Consolidated LB-30 Liberator

Société de Transports Aériens Alpes Provence - STAAP

The crew was engaged in a local test flight after the engine number four was changed. The airplane left N'Gaoundéré Airport at 1250LT. The captain made profit of this flight to improve the skills of the copilot who should be promoted as captain. While cruising in good weather conditions, the aircraft banked left, dove into the ground and crashed about 37 km southwest of N'Gaoundéré. As the airplane failed to come back to its base, SAR operations were conducted and the wreckage was found in an isolated area a day later. All eight occupants have been killed.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The aircraft was on its way from England to South Africa with a crew of four and eight passengers, all South African Army Officers returning home. While cruising by night, both left engines stopped simultaneously. The crew was unable to restart the engine and the captain decided to reduce his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing. Unfortunately, no suitable terrain was available around his position. Flying at low height, the aircraft hit the ground and crashed in flames in a field. Eleven occupants were killed while the captain was the only survivor.

Royal Air Force - RAF

Enroute, a fire erupted in the front of the cabin and the crew decided to divert to New Delhi-Safdarjung Airport. On approach, the aircraft on fire went out of control and crashed in a field located east of Gurgaon. Four occupants were killed while both pilots were injured.

Royal Air Force - RAF

Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the engine number one failed. The captain reduced his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing but the aircraft stalled and crashed in a huge explosion. Four passengers were seriously injured while 17 other occupants were killed. Investigators revealed that the captain who was assigned to this flight failed to show himself to the preflight briefing and it was decided to replace him by another captain aged 24. This second captain accepted the mission that was the last one for him. He was killed in the crash.

Royal Air Force - RAF

On landing in Goose Bay Airport, the aircraft hit a snowdrift and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The crew was performing a flight from India to RAF Oakington, near Manchester, on behalf of the Air Transport Command (ATC). While cruising in poor weather conditions, the aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed near Rochefort, killing all 28 occupants. Crew: F/lt L. J. Slack, F/Lt E. W. Beech, F/Lt A. J. Balsom, W/O S. J. Gillingham, F/O H. Rowe. Passengers: LAC C. C. Baker, LAC W. R. Birkett, LAC B. F. Blackbourn, Sgt H. Bolton, Bsm T. G. Burch, Sgt C. Donaldson, F/Lt W. G. Gibson, Sgt L. Hainsworth, Cdr J. G. Halliday, Bom H. D. Henderson, Pvt C. J. John, Pvt A. Mitchell, Gun R. W. Norton, Pvt F. J. Parkin, Gun S. W. Pearson, Pvt I. G. Richards, Gun D. Ross, Gun C. C. Thompson, Bom W. E. Turner, LAC W. Vincent, Pvt D. West, Gun G. Whitehead, Cpl E. S. Winslade.

Royal Air Force - RAF

Shortly after liftoff from RAF Merryfield, while in initial climb, the captain made a turn to the left when the aircraft hit the slope of the Castle Hill located 4 miles from the airport. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all 27 occupants were killed. Crew: F/Lt L. Mielecki, pilot, F/O G. T. Miers, copilot, F/O S. Kleybor, navigator, F/Sgt J. Anderson, flight engineer, F/O A. Wize, wireless operator. Passengers: Sig R. O. Anderson, Sig R. C. Anderson, Sig J. H. Attwood, Sig D. B. Benjamin, Lt P. T. Biles, Sig A. T. Birch, Sig J. W. A. Brewis, Cpt H. C. Buck, Sig W. A. Charlton, Sig A. E. Clark, Sig L. J. Curry, Sig H. Donovan, Sig L. H. Downes, Sig L. R. Dyer, Sig P. B. Fairbairn, Sig R. D. Farrance, Dri B. W. Fox, Sig F. W. Gent, Lt A. G. Quick, Maj H. W. G. Staunton, Sig R. Williams, Sig C. Williams.

