Vickers 619 Wellington X

Royal Air Force - RAF

The crew was performing a local training sortie at RAF Tangmere. On final approach, the right engine failed. The pilot-in-command continued the approach but on short final, decided to make a go around when the aircraft stalled and crashed in a field located short of runway. Three crew members were injured while the captain was killed.

Royal Air Force - RAF

Crashed in unknown circumstances near Sheffield. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and all three crew members were injured.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The crew was engaged in a local training sortie at RAF Hullavington. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing in freezing fog conditions, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain height, hit the corner of a hangar and crashed in flames. All four crew members were killed.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The crew was completing a local training sortie at RAF Lichfield. During the approach completed in IMC conditions, the pilot-in-command deactivated the automatic pilot system and decided to continue manually under VFR rules. In heavy rain falls, he did not realize that the aircraft was losing height when it crashed in a field short of runway threshold. Two crew members were injured while the third occupant was killed.

Royal Air Force - RAF

On touchdown at RAF Thorney Island, one of the main landing gear collapsed. The aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair and there were no casualties.

Royal Air Force - RAF

Hit a building with one of its wings while taxiing at RAF Lichfield. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The crew was performing a local training sortie at RAF Thorney Island. During the final approach completed with one engine voluntarily inoperative, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a field located few hundred yards short of runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and both crew members were killed.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The crew was completing a local training sortie at RAF Thorney Island. During the final approach completed with an engine voluntarily inoperative, the pilot-in-command lost control of the airplane when the second engine failed. The aircraft stalled and belly landed in a field located short of runway. There were no casualties.

Royal Air Force - RAF

While cruising in poor weather conditions and at an insufficient altitude, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain shrouded in clouds. The wreckage was found near Le Vigan, about 45 km north of Montpellier. All seven crew members were killed. It was determined that the aircraft was slightly off course at the time of the accident, maybe following a navigational error on part of the crew. The poor visibility caused by low clouds was considered as a contributory factor.

Royal Air Force - RAF

On final approach to RAF Lindholme, while completing a local training sortie, the aircraft hit the ground, lost its undercarriage and came to rest in a field located few hundred yards short of runway. There were no casualties.

Royal Air Force - RAF

While conducting a single engine approach, the pilot-in-command loss control of the aircraft that stalled and crashed in a field located one mile east of the airfield. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair while all occupants survived.

Royal Air Force - RAF

After performing a training flight over Wales, the crew was approaching a local airbase when he was forced to divert to another one due to poor weather conditions at destination. While diverting, both engines failed due to fuel exhaustion. The captain ordered his crew to abandon the aircraft and he attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft eventually crashed in a prairie located in Llanidloes. The pilot, sole on board, was killed while all four other crew members were found alive.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The crew was completing a local training sortie at Sheffield Airport, South Yorkshire. On final approach, the aircraft went of control, nosed down and crashed few miles short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed and all three crew members were killed.

Royal Air Force - RAF

On final approach to RAF Saint Eval, the aircraft nosed down and crashed few miles short of runway. Two crew members were killed while the third occupant was seriously injured.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The crew was performing a local training sortie at RAF Hullavington. On final approach by night and in poor weather conditions, the aircraft hit the ground 3 miles short of runway and crashed. Two crew members were killed while the third occupant was seriously injured. It was reported that the pilot in command was conducting the approach under visual flight rules and that the loss of control occurred while the crew was completing the approach briefing.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The crew was performing a training sortie when the aircraft went into a dive, crossed the cloud layer and crashed onto several uninhabited houses. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all three crew members were killed. Nobody on ground was hurt. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was deviated from the prescribed flight path by 56 miles for undetermined reason.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The crew was engaged in a local training sortie at RAF Swinderby. While descending to the airfield, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and was unable to locate the runway. In such conditions, the pilot in command decided to abandon the approach and attempted a go around. Few minutes later, while completing a second attempt to land, the pilot could not distinguish the approach lights and lost control of the aircraft that crashed two miles short of runway. The airplane was destroyed and both crew members were killed.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The crew was performing a local training sortie at RAF Swinderby. On final approach, the pilot in command decided to abandon the landing and attempted a go around. The aircraft climbed to a height of 250 feet when it stalled and crashed in a huge explosion near the runway end. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all three crew members were killed.

