ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 206991
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
| Date: | Saturday 12 December 1936 |
| Time: | 13:15 LT |
| Type: | Handley Page Heyford Mk III |
| Owner/operator: | 102 (Ceylon) Sqn RAF |
| Registration: | K6900 |
| MSN: | |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 4 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | Wadsworth Moor, near Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire -
 United Kingdom
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | RAF Aldergrove, Belfast, Northern Ireland |
| RAF Finningley, South Yorkshire | |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources |
Handley Page Heyford Mk.III K6900, 102 Squadron, RAF Finningley, South Yorkshire: Written off (destroyed) 12/12/36 when crashed in fog at Wadsworth Moor, near Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire. Three of the four crew were killed:
Sgt Douglas George Church (aged 21)
LAC Percival George Clements (aged 23)
AC2 Claud Vincent Bodenham (aged 18)
Sgt Victor Charles Otter injured (pilot)
Sgt Victor Otter sustained severe burns injuries to his face, and was placed under the care of the distinguished surgeon Sir Archibald MacIndoe (later of "Guinea Pig Club" fame). Vic Otter took two years to recover before being returned to duties. He survived WWII, and by 1967 had risen to the rank of Air Vice Marshal.
The crash on Wadsworth Moor near Hebden Bridge was the worst incident of a debacle in which 7 Heyford bombers left RAF Aldergrove in Northern Ireland together bound for RAF Finningley in Yorkshire on 12th December 1936, but only one arrived safely.
Of the 7 Heyfords, 2 landed safely elsewhere, 2 made crash landings, the crew bailed out of another leaving their abandoned bomber to fall to the ground, and the other was this one, K6900. These were the only fatalities. Heavy icing on the wings caused problems for the bombers as they crossed the Irish Sea and got lost in the freezing fog. The incident was a pre-war alarm call for the RAF, and it led to the development of de-icing technology.
Sources:
1. Royal Air Force Aircraft K1000-K9999 (James J. Halley, Air Britain, 1976)
2. http://www.rcawsey.co.uk/Acc1937.htm
3. http://aircrashsites.co.uk/air-crash-sites-5/handley-page-heyford-k6900/
4. https://militaryaircraftcrashsites.blogspot.co.uk/2010/06/handley-page-heyford-k6900.html
5. http://www.yorkshire-aircraft.co.uk/aircraft/planes/ryedale/k5188.html
6. http://www.stevelewis.me.uk/page17.php
7. http://www.rafweb.org/Biographies/Otter_VC.htm
8. https://liveicomgrshot.blob.core.windows.net/rinfiles/Uploadedpdfs/ItemAttachments/HANG%20Newsletter%20-%202002%20-%20June.pdf
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 03-Mar-2018 17:20 | Dr. John Smith | Added |
| 03-Mar-2018 17:21 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Narrative] |
| 14-Oct-2018 17:25 | Nepa | Updated [Operator, Operator] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2024 Flight Safety Foundation