Royal Air Force - RAF

Following a long takeoff roll, the aircraft rotated but failed to gain sufficient height. At the end of the runway, the four engine aircraft hit a mound, nosed down and crashed in a huge explosion. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire. All 31 occupants were killed. Crew (206th Squadron): F/Lt Peter Green, pilot, F/O John Dolphin Freckleton, pilot, F/Sgt Dennis George Nightall, flight engineer, F/O Bernard Connor, navigator, F/O Harry Thomas Walter Alderton, wireless operator and air gunner. Passengers: S/Ldr Richard Charles Rivaz, Dvr Rowland George Ashton, Dvr William George Bayfeild, Dvr George Henry Bowyer, Dvr Leslie John Brannon, Cpl Frederick John Edwin Cooper, Cpt Philip Brian Crosby, Dvr Sydney Crouch, Pvt Cecil Henry Ellis, Pvt Eric Joshua Ellis, Pvt James Etheridge, Pvt Cyril James Evans, Pvt Richard Evans, Pvt Bernard Fannon, Pvt Thomas Fleming, Pvt Thomas Henry Forsyth, Dvr Albert Garner, Dvr George Gibson, Dvr Albert Edward Hubble, Dvr William James Keeley, Dvr Kenneth Mann, Dvr Derick Moore, Dvr Charles Mark, Cpl Reginald Walter Pluck, Dvr Reginald Pritchard, Pvt Geoffrey Jack Withers.

Royal Air Force - RAF

On the morning of Friday, June 15, 1945, with the war still raging in the Far East, Liberator JT985 of No 232 Squadron took off from RAF Holmsley South in the New Forest, on the first leg of its long flight to New Delhi-Palam Airport, India. The first refueling stop was scheduled to be at RAF Castel Benito, near Tripoli in North Africa. This Liberator was a passenger-carrying RY-3' (US designation) variant, with passenger accommodation in the former bomb bay area as well as within the main fuselage, and was distinguished easily from the twin tail fin bomber variants so well known with Coastal Command and the USAAF by its single large tail fin. It was unarmed. The weather at Holmsley South was poor, but both the captain and the duty executive officer considered it suitable for take-off, but poor enough for a diversion to be likely if an early return was necessitated. JT985 departed at 07:20 hours. At 07:45 hours, shortly after crossing the coast outbound, the aircraft reported a loss of fuel pressure and that the crew were turning back to carry out a precautionary landing at Holmsley South. This information was repeated again 10 minutes later. At around 08:15 hours the owner of Encombe House, Sir Ernest Scott, and a worker at Encombe dairy saw the aircraft, which was obviously below the height of the hills, and both knew instinctively that it was going to crash. It impacted on the edge of what is now the Dorset Coastal Path, the wings were ripped off and the engines detached and were thrown forward towards Orchard Hill Farm, one wing coming to rest on the footpath (not a public footpath) in Polar Wood leading from the top of the ridge to the farm. There were no survivors. The first to reach the scene were an RAF sergeant by the name of Reginald Reynolds, who was staying at Encombe House, and members of an Army searchlight battery located between the farm and the village of Kingston; they were soon joined by RAF personnel from, presumably, nearby RAF Worth Matravers. The National Fire Service from Swanage was soon on the scene, as were local police officers. When the low cloud lifted at about eleven o'clock a scene of total devastation was revealed. The tragic remains of 27 bodies was joined by much in the way of personal belongings such as a baby's photograph, playing cards, personal notebooks, wallets and the like, together with a distinguished flying cross, thrown from its box but which was also retrieved. Who did the DFC belong to? Not any of the crew or passengers, so maybe it was being taken to India for presentation to its owner? There was also a large amount of tropical uniform items and, to the delight of the local children, tins of boiled sweets. The bodies of the crash victims were eventually taken away to Poole Mortuary. This was, and still is, Dorset's worst ever air crash. Crew (232nd Squadron): F/Lt Saxon Cole, pilot, F/O Donald Twaddle, copilot, F/O Joseph Todd, navigator, F/O George McPherson, radio officer, Sgt George Wyke, flight engineer. Source: http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=25114

Royal Air Force - RAF

The four engine aircraft left RAF Northolt at 2300LT on March 26 bound for Ottawa, Canada, with an intermediate stop in Lajes, Azores Islands. At 0716LT, the crew informed his base with an ETA in Lajes at 0810LT. This was the last radio contact. As the aircraft failed to arrive in Lajes, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft was found. Crew (45th Squadron): W/Cdr William Hugh Biddell, pilot, F/Lt Aubrey Norman Brodie, copilot, F/Lt David Buchanan, navigator, F/Lt Kenneth George Shea, navigator, Frederick Walter Williams, radio operator, W/O Douglas James Spence, flight engineer, Victor Ian Claud James Bannister, steward. Passengers: Cdr Rupert Arnold Brabner, Sir Peter Roy Maxwell Drummond, Sir John Bradley Abraham, Henry Albert Jones, Edward Twentyman, Eric Robinson, S/Ldr Elisha Gaddis Plum.

