to its base in the early morning, the airplane ran out of fuel and the pilot was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft belly landed on a beach near Rhossili and was damaged beyond repair. All four crew members evacuated safely.
Crew:
F/Lt Arnold,
P/O Kerr,
Sgt Grenivier,
Sgt W. B. Miflin.
Probable cause:
Emergency landing due to fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Cwmafan: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 12, 1940 at 1223 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L9172
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Upwood - Upwood
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Upwood on a training mission. While cruising at an altitude of 20,000 feet, the pilot radioed 'breaking up' and soon afterwards eye witnesses saw the Blenheim falling in a series of uneven rolls and slowly disintegrating. The main debris fell into the tinplate works area at Cwmafan, in the Afan Valley, 8 miles east south east of Swansea. The pilot bailed out and survived while both other occupants were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Victor Albert Bain, pilot,
Sgt William Hubert Wheeler, observer,
AC2 Sidney Boulton, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I near Rhossili: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N5086
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Saint Athan - Saint Athan
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF St Athan on a navigation exercice. While cruising at low height in poor visibility, the twin engine airplane impacted a hill and crashed north of Rhossili. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt William Charles Parkes, pilot,
LAC Andrew Roberts Sutcliffe,
LAC Frederic Arthur Webster,
AC2 William Ledsham.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.