Royal Air Force - RAF

On the leg from Istres to Gibraltar, the crew encountered poor weather conditions while cruising along the Spanish coast. The aircraft deviated from the prescribed flight path and was at a too low altitude when it hit the slope of the Mt Montgó located northwest of Xàbia. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all seven crew members were killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was poor due to thunderstorm activity and the aircraft was off course. Crew: F/Lt Leonard West, pilot, F/Lt Peter Pullar, navigator, F/Lt Robert James Baker, F/Sgt Ernest Hansom, AC1 Neville Jones, AC1 Roy Owen Ouseley, AC1 Peter Field Thorne.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The crew was returning to RAF Swinderby after participating to the night exercice 'Emperor'. The approach was completed jointly with a second RAF Vickers 619 Wellington X registered RP388 and carrying a crew of five as well. On final approach, both aircraft were too close from each other when a red flare was deployed from the control box to declare that the runway was closed (radio silence due to live exercise). The first aircraft gained height hit the second Wellington. Both aircraft stalled and crashed onto the runway, bursting into flames. Two crew members on LP846 were seriously injured while all eight other occupants were killed.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The crew was returning to RAF Swinderby after participating to the night exercice 'Emperor'. The approach was completed jointly with a second RAF Vickers 619 Wellington X registered LP846 and carrying a crew of five as well. On final approach, both aircraft were too close from each other when a red flare was deployed from the control box to declare that the runway was closed (radio silence due to live exercise). The first aircraft gained height hit the second Wellington. Both aircraft stalled and crashed onto the runway, bursting into flames. Two crew members on LP846 were seriously injured while all eight other occupants were killed.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The crew was taking part to a night exercice called 'Emperor'. While cruising over the Thames estuary, the Wellington collided with a Belgian Air Force De Havilland Mosquito registered MM757 and carrying a crew of two. Both aircraft dove into the sea and crashed about 5 miles off Reculver. All seven crew members on both aircraft were killed. Crew from Wellington: Sgt Allan Warboys, F/Sgt Arthur Gordon Goodfellow, Cdt Alan Frederick George Marshall, Cdt Alister MacIntosh Dougall, Sgt George Stanley Stansby. Crew from Mosquito: Cpt Christian Henrard, Sgt Joseph Tytgat.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The crew was engaged in a local training sortie in RAF Swinderby. On final approach by night, the pilot in command encountered difficulties due to poor visibility caused by bad weather conditions. He then decided to make a go around and followed a downwind circuit for a second approach when the aircraft, which was too low, hit a hill and crashed. Two crew members were killed while the third occupant was seriously injured.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The aircraft left RAF Middleton Saint George at 1845LT on a night navigation exercice. At 2137LT, the crew informed ground that the mission was uneventful until this time. Twenty-three minutes later, the aircraft went into a dive. At an altitude of 1,000 feet, it partially disintegrated and eventually crashed in a pasture. All four crew members were killed. Crew: S. J. Murdoch, pilot, F/Lt W. A. Ryde, navigator, F/Lt H. Seiman, navigator, Sig A. E. Bazen.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The crew was engaged in a local training sortie in RAF Hullavington. Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb by night, the pilot in command informed ground that an engine failed and completed a turn to join the circuit when control was lost. The aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a field. All four crew members were killed.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The crew was performing a night training sortie. On final approach in low visibility, the aircraft crashed in a field 3,5 miles short of runway threshold. There were no casualties.

