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List of fatal accidents and incidents involving Royal Air Force aircraft from 1945

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Several fatal accidents and incidents involving military aircraft operated by the Royal Air Force have occurred since 1945. They are grouped by the year in which the accident or incident occurred. Combat losses and aircraft operated by experimental establishments not on RAF strength are not included.

Contents

1940s

1945
  • On 29 September 1945 PD343 an Avro Lancaster B.1 of No. 550 Squadron RAF went missing on a flight from Italy to the United Kingdom with 26 on board.
  • On 2 October 1945 KH219 a Consolidated Liberator GR.6 of No. 203 Squadron RAF went missing in the Bay of Bengal returning to Singapore on a supply flight, 12 on board.
  • On 4 October 1945 PA278 an Avro Lancaster B.1 of No. 103 Squadron RAF went missing on a passenger flight from Italy to the United Kingdom with 25 on board.
  • On 5 October 1945 KG867 a Consolidated Liberator GR.6 of the Czech-manned No. 311 Squadron RAF crashed after an engine fire just over a mile south west of RAF Blackbushe, England on a passenger flight, 23 killed. The five Czech crew were carrying 17 Czechoslovak citizens back to Prague, Czech repatriation by air was cancelled and further repatriation was carried out by sea.
  • On 7 October 1945 LJ668 a Short Stirling GT.4 of No. 299 Squadron RAF crashed at Rennes, France. The aircraft was flying from Cairo, Egypt back to the United Kingdom when it ran short of fuel. It tried to land in bad visibility at Rennes but crashed into a row of trees, five crew and 21 soldiers and members of the Auxiliary Territorial Service were killed.
  • On 13 October 1945 KL595 a Consolidated Liberator C.6 of 206 Squadron RAF failed to gain speed on take off from Melsbroek, Belgium and sank back into ground, 31 killed.
  • On 15 October 1945 NJ277 a Short Sunderland GR.5 of No. 230 Squadron RAF crashed into a hill in bad visibility near Tuas, Johore, Malaya., 22 killed.
  • On 19 October 1945 BZ928 a Consolidated Liberator B.3 of No. 144 Maintenance Unit crashed five miles south of Maison Blanche, Algeria following engine failure and stall, 15 killed.
  • On 23 October 1945 KJ957 a Douglas Dakota C.4 of No. 48 Squadron RAF was last seen flying into cloud 20 miles east of Chiringa, India, presumed to have crashed, 14 on board.
  • On 5 November 1945 PD383 an Avro Lancaster B.1 of No. 300 Squadron RAF went missing near Corsica on a passenger flight from Italy to the United Kingdom, 26 on board.
  • On 11 November 1945 a Short Stirling C.5 operated by No. 158 Squadron RAF was departing for the United Kingdom when it crashed on take off from RAF Castel Benito in Libya after the wing caught fire, 21 soldiers and five crew were killed, one person survived.
  • On 14 November 1945 PW422 a Short Stirling GT.4 operated by No. 570 Squadron RAF was dropping English newspapers at Evre aerodrome near Brussels when it hit an electric pylon and crashed into a hockey club, five crew killed and three girls in the building.
  • On 22 November 1945 KH126 a Consolidated Liberator C.8 of No. 53 Squadron RAF flew into high ground after take off from RAF Merryfield, Somerset, England on a passenger flight, five crew and 21 soldiers killed.
  • On 23 November 1945 KG520 a Douglas Dakota C.3 of No. 31 Squadron RAF crash landed following engine failure five miles east of Kemajoran, Jave in Netherlands East Indies, five crew and 21 Indian soldiers were murdered by Indonesians.
