Skyways of London

Handley Page H.P.81 Hermes

Upon landing at Heathrow Airport, the right main landing gear collapsed. The four engine aircraft skidded on runway before coming to rest. All six crew members were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Handley Page H.P.81 Hermes

The aircraft took off on a test flight from Stansted Airport at 1059LT and climbed steeply towards the northwest. A few minutes later it was observed approaching the airport from the west at a height of approximately 1,500 feet. At 1113LT the Air Traffic Control Tower received a radio call from the aircraft in which the captain declared an emergency and said that the controls were jammed. At about the same time the aircraft was seen some 6 miles northeast of the airfield descending in a series of dives and climbs. It crashed in a field shortly thereafter killing the crew of three. The greater part of the wreckage was destroyed by fire.

Avro 685 York

While flying at an altitude of 7,500 feet, the engine number one detached from the wing. The pilot-in-command lost control of the aircraft that went into a dive and crashed in a field located in Kyritz. All three crew members were killed.

Avro 685 York

The four engine aircraft was on its way from Stansted to Kingston, Jamaica, carrying RAF personnels and their family members. It left Lajes Airport in the Azores Islands at 2325LT on February 1st. While approaching the Canadian coast by night, the crew issued a brief emergency message whose content remains unclear. Shortly later, the aircraft crashed into the Atlantic Ocean, about 500 km southeast of Saint John's (approximately 46°15 latitude North and 46°31 longitude West). As the airplane failed to arrive in Gander, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the 39 occupants was found. Weather conditions at the time of the accident were considered as good. Crew: D. Nicholls, pilot, P. E. Walton, copilot, A. E. Chopping, navigator, J. A. Davis, radio officer, R. G. Lawrence, flight engineer, P. M. Newton, stewardess.

De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide

While taxiing for takeoff, the twin engine aircraft fell into an excavation and came to rest. All six occupants were rescued while the aircraft was written off.

Avro 691 Lancastrian

The four engine aircraft landed hard and bounced several times, lost its undercarriage and came to rest in flames. All three crew members were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Avro 685 York

Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the engine number four failed. The crew elected to return but while at an altitude of 550 feet, the engine number three suffered a loss of power. In such conditions, the captain attempted to make an emergency landing in a field. The aircraft crash landed and came to rest few km from the airport. While all three crew members were unhurt, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Avro 685 York

On final approach to Berlin-Gatow Airport, the four engine aircraft banked left and crashed few hundred yards short of runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and all three crew members were killed. They were performing a cargo flight from Northolt, taking part to the Berlin Airlift. Crew: Cpt Cecil Golding, pilot, Henry Thomas Newman, copilot, Peter James Edwards, radio operator.

Douglas C-54 Skymaster

The descent to Tripoli-Castel Benito Airport was completed in poor weather conditions with heavy rain falls and a visibility reduced to two miles. On final approach at an altitude of 700 feet, both right engines stopped simultaneously. The pilot lost control of the aircraft that stalled and crashed in a wooded area located few miles short of runway. Fifteen occupants were injured while 37 others were unarmed. Unfortunately, a crew member was killed.

De Havilland DH.104 Dove

The twin engine aircraft left Croydon in the early afternoon for Paris with eight passengers and a crew of two. Six passengers disembarked in Paris and the aircraft took off around 1530LT bound for Cannes. About two hours into the flight, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with heavy rain, turbulence and strong winds. The aircraft went out of control and crashed in a wooded area located on Mt Le Coran, near Saint-Bauzile, about 9 km southeast of Privas. A local farmer was quickly on the scene but all four occupants were killed. Rescue teams arrived the next morning. Crew: Peter Townsend, pilot, Arthur Frederick Freeman, radio operator. Passengers: Peter Wentworth-Fitzwilliam, Kathleen Kennedy-Cavendish, young sister of John Fitzgerald Kennedy.

Avro 691 Lancastrian

The takeoff was attempted in poor weather conditions. During takeoff roll started in visual reference, the visibility was insufficient and the captain decided to swap to instrument references. Control was lost and the airplane skidded and then swerved before coming to rest in the Cromlin river. All three crew members were injured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Avro 685 York

After landing, the four engine aircraft encountered brakes problem and was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran and came across a river 250 yards further on. All 24 occupants were evacuated safely, four of them were slightly injured. The aircraft was written off.

Avro 691 Lancastrian

Enroute from Cairo to Basra on a cargo flight, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and decided to divert to the H3 Oil Station Airfield for an emergency landing. The four engine aircraft crash landed and came to rest. All four occupants were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.