Royal Air Force - RAF

Shortly after takeoff from Lajes Airbase, while in initial climb, the aircraft banked right, dove into the ground and crashed in a huge explosion. All 19 occupants were killed.

Royal Air Force - RAF

During the take off run, the aircraft hit a snowdrift, causing an engine to catch fire. The take off procedure was interrupted and the aircraft was stopped on the runway. While there were no casualties, the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.

Royal Air Force - RAF

Crashed on take off while en route for a transatlantic flight. No casualties.

Royal Air Force - RAF

On final approach to Gander Airport, following a flight from England, the aircraft stalled and crashed 10 miles from the airfield. Two passengers were seriously injured while 19 other occupants were killed.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The crew was engaged in an air gunnery training exercise with a RAF Spitfire. Shortly after take off from RAF Marston Moor, while climbing, the captain made a sharp turn when he lost control of the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed in a huge explosion in a field located few hundred yards from the airbase. All ten crew members were killed. Crew (1653 HCU): F/Sgt Bryn Williams, pilot, Sgt Alan Francis Bell, pilot, P/O Thomas Henry Jones, air gunner, Sgt Wilfred Anthony Kup, observer, Sgt Edward Thorley, wireless operator and air gunner, Sgt Sidney Sampson, wireless operator and air gunner, Sgt Edward Albert Smith, air gunner, Sgt Kenneth Caselton, air gunner, Sgt William Henry Charles Booth, air gunner. Sgt Douglas Arnold Wood.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The pilot started the take off procedure from runway 06. The aircraft did not take off, overrun and hit a first bank, bounced and crashed in a huge explosion on a second embankment. All 22 occupants were killed. Crew (BOAC & ATA): Cpt Richard Charles Stafford, pilot, F/O Earl Wellington Watson, Richard Coates, radio officer, Roland Folford Davis, flight engineer. Passengers: F/O Elbert Beard Anding, Joseph Culbert, radio officer, Cpt Murray Benjamin Dilley Jr., pilot, Robert Arnold Duncan, radio officer, Cpt Alton Chester Earle, pilot, Wesley Francis J. Goddard, radio officer, Cpt Edward Hamel, pilot, Donald Norman Hannant, radio officer, Cpt Gerald Hull, pilot, Cpt John Joseph Kerwin, pilot, Philip Francis Lee, first officer, Glenwood McKay, radio officer, John Joseph MacDonald, radio officer, Cpt James John Moffat, pilot, Mr. Arthur Blakie Purvis (civilian), Albert Tamblin, radio officer, Walter Lee Trimble, first officer, Martin Joseph Wetzel, first officer. Source and photos: http://www.aircrashsites-scotland.co.uk/liberator_lb-30a_heathfield.htm

Royal Air Force - RAF

Few minutes after take off from Heathfield Airport, Ayr, bound for Montreal, Canada, the aircraft hit a mountain located 40 km northwest of its departure point. All 22 occupants, members of the USAF and RAF, were killed. Crew (BOAC): Cpt Ernest Robert Bristow White, pilot, Cpt Francis Delaforce Bradbrooke, copilot, Henry Samuel Green, radio officer. Passengers: Albert Alexander Oliver, radio officer, George Herbert Powell, radio officer, Herbert David Rees. radio officer, Cpt James Josiah Anderson, Ralph Bruce Brammer, radio officer, John Beatty Drake, radio officer, Cpt Daniel Joseph Duggan, Cpt George Thomas Harris, Cpt Hoyt Ralph Judy, Wilfrid Groves Kennedy, radio officer, Cpt Watt Miller, George Laing, radio officer, William Kenneth Marks, radio officer, Hugh Cameron McIntosh, radio officer, Cpt John Evan Price, Ernest George Reeves, flight engineer, F/O John James Rouleston, Cpt Harold Clifford Wesley Smith, Cpt Jack Wixen. More info and photos on: http://www.aircrashsites-scotland.co.uk/liberator_lb-30a_buidhe.htm