Avro 683 Lancaster

Argentinian Air Force - Fuerza Aérea Argentina

Crashed during takeoff and came to rest in flames. All six crew members escaped uninjured.

French Navy

En route to Agadir by night, the crew informed ATC about an engine fire and elected to divert to Casablanca Airport. Shortly later, the airplane crashed in flames on a hilly terrain near El Kelâa des Sraghna, killing all 20 occupants. The airplane was also coded WU-26.

Swedish Air Force - Flygvapnet

The crew (two pilots and two engineers) were involved in a local test flight following engine maintenance and modification. Shortly after takeoff from Malmen AFB, while climbing, the engine number one caught fire. Both engineers were able to bail out and were found alive while both pilots were killed when the aircraft crashed in a huge explosion in Slaka Kyrka, about 4 km south of the airbase.

Royal Air Force - RAF

An unexpected situation was encountered by the crew while taking off on a snow covered runway at RAF Newquay-St Mawgan. The captain decided to abandon the takeoff procedure but as the aircraft started to skid, he raised the undercarriage, causing the aircraft to sink on runway and to slid for dozen yards before coming to rest. All six crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Royal Air Force - RAF

During the takeoff run, the aircraft swerved on runway, went out of control and came to rest. All seven crew members evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The crew left RAF Saint Eval to conduct a training mission consisting of a submarine attack. In unknown circumstances, the aircraft crashed into the Celtic Sea off the Cornwall coast. All seven crew members were killed.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The crew was completing a training flight from RAF St Mawgan to RAF St Eval. On final approach, the aircraft was too low and hit approach lights. The crew attempted to make a go around when the airplane crashed short of runway. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

Argentinian Air Force - Fuerza Aérea Argentina

The crew was involved in a local test flight when the airplane crashed into the Rio de la Plata about six km off the district of Berazategui, in the suburb of Buenos Aires. Two crew members were rescued while three others were killed, among them the pilot Werner Baumbach and the flight engineer Karl Heinrich.

Royal Air Force - RAF

During the takeoff roll, the aircraft swung, lost its undercarriage and came to rest. All five crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was not repaired and struck off charge.

World-Wide Airways

The crew was completing a cargo flight from Seven Islands to Menihek Airport and the aircraft was carrying a load of 2,150 gallons of diesel, 300 gallons of petrol and 800 gallons of Avgas. The approach was performed in strong crosswinds and after touchdown on a gravel runway, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway and eventually collided with rocks and came to rest in flames. Both pilots evacuated safely while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Royal Canadian Air Force - RCAF

On a flight from Vancouver to San Diego, the four engine aircraft crashed on the Iron Mountain located in the Syskiyou Mountain Range, southern Oregon. All ten crew members were killed. Crew: F/O Joseph Yvon Aurele Elias Bourgeois, F/O John William Brownie, F/O Robert James Calder, F/O David Fair Lancaster Ellis, F/O Kenneth Edgar Elsden, LAC John Haraldson, F/O Harry Charles Maddick, Cpl Donald Gordon Lancaster Spence, F/O Cyril Jerome Lancaster Williams, LAC William Henry Waldron.

Royal Canadian Air Force - RCAF

Crashed in unknown circumstances while returning to Greenwood Airbase following a reconnaissance mission. Six of the seven crew members were killed. Crew: F/O Eric Travers Lewis, † F/O Douglas Alan Hamilton, † F/O John Dane Curzon, † Sgt Neil McCarrol, † LAC William Douglas Fifield, † AC1 George Patrick Sylvester Shoul, † F/O K. Benson.

Royal Canadian Air Force - RCAF

Crashed in unknown circumstances few minutes after its takeoff from Goose Bay. SAR operations were conducted but eventually abandoned after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. The wreckage was eventually found in a remote area on June 23, 1953.

Royal Air Force - RAF

While cruising at an altitude of 1,500 feet in low visibility due to the night and rain falls, the aircraft collided with a RAF Vickers 607 Valetta C.1 registered VX562. En route from Luqa to Northolt, the Valetta was carrying 16 passengers and a crew of three. Following the collision, both aircraft crashed into the Mediterranean sea about 46 km southwest of Agrigento. All 26 occupants in both aircraft were killed. The Lancaster crew was following HMS Gambia and other Royal Navy ships on an antisubmarine exercise.