  • On 3 December 1945 KH125 a Consolidated Liberator C.8 of No. 220 Squadron RAF lost a wing flying in cu-nim cloud and crashed at Rochefort, France, 28 killed.
    • 1946
  • On 15 January 1946 KN557 a Douglas Dakota C.3 of No. 271 Squadron RAF flew into a hill in bad weather five South of Marseilles, France, 25 killed.
  • On 30 January 1946 KN500 a Douglas Dakota C.4 of No. 525 Squadron RAF crashed after entering cloud, presumed loss of control, 11 killed.
  • On 13 February 1946 VB885 a Short Sunderland GR.5 of 302 Flying Training Unit flew into the sea turning in bad visibility near Calshot, ten killed.
  • On 27 March 1946 PP103 a Short Sunderland GR.5 of No. 209 Squadron RAF crashed landed at Seletar, Singapore after two engines failed, 13 killed.
  • On 28 March 1946 KN760 a Consolidated Liberator GR.8 of No. 159 Squadron RAF crashed at Pegu, Burma after an engine failed.
  • On 30 April 1946 FZ559 a Douglas Dakota C.3 of No. 3 Parachute Training School hit the ground at Pindi-Khut, India while low flying, 12 killed.
  • On 8 June 1946 KG747 a Douglas Dakota C.3 operated by the Accra Station Flight hit trees while flying below cloud in bad weather 70 miles east of Lagos, Nigeria, 22 killed.
  • On 29 June 1946 KJ918 a Douglas Dakota C.4 of No. 48 Squadron RAF went missing in bad weather in Malaya, 18 on board.
  • On 25 July 1946 KN585 a Douglas Dakota C.4 of No. 267 Squadron RAF crashed into a swamp 25 miles east of Bassein, Burma, wing had failed flying in bad weather.
  • On 19 September 1946 NX690 an Avro Lancaster B.7 of No. 40 Squadron RAF caught fire in the air and dived into ground five miles West of Homs, Libya, 25 killed.
  • On 25 September 1946 KN414 a Douglas Dakota C.4 of No. 110 Squadron RAF flew into the ground two miles from Kai Tak, Hong Kong after control was lost in turbulence, 19 killed.
  • On 6 October 1946 MW125 an Avro York C.1 of No. 511 Squadron RAF crashed in the Bay of Bengal 100 miles West of Penang, Malaya, 21 killed, cause not known.
    • 1947
  • On 26 February 1947 KK120 a Douglas Dakota C.4 of No. 48 Squadron RAF went missing in bad weather on a flight from Changi to Saigon, 12 on board.
  • On 8 March 1947 KK122 a Douglas Dakota C.4 of No. 216 Squadron RAF flew into high ground at Ischia, Italy in bad visibility.
  • On 18 March 1947 MW198 an Avro York C.1 of No. 51 Squadron RAF had an engine fail on take off, lost height and hit trees 2 miles North of Negombo, Ceylon, 11 killed.
    • 1948
  • On 30 April 1948 RF474 an Avro Lincoln B.2 of No. 9 Squadron RAF broke up in cu-nim cloud and crashed at Verquires, Bouches-du-Rhone, France, 11 killed.
  • On 4 July 1948 MW428 an Avro York C.1 of No. 99 Squadron RAF collided with a Douglas DC-6 of Scandinavian Airlines System which was on approach to RAF Northolt, seven killed on the York and 32 on the DC-6.
  • On 18 September 1948 TA507 a de Havilland Mosquito FB.6 of 51 Maintenance Unit stalled during an aerobatic display a crashed into a Hospital at Lichfield, two crew killed and ten on the ground.
  • On 18 September 1948 TE808 a de Havilland Mosquito FB.6 lost control during a display at RAF Manston and crashed, two crew killed and ten on the ground.
    • 1949
  • On 19 February 1949 VV243 an Avro Anson T.21 of No. 2 Air Navigation School collided with a British European Airways Douglas DC-3 over Exhall, four miles north of Coventry, four crew killed and ten on the Douglas DC-3.
  • 9 August 1949 KN336 a Douglas Dakota C.4 flew into the ground on approach in cloud to Salalah, Oman, 12 killed.