Royal Air Force - RAF

On final approach to RAF Swinderby, while on a training sortie, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a field located 2,2 miles short of runway threshold. There were no casualties.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The crew was engaged in a night training sortie in RAF Swinderby. On final approach, the pilot in command decided to make a go around. He overflew the runway at low height and then started to climb when the aircraft banked left, nosed down and crashed in a wooded area located near the airport. All three crew members were killed.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The crew was completing a training flight over The Channel. While flying off the Channel Islands, the crew informed ground about an engine fire. The captain decided to divert to RAF Tangmere for an emergency landing. On final approach, he was unable to lower the gear so the aircraft belly landed, slid for several yards and came to rest in flames. While all three occupants were uninjured, the aircraft was destroyed.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The crew was completing a training sortie in RAF Finningley. While flying in the vicinity of the airbase, the aircraft collided with a flock of ducks. Both engines lost power and the pilot was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed near the airfield and came to rest. There were no casualties.

Royal Air Force - RAF

During an airshow in RAF Middleton Saint George, the crew was involved in a demonstration mission consisting of para-dropping a low height. On final approach, during the last segment, the airplane nosed down and crashed at runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants were killed.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The crew was engaged in a local training sortie. On final approach, the pilot in command decided to abort and started a go around. He completed a circuit vertical to the terrain and then started a second approach to land. Again, he abandoned this second approach and a third as well few minutes later. During the third go around maneuver, while at a height of 600 feet, the pilot made a turn to the left to join the approach path but did not realize he lost altitude. By night and low visibility, the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in a wooded area located 1,5 mile from the airfield. Two crew members were killed while the copilot was seriously injured. It is reported that the crew apparently tried to maintain a visual contact with the ground and did not refer to their instruments at the time of accident.

Royal Air Force - RAF

On landing, the aircraft went out of control, lost its undercarriage and came to rest. There were no injuries but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The crew was completing a training sortie in RAF Finningley. Upon landing, the aircraft swung on runway, went out of control and came to rest. All crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Royal Air Force - RAF

Left its base at 0930LT for a training mission over the North Sea. At 1435LT, the crew informed ground about his position and that he was flying at an altitude of 15,000 feet some 192 km from his departure point. Few minutes later, the aircraft crashed into the sea in unknown circumstances. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was ever found.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The crew was engaged in a night training sortie at RAF Topcliffe. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing at a height of some 300 feet, the aircraft collided with a second Vickers 619 Wellington X. Registered RP565, it was carrying another crew of four, was also completing a training flight and was attempting to land. Both aircraft went out of control and crashed in a field near the airport. All eight crew members were killed. Crew: F/Lt Franciszek Kula, pilot, Colin Bass, pilot, Sig Walter Ernest Leslie Howell, Sig Arthur Edward Highman, F/Lt William James Jones, F/Lt Robert Sneddon Laird, F/Lt Harry Corelius New, F/Lt John Edge Kerslake.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The crew was engaged in a night training sortie at RAF Topcliffe. While approaching the airbase at a height of some 300 feet, the aircraft collided with a second Vickers 619 Wellington X. Registered RP499, it was carrying another crew of four and just took off from RAF Topcliffe. Both aircraft went out of control and crashed in a field near the airport. All eight crew members were killed. Crew: F/Lt Franciszek Kula, pilot, Colin Bass, pilot, Sig Walter Ernest Leslie Howell, Sig Arthur Edward Highman, F/Lt William James Jones, F/Lt Robert Sneddon Laird, F/Lt Harry Corelius New, F/Lt John Edge Kerslake.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The crew was performing a night training sortie in RAF Swinderby. On final approach, while at an insufficient altitude, the aircraft hit the ground at a relative high speed and crashed one mile short of runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and all three crew members were killed.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The aircraft took off from RAF Topcliffe in the mid-afternoon so the pilot could train on instrument flying. Also on board was a second pilot who was acting as an instructor, a radio operator and a passenger. The purpose of the latter was so that he could carry out radar tests during the flight. The aircraft took off in the gusty conditions with the pilot having to use both hands to maintain lateral control, the aircraft climbed normally to 400 feet but after which the nose rose sharply. The pilot pushed the control column forward to try and make the aircraft return to level but this had no effect, full power was applied but the aircraft continued to climb at this rate until it was at about 1000 feet. The speed of it had now dropped to 80 knots so the pilot ordered the crew to bale out before it stalled. Only the second pilot was able to get out before the nose sank and the aircraft entered a dive from which it could not be recovered from. The survivor sustained slight injuries after being dragged by his parachute when on the ground after it caught in the strong wind. The other three had no chance to get out before it crashed and were sadly killed in the crash at 1500LT. Source: http://www.yorkshire-aircraft.co.uk/aircraft/yorkshire/rp555.html