Royal Air Force - RAF

Just after liftoff from runway 06 at Luqa Airport, while in initial climb, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain height, hit several houses and eventually crashed on a neighborhood by the airport. While the captain was injured, all three other crew members were killed. Three people on the ground were seriously injured and one of them, a 60 years old lady, died from her injuries two days later on January 1st, 1953. Crew: F/Sgt John C. E. Smith, pilot, F/Sgt Geoffrey Charles Glanville, copilot, † F/Sgt John Crawford Logan, radio operator, † F/Sgt Wilfred Morris, flight engineer. †

Royal Air Force - RAF

The crew was performing a local training sortie at RAF Benson. During the final approach completed in marginal weather conditions, the crew did not realize that his altitude was too low when the airplane hit the ground and crashed few hundred yards short of runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and all four crew members were killed.

Royal Canadian Air Force - RCAF

During an instrument approach to Comox Airbase, while flying in poor weather conditions, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a swampy area. All seven passengers were killed while both pilots were injured. It was later confirmed by the RCAF that the Lancaster was scheduled on this flight to replace a Canso that suffered an engine failure earlier that day. Crew: F/O Ruff F. Johnson, pilot, F/O Monte J. Wright, copilot, F/O Joseph Frederick Doucette, navigator, † Cpl George Stanley Fletcher, flight engineer. † Passengers: F/Sgt Joseph Leo Laurier Maynard, † A1c Vernon Joseph McIntyre, † Cpl Freeman Archibald McKay, † A1c Wayne Frederick Smith, † A1c Roy Howard Walsh, † Malcolm G. McLeod. †

Royal Air Force - RAF

While completing an exercice, the crew informed ground about a fire on board and elected to divert to RAF West Malling for an emergency landing. On final approach by night, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in flames in an orchard located short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed by fire and four crew members were killed, seven others were injured. Those killed were: F/Lt Harry John King, F/Sgt William McKune, LAC John Albert Bacon, LAC Raymond Henry Pearson.

Royal Canadian Air Force - RCAF

The crew was performing a local test flight when, upon landing, the aircraft bounced after attempting an overshoot. The pilot-in-command decided to attempt a go around and raised the undercarriage when the aircraft stalled and crashed in flames. Eight crew members were injured while four others were killed. Those killed were: F/L Kenneth Edward Lussier, F/L Walter James Burnett, F/O Kenneth Roland Carter, Cpl Joseph Bernard Lachaine.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The four engine aircraft landed long. After touchdown, the pilot-in-command increased engine power and attempted to go around but eventually decided to raise the landing gear. The airplane skidded on runway, overran and came to rest in a field. All 11 occupants were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The aircraft was engaged in an exercice in the Mediterranean Sea, carrying six crew members and one passenger (a photographer) on behalf of the 203rd Squadron. While simulating an aerial attack of a submarine, the pilot-in-command completed a last turn to reach the target when the right wing broke off. Out of control, the airplane crashed into the sea. Five crew members were rescued while a sixth and the passenger were killed.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The crew was completing a maritime patrol flight over the Mediterranean Sea out from RAF Luqa. While flying at a very low height over the sea off the Libyan coast, the pilot realized the situation and decided to increase his altitude. While pulling on the control column, the base of the empennage hit the water surface, causing the aircraft to crash into the sea few miles off Tripoli. A crew member was killed while five others were rescued. The aircraft was lost.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The aircraft left RAF Kinloss at 1800LT on March 13 for a night navigation training exercise. Some 6 1/2 hours after leaving Kinloss, the crew reported that they were approximately 60 miles to the North of Cape Wrath. After this point there was no further radio contact with aircraft, as by the following morning the aircraft had failed to return to base or land at another airfield a search was initiated. This was carried out by numerous aircraft from airfields in Scotland but there were no sightings. On the 17th March as report was received that a red flash had been seen in the Torridon area around the time the aircraft disappeared. An aerial search of the Torridon mountains was carried out and the burnt out wreckage of air aircraft was spotted high on the northern side of Beinn Eighe at the top of the cliffs of the Triple Buttress. Ground units set out to attempt to reach the site to confirm that is was the missing Lancaster but could not reach the site due to deep lying snow and further poor weather, together with a lack of suitable equipment. It was the end of March before members of the RAF Mountain Rescue Team from Kinloss were able to reach the wreck to begin the task of recovering the bodies of the crew. The recovery of the last missing airmen was not carried out until August 1951 when enough snow had melted to uncover his body. Crew (120th Squadron): Fl/Lt Harry Smith Reid, pilot, Sgt Ralph Clucas, copilot, Sgt Robert Strong, navigator, Sgt Peter Tennison, signaller, Sgt James Naismith, signaller, Sgt Wilfred D. Beck, signaller, Sgt James W. Bell, signaller, Sgt George Farquhar, signaller. Source and photo: http://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/crash_sites/scotland/avro-lancaster-tx264-beinn-eighe/