    • 1950s

    1950
  • 25 August 1950 KN630 a Douglas Dakota C.4 of No. 52 Squadron RAF crashed into a ravine at Kempong Jenera, Malaya, 12 killed.
    • 1951
  • 28 January 1951 PP107 a Short Sunderland GR.5 of No. 205 Squadron RAF flew into a mountain in bad visibility at Hualien, Taiwan, 14 killed.
    • 1952
  • 25 June 1952 VP261 an Avro Shackleton MR.1 of No. 120 Squadron RAF flew into the sea 12 miles off Berwick-on-Tweed following a practice attack on a submarine, 11 killed.
  • 8 October 1952 VP286 an Avro Shackleton MR.1 of No. 236 Operational Conversion Unit RAF flew into the sea off Tarbat Ness, Cromarty during air-to-sea gunnery practice, cause unknown, 14 killed.
    • 1953
  • 15 January 1953 TX260 an Avro Lancaster GR.3 of No. 38 Squadron RAF collided with Vickers Valetta C.1 VX252 28 miles South West of Agrigento, Sicily during a night exercise, seven killed on Lancaster and 19 on the Valetta.
  • 7 May 1953 WG258 a Vickers Valetta C.3 of No. 1 Air Navigation School crashed into the sea 25 miles West of Hartland Point, Devon, ten killed, cause not known.
    • 1956
  • 16 January 1956 WT529 a Canberra PR 7 of C.F.E. dived into the ground at Sudbrooke, 5 miles north of Grantham, Lincolnshire, when a Trim Motor failed shortly after take-off from RAF Cranwell. Both crew were killed. They were the pilot, Wing Commander Robert Bruce Cole DFC AFC, who at the time was commanding the Tactics Branch of the All-Weather Wing of the C.F.E. at West Raynham, and his staff officer, Squadron Leader Peter Needham AFC. Wreckage was taken to No.54 Maintenance Unit (54 MU) at RAF Cambridge and then scrapped following the investigation.
    • 1957
  • 5 March 1957 – Sutton Wick air crash
  • 17 April 1957 – VW832 Vickers Valetta C.1, 84 Squadron, Jordan, 27 killed.

