Tag: RAAF

During the early morning of the 29th August Sgt La Gruta was briefed by Sergeant R J McNair, an instructor with C Flight at 60 OTU who had previously flown … Continue reading “1941-08-29|Defiant Mk.I|T4042|No.60 OTU, RAF|Hunt Law, Borders”

The pilot, a 27 year old former accountant from Australia, was part way through his training course at RAF Hawarden prior to being posted to an operational unit. He had … Continue reading “1941-09-26|Spitfire Mk.I|X4843|No.57 OTU, RAF|Yr Aran, Gwynedd”

Until the spring of 2005 we had thought that the crash site had been located on the eastern side of Shining Tor, this however was wrong. We were able to … Continue reading “1941-10-16|Defiant Mk.I|T3921|No.96 Sqn, RAF|Nr Buxton, Derbyshire”

The pilot had wandered into the high ground around Buxton after becoming disorientated in poor weather.  He pulled up sharply to avoid striking a hill and lost control of the … Continue reading “1941-11-17|Spitfire Mk.IIA|P7560|No.131 Sqn, RAF|Nr Buxton, Derbyshire”

The crew of AE381 were on a training flight from Skellingthorpe near Lincoln in weather not fit for flying, with high winds and blinding snow.  After becoming lost on a … Continue reading “1942-01-21|Hampden Mk.I|AE381|No.50 Sqn, RAF|Cluther Rocks, Kinder”

Some members of the crew were to lose there lives in latter service. They were: Sergeant Thomas Frank Thompson (First Officer at time of death) was killed on the 17th … Continue reading “1942-07-17|Wellington Mk.IC|Z8980|No.27 OTU, RAF|Rud Hill, Sheffield”

The crew were on a day-time cross county navigation exercise from RAF Lichfield, one leg of the flight took the aircraft from Holyhead to Rhyl. It was thought by the … Continue reading “1942-07-19|Wellington Mk.IC|DV800|No.27 OTU, RAF|Black Ladders, Gwynedd”

On the 2nd August 1942 Anson DJ472 left RAF Wigtown to the south of Newton Stewart in Galloway for a cross country navigation flight. At about 18:00 while on a … Continue reading “1942-08-02|Anson Mk.I|DJ472|No.1 (O)AFU|Caisteal Abhail, Isle of Arran”

The aircraft was stationed at RAF Burn in Yorkshire, its crew were briefed, along with 3 other crews (those of Liberators AL597, AL625 & AL635) to carry out a cross … Continue reading “1942-09-14|Liberator Mk.II|AL624|No.1653 HCU, RAF|Drigmorn Hill, Dumfries & Galloway”

At about 16:50 on the 20th November 1942 Wellington Mk.III Z1744 flew into the ground above Upper Hulme.  It is reported that prior to this the aircraft had be the … Continue reading “1942-11-20|Wellington Mk.III|Z1744|No.27 OTU, RAF|Upper Hulme, Leek”

The weather on the 9th December 1942 was typical for that time of year, low cloud, strong winds and rain, it was into this inhospitable climate that the crew of … Continue reading “1942-12-09|Wellington Mk.IC|DV810|No.21 OTU, RAF|Broomhead Moor, Bradfield”

The crew, from B Flight of No.20 OTU, were on a day navigation training flight from RAF Lossiemouth. The planned route was from base to a point some 30 miles … Continue reading “1942-12-10|Wellington Mk.IC|L7867|No.28 OTU, RAF|Geal-charn, Inverness-shire”

It would appear that aircraft being airborne from Church Broughton for some 15 minutes on a Circuits and Landings exercise that the aircraft’s port engine failed, the pupil pilot inadvertently … Continue reading “1943-01-11|Wellington Mk.III|BK405|No.27 OTU, RAF|Boylestone, Derbyshire”

The crew of the aircraft had been on an operational patrol, carrying out a parallel track search, from Bowmore of the sea area RU58, having taken off at 07:24. The … Continue reading “1943-01-24|Sunderland Mk.III|DV979|No.246 Sqn, RAF|Black Rock, Isle of Islay”

The crew were taking part in Bullseye exercise from RAF Church Broughton, near Derby. The exercise involved aircraft from both No.27 and No.28 Operational Training Units, with all the aircraft … Continue reading “1943-01-30|Wellington Mk.III|X3941|No.27 OTU, RAF|Nr Darley Dale, Matlock”