Royal Canadian Air Force - RCAF

The crew from the 405th Squadron Greenwood was engaged in a supply mission to weather scientists based in Alert, NT. While flying at low height to drop the cargo, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a huge explosion about 500 meters south of the complex. The aircraft was destroyed and all nine occupants were killed. Crew: F/O J. R. G. Dube, W/C D. T. French, F/L L. M. Maclean, F/O T. D. Martin, F/O J. E. McCutcheon, LAC R. L. Sprange, F/L F. L. Swinton. Passengers: Dr. D. W. Kirk, Charles J. Hubbard from the US Weather Bureau.

Royal Air Force - RAF

After touchdown, the crew encountered problem to decelerate. The pilot in command decided to raise the undercarriage to stop more efficiently. The aircraft sank on its belly and slid for several yards before coming to rest. All five crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Royal Air Force - RAF

Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in flames. All five crew members were killed. Crew (236th OCU): F/Lt Richard Gwynn Williams, F/Lt Leslie George Harris, F/Lt Alfred Enos Stephens, Nav John Cunningham, Sig Ernest Geal.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The crew was engaged in a night training exercice called 'Bullseye', consisting of an in flight interception of a RAF Mosquito. While flying by night over The Channel, both aircraft collided and crashed into the sea about 8 miles south of Selsey. All seven crew members were killed as well as both pilots on board the Mosquito registered RL116. Crew (148th Squadron): F/O Jack Oldham, pilot Donald McUsbie McCall, navigator, William Meldrum, navigator, Lyndon Harold Stevens, flight engineer, Eric George Clarke, signaler, Sydney Arthur Mason, gunner, Cyril James Chapman, gunner.

Royal Air Force - RAF

Belly landed and damaged beyond repair. No casualties.

Royal Air Force - RAF

Following the failure of two engines, the aircraft belly landed at RAF Shepherds Grove and came to rest in flames. While all crew members of the 149th Squadron escaped unhurt, the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The crew had taken off from RAF Lindholme near Doncaster during the night of the 20th December for a Night Familiarization exercise, this was to have been largely local flying. At just after midnight on the 21st the aircraft was heard flying east over Tintwistle in low cloud, followed by the sound of it crashing. The aircraft burst into flames and was more or less gutted by fire. One of the crewmen had survived the crash and was found alive by the first local residents to reach the crash site but he died shortly afterwards. The recorded details of the crash are very brief but they state that the aircraft was meant to remain in the area around Lindholme but had strayed too far towards the west without the pilot becoming aware. He had begun his let down procedure when the aircraft flew into the hill. Crew (230th OCU): F/Sgt Jack Sherwood Thompson, pilot, F/Lt Peter Maurice Maskell, navigator, F/Sgt Robert Smith, signaller, F/Sgt Vincent Graham, flight engineer, Sgt William Allen Love, signaller, F/Lt Thomas Iowerth Johnson, instructor, F/Sgt David William Henry Harris, instructor. Source: http://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/pages/peakdistrict/peakdistrictpa411.htm

Royal Air Force - RAF

The tail wheel broke off on landing at Ikeja Airport, Lagos. There were no casualties among the 7 crew members of the 82nd Squadron but the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.