    • 1960s

    1960
  • 19 January 1960 - WV664 Percival Provost T.1, 1 Flying Training School, dived into the ground 5 miles from Pocklington, Yorkshire, one killed.
  • 21 January 1960 - WF926 English Electric Canberra PR.3, 29 Squadron, flew into the sea on approach to RAF Luqa, Malta, two killed.
  • 16 February 1960 - WT334 English Electric Canberra B(I).8, 16 Squadron, flew in to the ground following a bombing run close to Nordhorn ranges, West German, two killed.
  • 30 April 1960 - WP774 De Havilland Chipmunk T.10, Hull University Air Squadron, spun into ground following engine being cut-off for practice during take off at Brough Aerodrome, two killed.
  • 10 May 1960 - WT321 English Electric Canberra B(I).6, 213 Squadron, hit ground following a bombing run near Varrelbusch, West Germany, three killed.
  • 30 May 1960 - XF507 Hawker Hunter F.6, 65 Squadron, dived into the ground near Thrapston, Northamptonshire, cause not determined, one killed.
  • 31 May 1960 - XF901 Percival Provost T.1, Royal Air Force College, stalled during a forced landing following an engine failure, one killed.
  • 1 June 1960 - XL615 Hawker Hunter T.7, 8 Squadron, flew into ground on night training 13 miles West of Khormaksar, Aden, two killed.
  • 10 June 1960 - XE883 De Havilland Vampire T.11, 8 Flying Training School, lost power on take off from RAF Swinderby and hit rising ground, one killed.
  • 10 June 1960 - XG193 Hawker Hunter F.6, 111 Squadron, collided with another Hunter during aerobatic display near RAF Wattisham and spiralled into ground, one killed.
  • 7 Jul 1960 - XD549 De Havilland Vampire T.11, 5 Flying Training School, collided with WJ914 Vickers Varsity T.1 of the RAF Technical College near RAF Oakington, two killed in Vampire and six in Varsity.
  • 19 July 1960 - XH617 Handley Page Victor B.1A, 57 Squadron, caught fire and abandoned at Oakley, Norfolk, three killed.
  • 4 August 1960 - WZ472 De Havilland Vampire T.11, 5 Flying Training School, flew into ground during spin near RAF Wattisham, one killed.
  • 12 August 1960 - XD864 Vickers Valiant BK.1, 7 Squadron, stalled and flew into the ground and blew up at Spanhoe Airfield, five killed.
  • 11 October 1960 - XL151 Blackburn Beverley C.1, 84 Squadron, flew into sand during a night time search for a missing aircraft 15 miles from Khormaksar, Aden, seven killed.
  • 11 November 1960 - WF766 Gloster Meteor T.7, Aircraft & Armament Experimental Establishment, broke up in three miles North West of Lyme Regis, Dorset, one killed.
  • 21 November 1960 - XA825 Gloster Javelin FAW.6, 29 Squadron, flew into a hill four miles North East of Peebles while descending in cloud, two killed.
  • 24 November 1960 - WJ759 English Electric Canberra B.6, 9 Squadron, dived into the ground at Tarhuna, Libya recovering from a bombing run, three killed.
    • 1961
  • 9 January 1961 - XD431 De Havilland Vampire T.11, 5 Flying Training School, abandoned over the sea 18 miles north of Sculthorpe, Norfolk, following a fire, one killed.
  • 13 January 1961 - XG128 Hawker Hunter FGA.9, 8 Squadron, flew into rising ground at Wadi Yahar, Aden, one killed.
  • 7 February 1961 - XF893 Percival Provost T.1, 6 Flying Training School, lost control at night and dived into ground near Great Witley, Worcestshire, one Lebanese pilot killed.
  • 20 February 1961 - VL312 Avro Anson C.19, TTC Communication Flight, flew into hill on Isle of Man in cloud, six killed.
  • 2 March 1961 - XE604 Hawker Hunter FGA.9, 1 Squadron, stalled and dived into ground at Cowden ranges, Norfolk, one killed.
  • 2 March 1961 - XL966 Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer CC.1, 21 Squadron, flew into rising ground at Mt, Meru, Tanganyika, during a supply drop, one killed.
  • 24 March 1961 - XE944 De Havilland Vampire T.11, 8 Flying Training School, collided with another Vampire during a formation loop and spun into ground near RAF Binbrook, one killed.
  • 4 May 1961 - XG238 Hawker Hunter F.6, 92 Squadron, abandoned after fire warning two miles of Pomos Point, Cyprus, one killed.
  • 29 May 1961 – WD497 Handley Page Hastings C.2, 48 Squadron, Singapore, 13 killed.
  • 1 June 1961 - XJ765 Westland Whirlwind HAR.2, 225 Squadron, dropped to the ground and caught fire after engine failure near RAF Upavon, two killed.
  • 11 July 1961 - XG134 Hawker Hunter FGA.9, 208 Squadron, flew in Mutla Ridge, Kuwait recovering from a dive in haze conditions, one killed.
  • 5 August 1961 - XH791 Gloster Javelin FAW.9, 12 Group Ferry Unit, engine blew up and aircraft abandoned in spin over Manga River, East Pakistan, one killed.
  • 8 August 1961 - XE579 Hawker Hunter FR.10, 8 Squadron, flew into ground approaching a firing range in Aden, one killed.
  • 29 August 1961 - XH971 Gloster Javelin FAW.8, 41 Squadron, aircraft broke up during a formation break at Geilenkirchen, West Germany, two killed.
  • 10 October 1961 – WD498 Handley Page Hastings C.2, 70 Squadron, Libya, 17 killed.
    • 1965
  • 6 July 1965 – TG577, Handley Page Hastings C.1A, 36 Squadron, Abingdon, 41 killed, 1965 Little Baldon Hastings accident.
    • 1966
  • 11 February 1966 - XH536 Avro Vulcan B2 from Cottesmore crashed during low level exercises in the Brecon Beacons, Wales, all 5 crew killed.
    • 1967
  • 21 December 1967 – XF702, Avro Shackleton MR.3, 206 Squadron, Inverness, 13 killed.
    • 1968
  • 19 April 1968 – WB833, Avro Shackleton MR.2, 204 Squadron, Argyll, 11 killed.
  • 7 May 1968 – XR133, Armstrong Whitworth Argosy C.1, 267 Squadron, Libya, 11 killed.