The crew were on a cross country exercise from Church Broughton near Derby, while close to the airfield control of the aircraft was lost and it spun into the ground … Continue reading “1943-02-03|Wellington Mk.III|BK241|No.27 OTU, RAF|Nr Derby, Derbyshire”

While flying at 6700ft on a day cross country flight from RAF Cottesmore both engines began to mis-fire, though the main failure was in the Port engine,and the pilot could … Continue reading “1943-06-11|Wellington Mk.IC|DV678|No.14 OTU, RAF|Chatsworth, Bakewell”

The pilot had taken off on a training flight from RAF Calveley near Nantwich when he became disorientated in the summer haze and could not find land marks that he … Continue reading “1943-07-01|Master Mk.II|DK912|No.17 (P)AFU, RAF|Thorncliffe, Leek”

The aircraft was on night cross country exercise from Rufforth, the crew encountered bad weather and the aircraft flew into high ground. None of the four surviving crew members lived … Continue reading “1943-07-12|Halifax Mk.V|DG404|No.1663 HCU, RAF|Pateley Bridge, North Yorkshire”

The crew were on a night navigation training exercise from No.464 Sqn’s home station of Methwold in Norfolk. They had taken off during the late evening of the 18th August … Continue reading “1943-08-18|Ventura Mk.I|AE688|No.464 Sqn, RAAF|Carnedd Dafydd, Gwynedd”

The crew where on a daytime navigation training flight from Llandwrog near Caernarvon, during the the return leg from Shrewsbury while in cloud, and shortly before 10:30am, the pilot saw a … Continue reading “1943-08-23|Anson Mk.I|N5371|No.9 (O)AFU, RAF|Foel Fras, Conwy”

The accidents that befell these two aircraft occurred nearly one year apart, however the proximity of the two crash sites to each other prevents positive identification of either site, especially … Continue reading “1943-10-05|Anson Mk.I|LT184|No.7 AOS, RAF|Mynedd Perfedd, Gwynedd”

During the morning of 12th October 1943 HM724 was being used for a cross country flight from RAF Dalcross near Inverness. Onboard was a pupil and instructor along with two … Continue reading “1943-10-12|Oxford Mk.I|HM724|No.19 (P)AFU, RAF|Braeriach, Inverness-shire”

The two crew, along with six other crews, were on a high altitude cross country flight from RAF Benson. When at cruising altitude of 30,000 feet the aircraft suffered from … Continue reading “1943-11-05|Mosquito P.R. Mk.IX|MM244|No.544 Sqn, RAF|Nr Loch Ness, Inverness-shire”

The aircraft and crew were stationed at RAF Halfpenny Green to the south west of Wolverhampton. During the evening of the 8th November 1943 to crew of five took off … Continue reading “1943-11-08|Anson Mk.I|N9855|No.3 (O)AFU, RAF|Pen yr Ole Wen, Gwynedd”

The crew of 6 Australians were flying a 3.5 hour night cross country flight from RAF Church Broughton near Derby, a satellite to No.27 OTU’s main base at Lichfield. Their … Continue reading “1944-01-21|Wellington Mk.III|BJ652|No.27 OTU, RAF|Smerrill, Youlgreave”

The crew were to fly an hourglass shaped route from Cark on the northern side of Morecambe Bay with three intermediate waypoints before returning to Cark. The first leg was … Continue reading “1944-02-20|Anson Mk.I|LT433|SPTU, RAF|Llyn Cowlyd, Conwy”

The aircraft took off from Dumfries at 20:17 on the 22nd February for a night navigation exercise around the northern Irish Sea / North Channel area. The intended route was … Continue reading “1944-02-22|Anson Mk.I|EG485|No.10 (O)AFU, RAF|Cairnsmore of Fleet, Dumfries & Galloway”

The flight was recorded as being a Navigation Training exercise from RAF Millom in south west Cumbria, while flying in low cloud at 07:15 the aircraft struck Hollingworth Moor. The … Continue reading “1944-03-20|Anson Mk.I|DJ680|No.2 (O)AFU, RAF|Hobson Moor, Hollingworth”

P/O Revitt was tasked with providing dual night training to the two trainee pilots, being what was termed a “screened pilot” with the pupils actually flying the aircraft. They had … Continue reading “1944-03-30|Albemarle G.T. Mk.I|P1463|No.42 OTU, RAF|Bradbourne, Ashbourne”