Royal Air Force - RAF

Crashed on approach for unknown reason 5,5 miles from the airfield. There were no casualties.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The crew from the 49th Squadron was completing a local training sortie in RAF Upwood. For unknown reason, the aircraft landed hard, bounced and lost its undercarriage. It then slid for several yards before coming to rest. All four crew members were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Royal Air Force - RAF

While cruising at an altitude of 1,300 feet in marginal weather conditions, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located on the Island of Montecristo. All seven crew members were killed. They were performing a flight from Malta-Luqa to RAF Newquay-Saint Mawgain, Cornwall.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The crew was completing a training sortie in RAF Kinloss. The final approach was completed in heavy cross winds (up to 50 knots) and during the last segment, the captain decided to abandon the landing procedure and started a go around maneuver. During initial climb, while at a height of 250 feet, the four engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in a huge explosion. All eight crew members were killed.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The crew was performing a training sortie in RAF Lindholme. On final approach with one engine voluntarily inoperative, the pilot was unable to lower the undercarriage. The crew decided to go around when the aircraft stalled and hit the runway surface, crashing on its belly. There were no injuries but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The crew (236th OCU) was engaged in a night training sortie from RAF Kinloss. While flying in the vicinity of Tain, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in flames in a prairie. All five crew members were injured while the aircraft was destroyed.

Royal Air Force - RAF

Shortly after takeoff from Istres-Le Tubé Airbase, the captain was forced to feather the propeller on engine number one because it was running roughly. He elected to return to Istres, initiated a turn and started an approach when he realized he was misaligned with the runway centerline. He increased power on the three remaining engines in an attempt to make a go around when the aircraft stalled and crashed on an abandoned hangar located short of the runway threshold. Four crew were injured, five others were unhurt and seven passengers were killed. Crew killed were (115th Squadron): S/L D. T. Moir, pilot, G. Atter, flight engineer, G. G. W. Carter, J. T. Walton, F/Lt P. Smith, F/Sgt S. A. Wallace, AC2 R. A. Knapp.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The crew was performing a training sortie with other similar aircraft and De Havilland DH.103 Hornet as well. Enroute, the aircraft collided with a Hornet and both aircraft dove into the ground. During the dive, the captain of the Lancaster was able to bail out before the aircraft crashed in a field, killing all seven other occupants from the 35th and 115th Squadron. The Hornet's pilot was killed as well.

Royal Air Force - RAF

Crashed on takeoff when all four engines failed simultaneously. All five crew members were injured and the aircraft was written off.

Royal Air Force - RAF

During the takeoff roll, the aircraft skidded and went out of control. The undercarriage collapsed and the airplane came to rest. There were no casualties among the crew of five from the 82nd Squadron.

Royal Air Force - RAF

While on a training exercise and flying at a height of 500 feet, the captain decided to reduce his altitude when the aircraft hit the water surface and crashed into the sea about 60 miles northeast of Malin Head, Ireland. The pilot and an officer were rescued while seven other occupants were killed.

Royal Air Force - RAF

While flying over Tripolitan on a flight from St Mawgan to Cairo, the crew encountered very poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity and turbulence. The aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed about 10 km west of Khoms. All 25 occupants were killed.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The crew was performing a training sortie on behalf of the 1660 CU. After takeoff, while in initial climb, the instructor shut down the engine number one, according to the training program (simulation of an engine failure). Simultaneously, the aircraft swung then stalled and crashed. While the instructor was injured, the second pilot was killed.