Royal Air Force - RAF

The crew was completing a training sortie over the North Sea when the right engine failed in flight. The captain reduced his altitude and elected to return to Manston for an emergency landing. While descending to an altitude of 800 feet and while flying across the last cloud layer, the aircraft stalled and crashed into the sea, few miles off Birchington-on-Sea. A crew member was killed while three others were rescued.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The crew was performing a cargo flight from Aden-Khormaksar Airport. Enroute, the airplane went out of control, went into a dive by an angle of 30° and finally crashed into the Gulf of Aden, about 352 km east of Aden. Few debris were found but no trace of the ten occupants who were considered as deceased. The aircraft sank in relatively deep. It is believed that an engine failed in flight and that the crew mistakenly shot down the wrong engine. It is possible that the engine failure was caused by a lack of electric power due to the failure of a battery. Also, it appears that the cargo loading was completed against the published procedures and that the CofG was affected, which may contribute to the loss of control.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The crew was performing a training sortie when the aircraft went out of control, nosed down, lost several pieces and partially disintegrated in the air before crashing in a field located 6 miles east of RAF Cottesmore. All three crew members were killed.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The aircraft lost power during takeoff roll. The captain decided to abandon the takeoff procedure and raised the undercarriage. The aircraft sank on its belly and skidded for several yards before coming to rest. There were no casualties.

Royal Air Force - RAF

On final approach to RAF Drieffield, the crew encountered control problems and informed ground that he was attempting an emergency landing. Few seconds later, the aircraft nosed down and crashed in a huge explosion few hundred yards short of runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and both pilots were killed.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The crew was performing a training flight from RAF Shawbury. After flying over the island of Ouessant, heading to Straits of Dover, both engines failed simultaneously. Unable to restart the engines, the captain was forced to reduce his altitude and attempted to ditch the aircraft off Roscoff. On rough sea, the aircraft landed quite hard and broke in two. Three crew members were able to take refuge in a dinghy while three others were drowned when the aircraft sank and was lost. The crew of a merchant ship arrived on the scene about 5 hours later and evacuated the three survivors that were later landed at Plymouth. Crew: F/Lt Franczak, pilot, F/O Ken S. Delbridge, navigator, Sgt Bennett, signaler, Cad Joseph Smith, † Sgt Smith, † Sgt Singh. †

Royal Air Force - RAF

On final approach to RAF Moreton-in-Marsh, while on a local training sortie, the aircraft hit the ground and crashed in a field located in Long Compton, about five km east of the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all five crew members were killed. The accident occurred by night and low visibility due to clouds. Crew (21st OTU): F/O D. J. Ferdinando, F/Lt K. G. J. Gratton, F/Sgt R. Dunn, Sgt W. B. Greatrix, Sgt D. E. Robinson.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The crew were undertaking a cross country training flight when, three hours into the flight the pilot noticed the gauges on his panel showed the starboard engine had lost oil pressure. The pilot feathered the engine believing it was failing. He then attempted a hurried forced landing at RAF East Moor at 1345LT but touched down too far along the runway and as the aircraft ran off the end of the runway, the aircraft's undercarriage was raised to stop the aircraft. Crew (10th OTU): F/O Geoffrey Wright Burt, pilot 4. Source: http://www.yorkshire-aircraft.co.uk/aircraft/planes/ryedale/nc725.html

French Navy

Crashed in unknown circumstances in Port Lyautey Airbase, killing all four crew members.