    • 1970s

    1970
  • 3 January 1970 - XR997 a HS Gnat T.1 of 4 FTS dived into the ground on take-off from RAF Valley, Wales, two killed.
  • 4 March 1970 - XS918 an EE Lighting F.6 caught fire and was abandoned over the sea close to RAF Leuchars, Scotland, one killed.
  • 19 March 1970 - XE596 a Hawker Hunter FR.10 of 229 OCU, dived into the ground in bad weather, one killed.
  • 30 April 1970 - XP556 a Hunting Jet Provost T.4 of the Royal Air Force College flew into ground while on approach to RAF Cranwell, England, one killed.
  • 1 May 1970 - WJ632 an EE Canberra TT.18 of the A&AEE abandoned over the sea off Dorset, two killed.
  • 26 May 1970 - XR767 an EE Lighting F.6 of 74 Squadron flew into the sea in the Straits of Malacca, one killed.
  • 13 July 1970 - WK575 a DHC Chipmunk T.10 from RAF Wyton stalled and crashed near Laxfield in Suffolk, one killed.
  • 27 July 1970 - WH641 an EE Canberra B.2 of 85 Squadron dived into the ground on approach to RAF Wattisham, two killed.
  • 27 July 1970 - XS930 an EE Lightning F.6 of 74 Squadron stalled and crashed on take off from RAF Tengah, Singapore, pilot killed and two on the ground.
  • 8 September 1970 - XS894 an EE Lightning F.6 of 5 Squadron flew into the sea of Flamborough Head, Yorkshire, one United States Air Force pilot killed.
  • 12 November 1970 - XR510 a Westland Wessex HC.2 of Helicopter Operational Conversion Flight crashed after the rotor hit Wessex XT679, three killed.
  • 12 November 1970 - XT679 a Westland Wessex HC.2 of Helicopter Operational Conversion Flight crashed after being hit by the rotor of XR510, two killed.
  • 20 November 1970 - XL112 a Westland Whirlwind HAR.10 of 202 Squadron, lost control in fog, four killed.
  • 15 December 1970 - XM267 an EE Canberra B(I)8 of 3 Squadron, lost power and rolled over into the ground at RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus, three killed.
    • 1971
  • 9 November 1971 – XV216, Lockheed Hercules C.1, 24 Squadron, Pisa, Italy, 53 killed.