The crew were on a night cross country exercise from RAF Wigsley, with one of the objectives being to take a night photogaph of the Menai Bridge between Bangor and … Continue reading “1944-05-27|Stirling Mk.III|LK502|No.1654 HCU, RAF|Cliffe Park, Leek”

The accidents that befell these two aircraft occurred nearly one year apart, however the proximity of the two crash sites to each other prevents positive identification of either site, especially … Continue reading “1944-06-08|Anson Mk.I|LT116|No.9 (O)AFU, RAF|Mynedd Perfedd, Gwynedd”

On the 12th June 1944 the crew of N9589 were brief for a night navigation exercise from their home station at West Feugh near Stranraer. The route was to be … Continue reading “1944-06-12|Anson Mk.I|N9589|No.4 (O)AFU, RAF|Cairnsmore of Fleet, Dumfries & Galloway”

The crew were carrying out a bombing exercise over Cannock Chase, having taken off from RAF Lichfield at 18:30. While at 9000 feet above Cannock Chase a severe vibration developed … Continue reading “1944-07-18|Wellington Mk.X|MF584|No.27 OTU, RAF|Marchington, Staffordshire”

Avro Anson Mk.I MG356, No.4 (Observer) Advanced Flying Unit, RAF, flew into Bennanbrack near Newton Stewart on the 21st July 1944   Raymond John Crotty Flight Sergeant, RAAF Pilot Killed Peter Smith Warrant Officer, RAAF Wireless Operator / Air Gunner Killed Bertram Ernest William Becker Sergeant, RAFVR Bomb Aimer (u/t) Killed Darius Bede Northmore Sergeant, … Continue reading “1944-07-21|Anson Mk.I|MG386|RAF|Bennanbrack, Dumfries and Galloway”

“The aircraft was on a night cross country at about 8000 feet. The first engineer reports feathering the port outer as the cylinder head temp was dropping right off and … Continue reading “1944-08-14|Stirling Mk.III|EE975|No.1660 HCU, RAF|Old Cote Moor, North Yorkshire”

  The crew of PD259 were made up of six members of the Royal Australian Air Force and single member of the Royal Air Force. All six of the Australians … Continue reading “1944-08-31|Lancaster B. Mk.I|PD259|No.463 Sqn, RAAF|Carn Icean Duibhe, Inverness-shire”

The aircraft was being used for a daytime cross country navigation flight from RAF Dumfries when it flew into the north western side of Criffel, an 1,800ft high mountain on … Continue reading “1944-11-04|Anson Mk.I|MG827|No.10 (O)AFU, RAF|Criffel, Dumfries & Galloway”

The aircraft was on a night navigation exercise from Wigtown in southern Scotland, the aircraft’s route was to be from Wigtown to Eggerness Point > Whithorn > Ballyquinton Point > … Continue reading “1944-11-13|Anson Mk.I|AX177|No.1 (O)AFU, RAF|Cronk ny Arrey Laa, Port Erin”

The aircraft had taken off from Millom in southwest Cumbria for a navigation and bombing exercise, while flying south over the mountains of southern Scotland the aircraft struck the snow … Continue reading “1944-12-06|Anson Mk.I|EG693|No.2 (O)AFU, RAF|Craigronald, Dumfries & Galloway”

The crew of NF908 had not been at No.467 Sqn for long, being posted in from No.5 Lancaster Finishing School in at the beginning of December 1944. Though from available … Continue reading “1945-01-03|Lancaster Mk.I|NF908|No.467 Sqn, RAAF|The Roaches, Leek”

The crew of NE132 were briefed to carry out a night cross country navigation exercise from RAF North Luffenham, near Oakham in Rutland, following a route of just over 700 … Continue reading “1945-02-06|Lancaster Mk.III|NE132|No.1653 HCU, RAF|Foel Ddu, Gwynedd”

de Havilland Mosquito Mk.XX KB206 of the Pathfinder Navigation Training Unit, crashed near Cheddleton, Staffordshire, on the 2nd March 1945 The two crew were undergoing training to be posted to … Continue reading “1945-03-02|Mosquito Mk.XX|KB206|PFFNTU, RAF|Cheddleton, Leek”

As is shown above all four aircrew were holders of Distinguished Flying Crosses, and were experienced in their individual trades. The crew were briefed for a day time cross country … Continue reading “1945-03-04|Oxford Mk.I|NM683|PFFNTU, RAF|Rushup Edge, Edale”