Royal Air Force - RAF

August 25, 1946 is a date that recalls very painful memories for some people in Newfoundland. Some of the people to whom I refer are Gander residents. A squadron of Lancaster Bombers of Royal Air force Bomber Squadron No. 35, took off for a routine operation. Shortly after takeoff one of the bombers reported an unserviceable compass and was authorized to return and land on runway 14. It succeeded in land on what is now runway 13. It was then designated runway 14 and approximately 3,000 feet shorter than it is today. There were no barriers around the airport. As a matter of face, people regularly walked across runway 14 as a shortcut from the American side to the Canadian side. The perimeter road was so close to the ends of the runways that a system of lights and bells were erected to warn pedestrians and vehicles. The warning system was activated by the control tower a few minutes prior to the arrival of aircraft. The idea was to prevent traffic from travelling on the road until the aircraft had landed. This work well in normal situations, however, when an aircraft departed and had to return immediately, there wasn’t sufficient time for the warning system to be effective. A group of people had gathered near the end of runway 14, watching a squadron of military aircraft depart. Some of the people were on their way home from the United Church evening service. Fifteen year old Trixie Burton (Trixie Smith of Cotton Street, Gander), was hold the hand of her friend, 21 year old, Isola Clarke. They were look toward the runway. They heard nothing behind them – no noise, no gushing of wind, no aircraft engines – nothing! Then, suddenly, Miss Clarke was struck from behind by a propeller of the large Lancaster and killed immediately. It was dark and the controllers in the tower didn’t realize what had happened. They saw the aircraft brake sharply and do, what appeared to be, a ground loop. A ground loop is an uncontrolled turn of approximately 180 degrees. The control tower call the aircraft several times but received no reply. The aircraft, TW870, - not to be confused with Trans World airlines – landed at 2359 Greenwich mean time. Three other people were also killed. They were Raymond Parsons, 20, who had just completed two years of pre-med at Memorial College, Cyril Brazil, 27, and 57 year old Stanley Rideout, all from St. John’s. William J. Mcdonald of St. Mary’s was among several others who were injured. None of the people gathered around had heard any indication of the approaching disaster. The fact that they heard nothing can be partly explained by the fact that aircraft land into the wind, i.e. facing the wind. The people who were standing near the end of runway 14 watching aircraft departing from that runway meant that the wind was blowing toward their faces. They would hear the noises in front of them but not behind them. Something else that added to the cause of the accident was the fact the aircraft did not use its landing lights. This may have been because the crew was too occupied to turn them on or may be as a result of the habit of the night-flying pathfinder squadron during the war. Those aircraft regularly landed and took off without the use of their landing lights. Source: http://www.ganderairporthistoricalsociety.org/_html_4658/lancaster_tragedy.htm

Royal Air Force - RAF

On touchdown, an undercarriage collapsed, causing the aircraft to slid on the runway. All five crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Royal Air Force - RAF

Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the aircraft encountered serious difficulties to gain height and was in a constant stall attitude, with nose up and tail down. The captain increased engine power but the aircraft lost height, hit the ground and crashed in a huge explosion. All seven crew members were killed. Crew (1653 HCU): Sgt Anthony Fredrick Barnard Blaikley, W/O Reginald Thomas Nutting, Sgt Anthony Bone, F/Sgt Frank Keighley Dexter, F/Sgt Alexander John Rossiter, F/Sgt Alfred Albert Willis Thomas, Sgt Thomas Edward Valler.

Royal Air Force - RAF

Shortly after takeoff from RAF Aston Down, while climbing, the aircraft suffered a simultaneous failure of all four engines. The crew, who was completing a training mission, attempted to make an emergency landing but the aircraft stalled and crashed in a field located in Chalford, some 1,3 mile north of the airfield. Both crewmen were killed. Crew (428th Squadron): S/L Reggie Heber Thomas, pilot, F/Sgt Ronald Lester Gray, flight engineer.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The crew was completing a test flight when the aircraft exploded in the air, disintegrated and eventually crashed in a field. All six occupants were killed. Crew (115th Squadron): F/Lt John Douglas Cantrell, pilot, F/Sgt Donald Frederick Payne, flight engineer, F/Lt Frederick Reginald Berry, air bomber, F/Sgt Maurice John Newman, navigator, F/Sgt Dennis William Crutchley, wireless operator and air gunner, F/Sgt Ronald Stedman, air gunner.

Royal Air Force - RAF

While overflying Wigston in very poor weather conditions, the aircraft went out of control and spiraled into the ground. During the descent, the aircraft disintegrated in the air and crashed in the city of Wigston. Debris were found on a large area and several houses were damaged. While there were no casualties on the ground, all six crew members were killed. Crew (300th Squadron): W/Cdr R. Sulinski, pilot, F/O W. Jedrzejczyk, navigator, F/O C. Sulgut, air gunner, W/O W. Brzezinski, wireless operator, W/O M. Szwandt, air bomber, F/Sgt F. Mikula, flight engineer.