    • 1980s

    1980
  • On 7 February 1980 XV345 a Hawker Siddeley Buccaneer S2B of No. 15 Squadron RAF lost a wing due to fatigue during a low level exercise at Nellis ranges, Nevada, United States, two killed.
  • On 12 February 1980 XK151 a Hawker Hunter FGA9 of No. 2 Tactical Weapons Unit flew into a mountain on the Isle of Sky while in cloud, one killed.
  • On 28 May 1980 XX961 a Specat Jaguar GR1 of No. 17 Squadron RAF collided with another Jaguar during a landing break at RAF Bruggen, West Germany, one killed.
  • On 11 July 1980 XV418 a Phantom FGR2 of No. 92 Squadron RAF crashed after control was lost formatting with a photographic aircraft, two killed.
  • On 14 October 1980 XV792 a Harrier GR3 of No. 3 Squadron RAF unsuccessfully abandoned after it rolled while hovering at RAF Gutersloh, one killed.
  • On 7 November 1980 WH667 a Canberra B2 of No. 100 Squadron RAF rolled and hit the ground after an engine failure on take off from RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus, one killed.
  • On 12 November 1980 XV413 a Phantom FGR2 of No. 29 Squadron RAF crashed into the sea 70 miles east of Grimsby, reason not known, two killed.
  • On 17 November 1980 XV256 a Hawker Siddeley Nimrod MR1 crashed into trees following engine failure on take off from RAF Kinloss, two killed.
    • 1986
  • On 13 May 1986 ZA715 a Boeing Chinook HC1 of No. 1310 Flight flew into high ground in the Falkland Islands during a snowstorm, three killed including on Gurkha passenger.
  • On 5 November 1986 XS518 a Westland Wessex HC5 of 84 Squadron flew into the sea and sank while flying a medical flight at night, three killed including a Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service nurse.
    • 1987
  • On 27 February 1987 ZA721 a Boeing Chinook HC1 of 78 Squadron dived into the ground during a test flight four miles south east Mount Pleasant, Falkland Islands, seven killed.
    • 1989
  • On January 1989 XT908 a McDonnell Phantom FGR2 of No. 228 Operational Conversion Unit abandoned by navigator 50 miles east of Firth of Tay after the pilot became ill and passed out, one killed.
  • On 13 January 1989 ZD891 a Panavia Tornado GR1 of No. 14 Squadron RAF collided with a German Air Force Alpha Jet during a practice attack on Wittmund airfield, West Germany, two killed.
  • On 13 April 1989 XZ359 of No. 54 Squadron RAF flew into a cliff near St. Abb's Head, Berwickshire, one RAF Officer killed.
  • On 14 June 1989 XX291 a Hawker Siddeley Hawk T1 of No. 4 Flying Training School RAF collided with another Hawk while flying in formation and crashed near Borth, Dyfed, one killed.
  • On 20 June 1989 XW295 a Hawker Siddeley Harrier T4A of No. 4 Squadron RAF was abandoned after control was lost during an overshoot from a vertical landing at RAF Gutersloh, West Germany, one killed.
  • On 21 June 1989 ZE833 a Panavia Tornado F3 of No. 23 Squadron RAF was abandoned after it lost height and flew into the sea 35 miles north-east of Newcastle, one killed.
  • On 20 September 1989 XX191 a Hawker Siddeley Hawk T1 of No. Tactical Warfare Unit flew into the ground on approach to RAF Brawdy, two killed.

    • 1990s

    1990
  • 30 April 1990 – WR965, Avro Shackleton AEW.2, 8 Squadron, Lewis & Harris, ten killed.
    • 1993
  • 12 August 1993 – XR524 a Westland Wessex HC2 of 22 Squadron RAF crashed into the lake at Llyn Padarn near Llanberis, Gwynedd, Wales following tail rotor failure, three air training corps cadets killed.
    • 1994
  • 2 June 1994 – ZD576 a Boeing Chinook HC2 of 7 Squadron crashed into the ground in bad visibility, Mull of Kintyre, Argyll, Scotland, 29 killed including nine Army and 16 civilians.
    • 1995
  • 2 September 1995 XV239 a Hawker Siddeley Nimrod MR2 of 120 Squadron crashed into Lake Ontario, Canada during a display following a stall at low level, seven killed.

    • 2000s

    2006
  • 2 September 2006 - XV230, Hawker Siddeley Nimrod MR2 explodes over Afghanistan whilst supporting NATO operations, killing all 14 personnel on board.

    • References

    List of fatal accidents and incidents involving Royal Air Force aircraft from 1945 Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA