GW aircraft crashes Essex

[PRC]

Pall Mall Gazette - Saturday 22 December 1917

Image courtesy The British Newspaper Archive.

Second Lieutenant Vane Carrington Manuel, 56^th Squadron Royal Flying Corps and the General List, died on the 18^th December 1917. He is buried at Ilford (Buckingham Road) Cemetery. https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/357067/vane-carrington-manuel/

The death of the 29 year old Vane Carrington Manuel was registered in the Romford civil registration district in the October to December quarter, (Q4), of 1917.

However the RAF Museum storyvault has him serving with 44 Squadron.  He was flying Sopwith Camel F.1 B2378 when he crashed at Chadwell Heath, (googling seems to indicate it was still part of Essex at that time). https://www.rafmuseumstoryvault.org.uk/archive/manuel-v.c.-vane-carrington

The unit contradiction is partially addressed here – an eyewitness who was later pallbearer at the funeral states it to have happened at Hainault Farm. https://ww1lives.com/2nd-lieutenant-vane-carrington-manuel-killed-in-an-air-accident/

Looking at the map and considering that much of the area was open countryside at that time I suspect he simply came down somewhere between the two.

56 Squadron, recalled from the continent in June 1917 to take on the Gotha’s, was definitely back in France & Flanders by the end of October 1917 if not before, and was certainly there in December 1917. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._56_Squadron_RAF

Cheers,
Peter

Edited 9 December , 2023 by PRC
Formatting

[charlie962]

Walter Bertram Wood, MC and Bar. Died 11/11/17

Halesworth Times 20/11/17 courtesy Findmypast newspapers 

An Ace, interesting write-up here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Bertram_Wood

 

Grimsby News

 

Edited 9 December , 2023 by charlie962

[charlie962]

Strange that the last two I've posted both suggest pilots losing consciousness or fainting whilst flying. Perhaps previous wounds/experiences catching up.

Stephen, your last list 1917 June July seem slightly mixed or is it typo?

Charlie

[PRC]

Lancashire Evening Post - Thursday 08 August 1918

Image courtesy The British Newspaper Archive.

A Second Lieutenant “Neville Metcalfe”, Royal Air Force, aged 23, died on the 7^th August 1918. He is buried at Hornchurch (St. Andrew) Churchyard. https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/357016/neville-metcalfe/

The death of a 23 year old Neville Metcalfe was registered in the Romford District in the July to September quarter, (Q3), of 1918.

Second Lieutenant Neville Metcalfe, serving with 189 Training Squadron at Hornchurch, was the pilot of Sopwith Camel F1. D6683 when he crashed at Hornchurch on the 7^th August 1918. It was judged to be as a result of attempting a vertical right hand turn while flying low, resulting in a spin to the ground – which doesn’t quite chime with 500 feet! https://www.rafmuseumstoryvault.org.uk/archive/metcalfe-n.-neville

Cheers,
Peter

Edited 9 December , 2023 by PRC
Formatting

[charlie962]

Horn church was still Essex in 1918.

Pall Mall Gazette 25/3/18 courtesy Findmypast newspapers 

Casualty cards courtesy RAF  Museum 

 

The Sphere 27/4/18 :

 

Nantwich Guardian:

Last two clippings courtesy Findmypast newspapers 

Edited 9 December , 2023 by charlie962

[stephen p nunn]

Thank you all so much. The "Essex List" is growing like Topsy. It is amazing how many crashes there were in the county. I will post the latest version and start numbering/dating them.

Best regards to all.

Stephen (Maldon).

[stephen p nunn]

Here we go.......

 

Version 1 (9/12/2023)

Essex GW Aircraft Crashes

1915

20/3/15 (11.15) Vickers Gunbus (1629) hit in wing by AA fire from Thameshaven and force landed.

1/6/15 (01.00) Bleriot Parasol (1546) Flt. Sub-Lieu. A.W. Robertson (RNAS Rochford) engine failure whilst on a defensive patrol and force landed on mud flats Leigh on Sea.

17/8/15 (23.55) Cauldron (1596) Flt. Sub-Lieu C.D. Morrison badly burned when 3 out of 4 Hales bombs detonated during a heavy landing at Chelmsford after an anti-Zeppelin patrol. (RNAS Widford?).

18/8/15 (01.15) Cauldron (1593) Flt. Sub-Lieu H.H. Square injured when crash landed Chelmsford following an anti-Zeppelin patrol. (RNAS Widford?).

13/10/15 (23.15) BE2C 2^nd Lieu J.C. Slessor following combat sortie was blinded by searchlight whilst landing and landed in field near Suttons Farm. Pilot safe.

1916

31/1/16 BE2C (I 189) Flt. Sub-Lieu V. Nicholl force landed Thameshaven following defensive sortie. Pilot safe.

3/9/16 (02.55) Farman F56 (9167) Flt. Cdr. A.A. Arnold (RNAS Grain) force landed in a field adjacent to the landing ground at  Broomfield Court. Aircraft turned over and badly damaged. Pilot sprained ankle and suffered cuts.

24/9/1916 - Zeppelin L33 Little Wigborough.

24/9/1916 - Zeppelin L32 Great Burstead.

1917

24/5/17 (04.25) BE2C (6817) 2^nd Lieu J.G. Goodyear blown off course during a defensive patrol and landed Burnham on Crouch.

5/6/17 (18.31) Gotha GIV (660/16) crashed in sea nearly two miles off Barton’s Point while being shelled by Sheerness and Shoeburyness guns.

5/6/17 Sopwith 1½ Strutter crashed Stow Maries. Young Australian pilot, 2^nd/Lt. Roy Walter Mouritzen (37 Squadron), was flying a Sopwith 1½ Strutter. Returning to Stow at dusk, he attempted a downwind landing when, according to one eyewitness, he struck a steamroller (some say it was a caravan). He was only 20 years old and had gained his wings nine days earlier.

12/6/17 Curtis JN4 tractor biplane. Probationary Flying Officer William George Parry (aged 26) of RNAS (HMS President) Chingford. Dived from 300 feet and struck the ground. Pilot killed.

13/6/17 Probationary Flying Officer Kenneth Stuart (aged 18) of RNAS Chingford. Killed whilst training at Chingford. Late to flatten out and struck the ground.

17/6/1917 - Zeppelin L48 Theberton.

7/7/17 Gotha shot down by FK8 of 50 Squadron (Grace and Murray) and crashed in sea off River Crouch.

7/7/17 Sopwith 1½ Strutter (A8271) 2^nd Lieu J.E.R. Young and AM CC Taylor of 37 Squadron killed when aircraft crashed on Maplin Sands. Believed shot down by AA fire whilst engaging Gothas. During a raid by enemy Gotha aircraft. 37 Squadron joined the fray and 19 year old, 2^nd/Lt. John Edward Rostron Young (pilot) and Airman (2^nd Class) Cyril Charles Taylor (observer) were killed near the Nore Light, most likely by what we would now term “friendly fire”.

7/7/17 Sopwith Camel (B3761) Flt. Sub-Ltn A. Lofft (RNAS Manston) crash landed near Maningtree after combat with raiding Gothas. Aircraft a write off. Pilot safe.

26/7/1917 Sopwith Pup (A6244) Captain Eric William Seton Cotterill of 37 Squadron. Aircraft suffered engine failure shortly after take-off and went into a spinning nose dive from 300 ft.  His injuries were so severe that he was taken to the Chelmsford and Essex Hospital and was only transferred to the Colchester Military Hospital when his condition was stable.  He received a bill for 8 guineas for the cost of his treatment at Chelmsford but this was paid by the RFC. He was only discharged from hospital in November, just in time for his wedding in Paris.

17/8/17 “2 British Aircraft” mid air collision over Thames. Lt. Tanmer crashed in the shallows and was rescued. Lt. A.G. Dow (Canadian Flying Corps) crashed in Kent near Joyce Green (killed). Allan Gladstone Dow lies in Watling Street Cemetery, Dartford. Gravestone reads Lt Allan George DOW (note George on headstone, but Gladstone in official records). Royal Flying Corps. Died 17 August 1917. Aged 22 years. "Drowned after a collision in the air, while flying at Joyce Green Aerodrome, Dartford, Kent, England (next to River Thames). Erected by Brother Officers in No 63 Training Squadron, Royal Flying Corps.

19/8/17 Sopwith Camel (B3788) Lieutenant George Robert Craig MC of East Lancashire Regiment, attached 44 Squadron (Hainault). Engaged in fighting practice and went into a spin. Crashed ½ mile north of aerodrome. Pilot killed.

27/9/17 (08.20) ? collided with another aircraft over Rochford whilst making spiral descent. Lieutenant Arthur Sydney Talbot (27) instructing student 2^nd-Lieutenant Geoffrey Cooper Malcolm (25) both killed. Both buried Rochford.

29/9/17 (22.00) Sopwith 1½ Strutter (B2555) Lieut. N.C. Crombie (Observer) and Capt. F.W. Honnett (pilot) (78 Squadron) force landed Orsett in thick fog.

30/9/17 Sopwith 1½ Strutter (B2593) Lieut. J.S. Castle and 1^st A.M. Dawes (78 Squadron) force landed whilst on an operational patrol at North Benfleet.

6/10/17 BE2e (A1876) crashed Stow Maries. 2^nd/Lt. William Quintus Newsom Richardson, lies buried in Maldon’s London Road Cemetery. He died when his aircraft side-slipped during a practice flight out of Goldhanger (37 Squadron) He was 19. (n.b. a lot more to follow on this lad in due course).

19/10/17 “Sopwith” Lt. Aubrey de Tresalor stalled on T/O Hornchurch. Pilot killed.

1/11/17 (03.00) Sopwith 1½ Strutter (A5238) Capt. F. Billings of 78 Squadron force landed Orsett whilst on a defensive patrol.

11/11/17 Lieutenant Walter Wood MC of 44 (HD) Squadron took off in one of two Sopwith Camels tasked to practice dog-fighting; Wood was still suffering from influenza contracted in France. His Camel dived into the ground for no apparent reason, killing him; it is surmised he fainted at the controls.

22/11/1917 SE5a (B657) Capt. Charles William Bruce:The Deputy- Coroner (Mr. H.J. Jefferies) held an inquest on Saturday touching on the death of Capt. Charles W. Bruce, aged 22, of the Gordon Highlanders, attached to the R.F.C., who was killed at an Essex aerodrome on Thursday. Deceased was a native of Alburgh, near Harleston. The evidence showed that the deceased was an experienced and qualified pilot. On Thursday he was flying at a height of 100 feet when, in turning, his machine nose-dived and fell to the ground. At a court of inquiry it was found that the deceased attempted to turn while flying at an insufficient speed. Upon hitting the ground the machine burst into flames, and the deceased was terribly burnt. Lieut. Love, R.A.M.C., stated that in his opinion deceased was rendered unconscious by a blow in the face and the concussion when the machine hit the ground. When unconscious he was suffocated by the intense heat. He did not think the deceased suffered. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence, and expressed sympathy with the parents – and the loss which the country had sustained in the death of the officer. (Norwich Mercury dated Saturday December 1st, 1917). CWGC shows Captain Charles William Bruce, Royal Flying Corps and Gordon Highlanders, as having died on the 22nd November 1917. He is buried at Southend on Sea (Sutton Road) Cemetery. The death of the 22 year old Charles William Bruce was registered in the Rochford District. The RAF Museum Story Vault has him serving with 61 Squadron and flying a S.E.5a serial B657. I think from the Casualty Card that 61 Squadron were stationed at Rochford. 

6/12/17 (04.45) Gotha GIV (906/16) port propeller shattered by AA fire over Canvey crashed on golf course after hitting a tree attempting to land at Rochford.

18/12/17 Sopwith Camel F1 (B2378). 2^nd Lieutenant Vane Carrington Manuel (aged 29) of 56 Squadron. Went into a spin whilst landing. Crashed Hainault Farm. Pilot killed.

22/12/17 BE2e (B4545) Captain Barrington Chadwick Quinan of 37 Squadron injured when he crashed at Woodham Walter. Quinan came over from Canada as part of the CEF and was sent to France in February 1915.  He was wounded in May and evacuated to England but, in addition to his wounds, he was suffering from shell shock.  His recovery was slow and he returned to Canada in October to recuperate.  He was still not fully fit when he returned to England and he continued in England based roles for the next 18 months or so and was promoted to Captain.  But he was keen to return to the Front so applied to join the RFC. He started his flight training in September 1917 and afterwards was with 37 Squadron for further training.  His flying career was still in its early stages as he had flown three solo flights totalling 1hr 45 mins by the time of his crash.  He was quite seriously injured in the crash and he was taken to Colchester Military Hospital with “brain lacerations”.  The Court of Enquiry determined that the crash had arisen due to engine failure on take-off but his medical notes state that he suddenly became nervous and lost control of his aircraft.  Although his physical health improved his mental health appeared to have deteriorated significantly and he was then admitted to Blake Hall Hospital, Ongar, Essex and then to Quarrybank Hospital, Liverpool. While at Quarrybank he contracted influenza which developed into pneumonia and he died on 20 July 1918. He was aged 25 years

1918

28/1/18 (21.30) Sopwith Camel engine stopped by AA shell burst and crash landed near railway signal box at Hornchurch. Aircraft destroyed. Pilot, I.M. Davies safe.

28/1/18 Gotha GV (938/16) (22.10) shot down at Frund’s Farm, Wickford by Sopwith Camels flown by Capt. H.C. Hackwell and 2^nd Lieut. Banks of 44 Squadron. Gotha burnt out and crew of three killed (Leut. Friedrich von Thomsen (nav), Unter. Karl Ziegler (pilot – shot through neck) and Walter Heiden (gunner)). Hackwell and Banks awarded MM.

18/2/18 (01.10) BE12 (6610) 2^nd Lieut. S. Armstrong of 37 Squadron killed when aircraft crashed and caught fire at Tolleshunt Major, possibly following engine failure whilst on a defensive patrol. 2^nd/Lt. Sydney Armstrong, who took off from Goldhanger airfield at 11 o’clock on the evening of February 17^th 1918 in his BE12 biplane. At 1 o’clock the following morning the body of the 18 year old pilot was discovered in the shell of his burnt-out machine, in a field at Tolleshunt Major.

26/2/18 BE2 crashed Goldhanger. Armstrong’s replacement was Irish born, Catholic lad, 2^nd/Lt. Frederick Augustus Crowley, who took off in a BE2 (from Goldhanger. 37 Squadron) on his third solo just before 9am on 26/2/1918. He clipped some trees, stalled and came down in a field at the back of ‘The Cricketers’ pub, where the aircraft burst into flames.

7/3/18 BE12 (C3208) Capt. Alex Kynoch (37 Squadron) killed following collision after take off from Stow Maries (23.29), crashed in a field at Wickford.

7/3/18 SE5A (B679) Capt. H.C. Stroud (aged 24) (61 Squadron) killed following collision (see above) after take-off from Rochford (23.30), crashed in a field at Wickford. Buried  Rochford.

A propeller memorial to 24 year old Captain Kynoch and the other pilot (Captain Stroud) was erected on the site by the local farmer.

23/3/18 Sopwith Camel (C6726) Captain Sidney Percival Gamon, 1/5 Cheshires and 78 Squadron RFC (Hornchurch). Went into spin and hit the ground. Pilot killed.

23/4/18 BE12 (B4535) 2^nd Lieut. C.L. Milburn (Canadian) (37 Squadron) killed in crash Stow Maries. Aircraft caught fire. 2/Lt. Edward Gerald Mucklow deserted from the Royal Fusiliers and served with 37 Squadron, under the name Cyril Lawson Milburn. He was killed, when his BE12 suffered engine failure during a spin and he crashed on Moonshine Field, near the aerodrome at Stow Maries. He was comparatively “old” at 31.

8/5/18 Sopwith F1 Camel (D6649) 2^nd. Lieut. John Donald Baird (aged 20) (44 Training Squadron) accident spinning from 6000 feet, nose dive Hainault Farm. Pilot error.

11/5/18 RE8 (E58) Lt. Harry Lynn Hopkins (24) (189 Night Training Squadron) turning in air over field in Essex crashed and was killed. Buried Hornchurch.

19/5/18 Sopwith Camel (B4614) (23.45) Lt. W.E. Nicholson force landed (broken pressure valve) at Chingford.

19/5/18 (23.50) Gotha GV (925/16) ‘Pommern’pilot decended to 2000 feet through cloud and choked starboard engine and force landed St. Osyth. Pilot Lt. W. Rist and observer, Leutnant Wilheim Rist killed. Vize. Max Gummelt and Rudolf Huhnsdorf safe.

20/5/18 Gotha (00.20) shot down by Bristol Fighter (C4636) of 39 Squadron flown by Lieut. A.J. Arkell and 1^st AM A.T.C. Stagg. Crashed off Roman Road, East Ham. Crew of three killed. After firing around 700 rounds at the Gotha it caught fire and the crew jumped to their deaths. The aircraft spun and came down in a bean field between Roman Road and Beckton Road, East Ham. The site is now used for school playing fields.

22/5/18 SE5a crashed Danbury. 2^nd/Lt. William Martin Burfoot (37 Squadron) suffered engine failure in his SE5a and stalled, turning near the ground, before crashing at Danbury.

19/6/18 Avro 504. Lt. Harold Eborall Davis (28) stall and spin. Buried Rochford.

15/7/1918 Avro 504K (D2085) Flight Cadet Thomas Eric Cotton of 198 (NT) Squadron  injured when he crashed. The court of inquiry determined that the cause of the accident was an error in judgement on the part of the pilot by turning with the engine shut off, causing the machine to stall and develop a spin which continued until  it crashed into the ground. The court stated that the pilot was not disobeying flying instructions but was disobeying the instructor’s order in that he shut off his engine and attempted to turn when near the ground. Cotton was in hospital for 4 months.He was subsequently posted to 37 Squadron where he had another crash on 3 February 1919 while flying Avro 504K E4108.  Unfortunately it seems that he continued to suffer from the effects of these crashes as he committed suicide in 1920 by gassing himself. 

5/8/1918 - Zeppelin L70 in sea.

7/8/1918 Sopwith Camel (F1367) Flight Cadet Thomas Gardiner Keir of 37 Squadron injured when he crashed at Tolleshunt D'Arcy. Keir had taken off from Goldhanger and stalled on a left hand turn, got into a left hand spin and in correcting started to spin to the right and crashed. At the time of his crash he had completed 95 hours of solo flying.  His injuries were severe and life changing.  He had a penetration wound to the right eye which had left him almost totally blind in that eye and a compound fracture of the right foot which in 1919 had still leaving him with considerable difficulty in walking.

7/8/17 Sopwith Camel F1 (D6683). 2^nd Lieutenant Neville Metcalfe (aged 23) 189 Training Squadron Hornchurch. Low flying, went into spin and crashed on airfield. Pilot killed.

15/8/18 “2 seat British Aircraft” crashed after take off West Tilbury. Pilot Lt. King seriously injured and AM Miller slightly.

3/9/18 Sopwith Camel (D9569) crashed off low loop, South Ockendon. Pilot Lt. Brian Gerald Mahoney (aged 28. New Zealander) (189 NTS Squadron, Hornchurch) killed.

20/9/18 Sopwith Camel crashed Stow Maries. 20 year old, Lieutenant Edward Cecil Henry Robert Nicholls was flying a Sopwith Camel when he turned sharply after take-off from Stow (37 Squadron), spun, crashed and was killed.

27/9/18 Camel (F1395) Lt. John Wilton Sheridan killed (aged 29) (61 Squadron). Mid-air collision Rochford.

27/9/18 Camel (F1315) 2^ndLt. Reginald Frank Sanders (aged 19) (61 Squadron) killed. Mid-air collision Rochford.

23/10/18 Avro (E3598) William Thomas Cole. Harold Keates (21953) of 189 (Night) Training Squadron. Killed when 'flying in South Essex both in the same machine which nosedived and crashed to the ground' Court of inquiry said pilot deliberately put aircraft into a spin but failed to get out of spin. Reason unknown.

END

 

 

[charlie962]

On 28/11/2023 at 20:52, stephen p nunn said:

7/7/17 Sopwith 1½ Strutter (A8271) 2^nd Lieu J.E.R. Young and AM CC Taylor of 37 Squadron killed when aircraft crashed on Maplin Sands. Believed shot down by AA fire whilst engaging Gothas. During a raid by enemy Gotha aircraft. 37 Squadron joined the fray and 19 year old, 2^nd/Lt. John Edward Rostron Young (pilot) and Airman (2^nd Class) Cyril Charles Taylor (observer) were killed near the Nore Light, most likely by what we would now term “friendly fire"

You no doubt have further info on this 

A newspaper report seems backed up by his Casualty Card.

 

This officer was engaging 22 EA at the time of his death.

Cyril Taylor. His pilot on 7 July 1917 (John E R Young) in inset. Daily Mirror 14/7/1917

Copied from Lives of the First World War.

Edited 9 December , 2023 by charlie962

[stephen p nunn]

Thank you charlie 962. Yes, a local one to me, but some really good extra information here.

Best regards.

Stephen (Maldon)

[charlie962]

1 hour ago, stephen p nunn said:

12/6/17 Curtis JN4 tractor biplane. Probationary Flying Officer William George Parry (aged 26) of RNAS (HMS President) Chingford. Dived from 300 feet and struck the ground. Pilot killed.

Confusion over who was pilot. Did they have the handover procedure in those days 'you have control' - 'I have control' ?

V slight dif to article already posted by Peter but important to note that Colman was in the aircraft and 'in the pilot's seat'. I presume this was the rear seat, with the front seat converted to dual control for pilot under instruction?

Edited 9 December , 2023 by charlie962

[PRC]

1 hour ago, stephen p nunn said:

Hackwell and Banks awarded MM.

Should that be MC - the MM wasn't open to officers so I imagine they would feel insulted if that was the award they received!

Bayswater Chronicle - Saturday 16 February 1918

Image courtesy The British Newspaper Archive.

Cheers,
Peter

[PRC]

Essex Newsman - Saturday 26 January 1918

Image courtesy The British Newspaper Archive.

Probationary Flight Officer William Eric Floyd, Royal Naval Air Service, died on the 21st January 1918, aged 19, and is buried at Birkenhead (Flaybrick Hill) Cemetery. https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2746562/william-eric-floyd/

The death of an “18” year old William Eric Floyd was registered in the Romford District in the January to March quarter, (Q1), of 1918.

The Roll of Honour in the RAF Museum storyvault records that he was flying out of Chingford, and was Accidentally Killed while flying 21 January 1918 aged 19, machine crashed at Fairlop, killing the pilot instantly and burst into flames on landing. https://www.rafmuseumstoryvault.org.uk/archive/floyd-w.e.-william-eric

Unfortunately the handwriting on his entry in the Register of Officers Services is difficult to make out – I think he was flying an Avro.
Image courtesy the National Archive.

The Naval History website doesn’t have details either. http://www.naval-history.net/xDKCas1918-01Jan.htm

Cheers,
Peter

[PRC]

Globe - Thursday 04 October 1917

Image courtesy The British Newspaper Archive.

Flight Commander “J.D. Newberry”, Royal Naval Air Service, died on the 28^th September 1917. He is buried at Chingford Mount Cemetery. https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/356928/j-d-newberry/

The death of a John Daniel “Newberry” was registered in the Edmonton District in the October to December quarter, (Q4), of 1917.

The Roll of Honour at the RAF Museum storyvault simply records that John Daniel Newberry was Accidentally Killed while flying 28 September 1917, aged 24. He was based at Chingford Naval Air Station. https://www.rafmuseumstoryvault.org.uk/archive/newberry-j.d.-john-daniel

Royal Naval Air Service, flying in Sopwith Pup (Admiralty 9901 Type) tractor biplane, spun in from around 2,000 feet and crashed'
NEWBERRY, John D, Flight Commander, DOI
http://www.naval-history.net/xDKCas1917-09Sep.htm

The Register of Officers Services says accident in Curtis 8864(?)
Image courtesy The National Archive.

However another source believes it was possibly in Maurice Farman Longhorn 8928? http://www.rcawsey.co.uk/Acc1917a.htm

That last site also references:-

16.8.17	B.E.2c 988, RNAS, Chingford
	Sideslipped and crashed after engine failure, Chingford
	Flt Lt Charles Vernon Arnold (23) killed
	Probationary Flight Officer Leonard Eales Forman (18) killed
4.9.17	Avro 504B N6668, RNAS, Chingford
	Fell in Chingford Reservoir
	Probationary Flight Officer Allen Sandby Coombe (18) killed
	Probationary Flight Officer Cecil Saunders injured.
17.12.17	Curtiss H-4 3587, RNAS, Felixstowe
	Sideslipped and nosedived into sea after take-off, off Harwich
	Ensign Phillips Ward Page (32) drowned (US Navy)

Could well be others.

Cheers,
Peter

PS. Apparently I’ve reached my fair use limit on the British Newspaper Archive, so unless I can spot anything in the thumbnails, that’s probably the limit of my contribution.

Edited 9 December , 2023 by PRC
Formatting

[PRC]

Image courtesy The British Newspaper Archive.

Second Lieutenant Harold Edward Crosby, 61^st Squadron, Royal Air Force, died on the 31^st October 1918, aged 25. https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/357146/harold-edward-crosby/

The death of a 25 year old Harold Edward Crosby was recorded in the Rochford District in the October to December quarter, (Q4), of 1918.

The Casualty Card in the RAF Museum storyvault shows him flying Sopwith Camel F.1 F6426 when it crashed at Rochford at 4 p.m. The cause  of the crash is unclear – the assumption seems to be the pilot fainted.

https://www.rafmuseumstoryvault.org.uk/archive/7000268703-crosby-h.e.-harold-edward

Cheers,
Peter

[PRC]

Image courtesy The British Newspaper Archive.

Major  Cuthbert Roger Rowden, M.C., 78^th Squadron, Royal Air Force and 5^th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment, was killed on the 20^th April 1918, aged 21. He is buried at Rottingdean (St. Margaret) Churchyard. https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/659441/cuthbert-roger-rowden/

The death of a Cuthbert Roger Rowden, aged 21, was registered in the Romford District in the April to June quarter, (Q2), of 1918.

He was the pilot of Sopwith Camel F.1 C6717 when the machine spun into the ground at Hornchurch on the 20^th April 1918 at 3.30 pm.

“The court having duly considered the evidence are of the opinion that the accident was due to no fault of the machine or engine. They find that the machine when it was approximately 50 feet from the ground did a right hand vertical bank, and owing to an error of judgment on the part of the pilot, its nose dropped and it dived straight into the ground."  https://www.rafmuseumstoryvault.org.uk/archive/7000284280-rowden-c.r.-cuthbert-roger

Cheers,
Peter

[PRC]

12.3.18     Camel C1625, 78 Sqn, Hornchurch

    Stalled and spun on turn, Sutton's Farm, Hornchurch

    2Lt William Heys Pickup (33) killed

Source: http://www.rcawsey.co.uk/Acc1918.htm

Second Lieutenant W.H. Pickup, Royal Flying Corps, died on the 12th March 1918 and is buried in Accrington Cemetery. https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/375036/w-h-pickup/

The death of a 33 year old William Heys Pickup was registered in the Romford District in the January to March quarter, (Q1), of 1918.

The Casualty Card for William "Hays" Pickup shows him as the pilot of Sopwith Camel F1 C1625 which crashed on March 12th, 1918. It was observed to spin into the ground from 100 feet. https://www.rafmuseumstoryvault.org.uk/archive/pickup-w.h.-william-hays

His AIR76 record in the National Archive calendar has been indexed as William "Herp" Pickup. Date of birth is given as the 10th January 1889 and his next of kin is given as his father living in Fleetwood. https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8215921

There is a birth records for a William Heys Pickup in England & Wales but that was back in Q1 1885 in the Haslingden District of Lancashire - however that would tie in with the age of the 2nd Lieutenant shown on the death register. As far as the birth records for England & Wales are concerned there is no William Hays or William Herp.

Cheers,
Peter

[stephen p nunn]

Thank you Peter. some more to add to the list. This is really growing now and I will issue a new version in due course. Best regards. Stephen (Maldon).

[Fovant]

 Chingford was a training airfield, so experienced lots of incidents both serious and minor.

Bryn Elliott from the North Weald Airfield Museum has compiled a pdf list of West Essex incidents which can be downloaded from their website:

http://www.nwamuseum.co.uk/index_htm_files/IncidentsWestEssexto2000-1.pdf

I have attached the relevant section, which lists the dates of the Chingford accidents as well as others already covered here, but no comprehensve details.

[PRC]

	24.4.18     S.E.5A C5339, 61 Sqn, Rochford     Wing collapsed while pulling out of dive, Rochford     Lt Charles Alexander Brown (20) killed Source: http://www.rcawsey.co.uk/Acc1918a.htm Lieutenant Charles Alexander Brown, Royal Air Force, died on the 24th April 1918 aged 20, and is buried at Edinburgh (Newington or Echo Bank) Cemetery. https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/416180/charles-alexander-brown/ The death of a 20 year old Charles Alexander Brown was registered in the Rochford District in the April to June quarter, (Q2), of 1918. His casualty card records him as the pilot of SE5a C5339 and serving with 61 Squadron. He was engaged in flight formation at the time. The crash was timed at 15.19 on the 24th April 1918. "Owing to the pilot diving at a very considerable speed and tending to pull the machine out too suddenly. Right wing was overstrained and doubled up." https://www.rafmuseumstoryvault.org.uk/archive/brown-c.a.-charles-alexander 30.4.18     Camel B6204, 207 TDS, Chingford     Spun and nose dived from 2,000ft, Edmonton     2Lt Charles Frederick Stephen Jackson (23) killed Source: http://www.rcawsey.co.uk/Acc1918a.htm 2nd Lieutenant Charles Frederick "Steven" Jackson, 207th Training Depot Station, Royal Air Force, died on the 30th April 1918. He is buried at Southend-on-Sea, (North Road), Cemetery. https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/357326/charles-frederick-steven-jackson/ The death of a Charles Frederick "Stephen" Jackson was registered in the Edmonton District in the April to June quarter, (Q2), of 1918. His casualty card, as 2nd Lieutenant Charles Frederick "Steven" Jackson, 207 Training Depot Station, Royal Air Force shows him aboard Sopwith Camel F.1 B6204 when the engine nose dived from 2,000 feet into ground with engine full on. https://www.rafmuseumstoryvault.org.uk/archive/7000275323-jackson-c.f.s.-charles-frederick-steven 17.5.18     R.E.8 C2306, 8 AAP, Lympne     Engine failed, stalled and crashed, Weeley Heath, Essex     Lt Edward Terence Heard (28) killed http://www.rcawsey.co.uk/Acc1918a.htm Lieutenant Edward Terence Heard, 8th Squadron, Royal Air Force died on the 17th May 1918, aged 28, and is commemorated at Golders Green Crematorium, https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/4028127/edward-terence-heard/ The death of a 28 year old Edward "Turner" Heard was registered in the Tendring District in the April to June quarter, (Q2), of 1918. Lieutenant Edward Terence Heard was the pilot of R.E.8 C2306  when due to engine failure, machine stalled and crashed at 9.45 a.m. The Court of Enquiey simply concluded that "the cause of the accident is obscure". 8th Squadron was in France & Flanders at the time of Edwards' death, so more likely he was serving with 8 Aircraft Acceptance Park and most likely on a delivery flight. 19.5.18     D.H.6 A9598, 207 TDS, Chingford     Hit trees making forced landing in cemetery after engine failure, Chingford    2Lt William Robert Burdett (21) killed http://www.rcawsey.co.uk/Acc1918a.htm Second Lieutenant William Robert Burdett, 207th Training Depot Squadron, died on the 19th May 1918, aged 21, and is buried at Hampstead Cemetery. http://www.rcawsey.co.uk/Acc1918a.htm The death of a 21 year old William Robert Burdett was registered in the Epping District in the April to June quarter, (Q2), of 1918. Second Lieutenant William Robert Burdett, 207 Training Depot Station, was the pilot of D.H.6. A9598 which crashed and caught fire after engine failure. In attempting to land in the cemetery he caught trees which brought the craft to the ground where the nachine caught fire, killing the pilot before any assistance could be rendered. https://www.rafmuseumstoryvault.org.uk/archive/burdett-w.r.-william-robert 21.5.18     Camel D6677, 78 Sqn, Hornchurch     Hit tree and crashed     2Lt Cyril Gordon Joyce (20) died 22.5.18 (South African) http://www.rcawsey.co.uk/Acc1918a.htm Second Lieutenant Cyril Gordon Joyce, 78th Squadron, Royal Air Force, died on the 22nd May 1918, aged 21, and is buried at Hornchurch (St Andrew) Churchyard. https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/357014/cyril-gordon-joyce/ The death of a 20 year old Cyril Gordon Joyce was registered in the Edmonton District in the April to June quarter, (Q2), of 1918. Second Lieutenant Cyril Gordon Joyce, 78 Squadron, was the pilot of Sopwith Camel F.1. G6677 which spun to ground and engine choked trying to land and he then struck a tree on the 21st May 1918 at 11.23 a.m., leaving him severely injured. The plane was seen to fall out of control. The engine choking was put down to pilot error. https://www.rafmuseumstoryvault.org.uk/archive/7000276078-joyce-c.g.-cyril-gordon 19.6.18     Avro 504 C732 or C733, 198 NTS, Rochford     Stalled and spun turning on approach, Rochford     Lt Harold Eborall Davis MC (28) killed     Flt Cadet Henry William Francis Rendall injured Source: http://www.rcawsey.co.uk/Acc1918a.htm Cadet name is additional to what is already in the list. Casualty Card says Avro C732 https://www.rafmuseumstoryvault.org.uk/archive/7000269194-davis-h.e.-harold-eborall Cheers, Peter

[stephen p nunn]

This is probably a bit soon, but thanks to all your input it is time for version 2......

Version 2 (10/12/2023)

Essex GW Aircraft Crashes

1915

20/3/15 (11.15) Vickers Gunbus (1629) hit in wing by AA fire from Thameshaven and force landed.

15/5/15 Boxkite. Chingford.

1/6/15 (01.00) Bleriot Parasol (1546) Flt. Sub-Lieu. A.W. Robertson (RNAS Rochford) engine failure whilst on a defensive patrol and force landed on mud flats Leigh on Sea.

6/7/15 Boxkite. Chingford.

8/7/15 Avro 504B. Chingford.

13/7/15 Avro 504B. Chinford.

28/7/15 Boxkite. Chingford.

29/7/15 Avro 504. Chingford.

31/7/15 Caudron. Chingford.

11/8/15 Avro 503. Chingford.

17/8/15 (23.55) Cauldron (1596) Flt. Sub-Lieu C.D. Morrison badly burned when 3 out of 4 Hales bombs detonated during a heavy landing at Chelmsford after an anti-Zeppelin patrol. (RNAS Widford?).

18/8/15 (01.15) Cauldron (1593) Flt. Sub-Lieu H.H. Square injured when crash landed Chelmsford following an anti-Zeppelin patrol. (RNAS Widford?).

19/8/15 Avro 504. Chingford.

6/9/15 P-B PB9. Chingford.

6/9/15 P-B 23E. Chingford.

7/9/15 Boxkite. Chingford.

13/10/15 (23.15) BE2C 2^nd Lieu J.C. Slessor following combat sortie was blinded by searchlight whilst landing and landed in field near Suttons Farm. Pilot safe.

14/10/15 G W Farman. Chingford.

28/12/15 BE2c. Chingford.

1916

31/1/16 BE2C (I 189) Flt. Sub-Lieu V. Nicholl force landed Thameshaven following defensive sortie. Pilot safe.

31/1/16 BE2c. Suttons Farm.

31/1/16 BE2c. Hainault.

31/1/16 BE2c. Hainault.

24/3/16 Avro 504B. Hainault.

2/6/16 G.W. XV. Chingford.

2/6/16 Avro 504B. Chingford.

25/8/16 BE2c. Hainault.

3/9/16 BE12. North Weald.

3/9/16 (02.55) Farman F56 (9167) Flt. Cdr. A.A. Arnold (RNAS Grain) force landed in a field adjacent to the landing ground at  Broomfield Court. Aircraft turned over and badly damaged. Pilot sprained ankle and suffered cuts.

24/9/1916 - Zeppelin L33 Little Wigborough.

24/9/1916 - Zeppelin L32 Great Burstead.

2/10/16 BE2c. North Weald.

1917

8/1/17 Nieuport 12. Hornchurch.

15/4/17 G.W. XV. Chingford.

21/4/17 Avro 504B. Chingford.

11/5/17 M-F Longhorn. Edmonton.

24/5/17 (04.25) BE2C (6817) 2^nd Lieu J.G. Goodyear blown off course during a defensive patrol and landed Burnham on Crouch.

5/6/17 (18.31) Gotha GIV (660/16) crashed in sea nearly two miles off Barton’s Point while being shelled by Sheerness and Shoeburyness guns.

5/6/17 Sopwith 1½ Strutter crashed Stow Maries. Young Australian pilot, 2^nd/Lt. Roy Walter Mouritzen (37 Squadron), was flying a Sopwith 1½ Strutter. Returning to Stow at dusk, he attempted a downwind landing when, according to one eyewitness, he struck a steamroller (some say it was a caravan). He was only 20 years old and had gained his wings nine days earlier.

12/6/17 Curtis JN4 tractor biplane. Probationary Flying Officer William George Parry (aged 26) of RNAS (HMS President) Chingford. Dived from 300 feet and struck the ground. Pilot killed.

13/6/17 Probationary Flying Officer Kenneth Stuart (aged 18) of RNAS Chingford. Killed whilst training at Chingford. Late to flatten out and struck the ground.

17/6/1917 - Zeppelin L48 Theberton.

7/7/17 Gotha shot down by FK8 of 50 Squadron (Grace and Murray) and crashed in sea off River Crouch.

7/7/17 Sopwith 1½ Strutter (A8271) 2^nd Lieutenant John E.R. Young and AM CC Taylor of 37 Squadron killed when aircraft crashed on Maplin Sands. Believed shot down by AA fire whilst engaging Gothas. During a raid by enemy Gotha aircraft. 37 Squadron joined the fray and 19 year old, 2^nd/Lt. John Edward Rostron Young (pilot) and Airman (2^nd Class) Cyril Charles Taylor (observer) were killed near the Nore Light, most likely by what we would now term “friendly fire”. (Official reports say shot down by enemy aircraft – outnumbered by 22 of them).

7/7/17 Sopwith Camel (B3761) Flt. Sub-Ltn A. Lofft (RNAS Manston) crash landed near Maningtree after combat with raiding Gothas. Aircraft a write off. Pilot safe.

26/7/1917 Sopwith Pup (A6244) Captain Eric William Seton Cotterill of 37 Squadron. Aircraft suffered engine failure shortly after take-off and went into a spinning nose dive from 300 ft.  His injuries were so severe that he was taken to the Chelmsford and Essex Hospital and was only transferred to the Colchester Military Hospital when his condition was stable.  He received a bill for 8 guineas for the cost of his treatment at Chelmsford but this was paid by the RFC. He was only discharged from hospital in November, just in time for his wedding in Paris.

 

27/7/17 M-F Longhorn. Chingford.

 

6/8/17 B.E.2c 988, RNAS, Chingford. Sideslipped and crashed after engine failure, Chingford. Flt Lt Charles Vernon Arnold (23) killed. Probationary Flight Officer Leonard Eales Forman (18) killed.

 

17/8/17 “2 British Aircraft” mid air collision over Thames. Lt. Tanmer crashed in the shallows and was rescued. Lt. A.G. Dow (Canadian Flying Corps) crashed in Kent near Joyce Green (killed). Allan Gladstone Dow lies in Watling Street Cemetery, Dartford. Gravestone reads Lt Allan George DOW (note George on headstone, but Gladstone in official records). Royal Flying Corps. Died 17 August 1917. Aged 22 years. "Drowned after a collision in the air, while flying at Joyce Green Aerodrome, Dartford, Kent, England (next to River Thames). Erected by Brother Officers in No 63 Training Squadron, Royal Flying Corps.

19/8/17 Sopwith Camel (B3788) Lieutenant George Robert Craig MC of East Lancashire Regiment, attached 44 Squadron (Hainault). Engaged in fighting practice and went into a spin. Crashed ½ mile north of aerodrome. Pilot killed.

 

4/9/17 Avro 504B (N6668) RNAS, Chingford. Fell in Chingford Reservoir. Probationary Flight Officer Allen Sandby Coombe (18) killed. Probationary Flight Officer Cecil Saunders injured.

 

27/9/17 (08.20) ? collided with another aircraft over Rochford whilst making spiral descent. Lieutenant Arthur Sydney Talbot (27) instructing student 2^nd-Lieutenant Geoffrey Cooper Malcolm (25) both killed. Both buried Rochford.

 

28/9/17 M-F Longhorn. Chingford.

29/9/17 (22.00) Sopwith 1½ Strutter (B2555) Lieut. N.C. Crombie (Observer) and Capt. F.W. Honnett (pilot) (78 Squadron) force landed Orsett in thick fog.

30/9/17 Sopwith 1½ Strutter (B2593) Lieut. J.S. Castle and 1^st A.M. Dawes (78 Squadron) force landed whilst on an operational patrol at North Benfleet.

6/10/17 BE2e (A1876) crashed Stow Maries. 2^nd/Lt. William Quintus Newsom Richardson, lies buried in Maldon’s London Road Cemetery. He died when his aircraft side-slipped during a practice flight out of Goldhanger (37 Squadron) He was 19. (n.b. a lot more to follow on this lad in due course).

19/10/17 “Sopwith” Lt. Aubrey de Tresalor stalled on T/O Hornchurch. Pilot killed.

20/10/17 ? Waltham Abbey.

1/11/17 (03.00) Sopwith 1½ Strutter (A5238) Capt. F. Billings of 78 Squadron force landed Orsett whilst on a defensive patrol.

11/11/17 Lieutenant Walter Wood MC of 44 (HD) Squadron took off in one of two Sopwith Camels tasked to practice dog-fighting; Wood was still suffering from influenza contracted in France. His Camel dived into the ground for no apparent reason, killing him; it is surmised he fainted at the controls.

22/11/1917 SE5a (B657) Capt. Charles William Bruce:The Deputy- Coroner (Mr. H.J. Jefferies) held an inquest on Saturday touching on the death of Capt. Charles W. Bruce, aged 22, of the Gordon Highlanders, attached to the R.F.C., who was killed at an Essex aerodrome on Thursday. Deceased was a native of Alburgh, near Harleston. The evidence showed that the deceased was an experienced and qualified pilot. On Thursday he was flying at a height of 100 feet when, in turning, his machine nose-dived and fell to the ground. At a court of inquiry it was found that the deceased attempted to turn while flying at an insufficient speed. Upon hitting the ground the machine burst into flames, and the deceased was terribly burnt. Lieut. Love, R.A.M.C., stated that in his opinion deceased was rendered unconscious by a blow in the face and the concussion when the machine hit the ground. When unconscious he was suffocated by the intense heat. He did not think the deceased suffered. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence, and expressed sympathy with the parents – and the loss which the country had sustained in the death of the officer. (Norwich Mercury dated Saturday December 1st, 1917). CWGC shows Captain Charles William Bruce, Royal Flying Corps and Gordon Highlanders, as having died on the 22nd November 1917. He is buried at Southend on Sea (Sutton Road) Cemetery. The death of the 22 year old Charles William Bruce was registered in the Rochford District. The RAF Museum Story Vault has him serving with 61 Squadron and flying a S.E.5a serial B657. I think from the Casualty Card that 61 Squadron were stationed at Rochford. 

27/11/17 ? Waltham Abbey.

6/12/17 (04.45) Gotha GIV (906/16) port propeller shattered by AA fire over Canvey crashed on golf course after hitting a tree attempting to land at Rochford.

17/12/17 Curtiss H-4 (3587) RNAS, Felixstowe. Sideslipped and nosedived into sea after take-off, off Harwich. Ensign Phillips Ward Page (32) drowned (US Navy).

18/12/17 Sopwith Camel F1 (B2378). 2^nd Lieutenant Vane Carrington Manuel (aged 29) of 56 Squadron. Went into a spin whilst landing. Crashed Hainault Farm. Pilot killed.

22/12/17 BE2e (B4545) Captain Barrington Chadwick Quinan of 37 Squadron injured when he crashed at Woodham Walter. Quinan came over from Canada as part of the CEF and was sent to France in February 1915.  He was wounded in May and evacuated to England but, in addition to his wounds, he was suffering from shell shock.  His recovery was slow and he returned to Canada in October to recuperate.  He was still not fully fit when he returned to England and he continued in England based roles for the next 18 months or so and was promoted to Captain.  But he was keen to return to the Front so applied to join the RFC. He started his flight training in September 1917 and afterwards was with 37 Squadron for further training.  His flying career was still in its early stages as he had flown three solo flights totalling 1hr 45 mins by the time of his crash.  He was quite seriously injured in the crash and he was taken to Colchester Military Hospital with “brain lacerations”.  The Court of Enquiry determined that the crash had arisen due to engine failure on take-off but his medical notes state that he suddenly became nervous and lost control of his aircraft.  Although his physical health improved his mental health appeared to have deteriorated significantly and he was then admitted to Blake Hall Hospital, Ongar, Essex and then to Quarrybank Hospital, Liverpool. While at Quarrybank he contracted influenza which developed into pneumonia and he died on 20 July 1918. He was aged 25 years

1918

21/1/1918 Probationary Flight Officer William Eric Floyd, Royal Naval Air Service (aged 19). Buried at Birkenhead (Flaybrick Hill) Cemetery. Flying out of Chingford machine crashed at Fairlop, killing the pilot instantly and burst into flames on landing.

26/1/18 ? Waltham Abbey.

28/1/18 BE2c. Waltham Abbey.

28/1/18 (21.30) Sopwith Camel engine stopped by AA shell burst and crash landed near railway signal box at Hornchurch. Aircraft destroyed. Pilot, I.M. Davies safe.

28/1/18 Gotha GV (938/16) (22.10) shot down at Frund’s Farm, Wickford by Sopwith Camels flown by Capt. H.C. Hackwell and 2^nd Lieut. Banks of 44 Squadron. Gotha burnt out and crew of three killed (Leut. Friedrich von Thomsen (nav), Unter. Karl Ziegler (pilot – shot through neck) and Walter Heiden (gunner)). Hackwell and Banks awarded MM.

29/1/18 Bristol F2B. North Weald.

30/1/18 Bristol F2B. North Weald.

18/2/18 (01.10) BE12 (6610) 2^nd Lieut. S. Armstrong of 37 Squadron killed when aircraft crashed and caught fire at Tolleshunt Major, possibly following engine failure whilst on a defensive patrol. 2^nd/Lt. Sydney Armstrong, who took off from Goldhanger airfield at 11 o’clock on the evening of February 17^th 1918 in his BE12 biplane. At 1 o’clock the following morning the body of the 18 year old pilot was discovered in the shell of his burnt-out machine, in a field at Tolleshunt Major.

26/2/18 BE2 crashed Goldhanger. Armstrong’s replacement was Irish born, Catholic lad, 2^nd/Lt. Frederick Augustus Crowley, who took off in a BE2 (from Goldhanger. 37 Squadron) on his third solo just before 9am on 26/2/1918. He clipped some trees, stalled and came down in a field at the back of ‘The Cricketers’ pub, where the aircraft burst into flames.

2/3/18 Sopwith Camel (C1625) 78 Sqn, Hornchurch. Stalled and spun on turn, Sutton's Farm, Hornchurch.  2Lt William Heys Pickup (33) killed. It was observed to spin into the ground from 100 feet. 

7/3/18 BE12 (C3208) Capt. Alex Kynoch (37 Squadron) killed following collision after take off from Stow Maries (23.29), crashed in a field at Wickford.

7/3/18 SE5A (B679) Capt. H.C. Stroud (aged 24) (61 Squadron) killed following collision (see above) after take-off from Rochford (23.30), crashed in a field at Wickford. Buried  Rochford.

A propeller memorial to 24 year old Captain Kynoch and the other pilot (Captain Stroud) was erected on the site by the local farmer.

23/3/18 Sopwith Camel (C6726) Captain Sidney Percival Gamon, 1/5 Cheshires and 78 Squadron RFC (Hornchurch). Went into spin and hit the ground. Pilot killed.

20/4/18 (3.30pm) Sopwith Camel F1 (C6717) Major  Cuthbert Roger Rowden, M.C. (aged 21), 78^th Squadron, Royal Air Force and 5^th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment, was killed on the 20^th April 1918, aged 21. The machine spun into the ground at Hornchurch. “The court having duly considered the evidence are of the opinion that the accident was due to no fault of the machine or engine. They find that the machine when it was approximately 50 feet from the ground did a right hand vertical bank, and owing to an error of judgment on the part of the pilot, its nose dropped and it dived straight into the ground."  

23/4/18 BE12 (B4535) 2^nd Lieut. C.L. Milburn (Canadian) (37 Squadron) killed in crash Stow Maries. Aircraft caught fire. 2/Lt. Edward Gerald Mucklow deserted from the Royal Fusiliers and served with 37 Squadron, under the name Cyril Lawson Milburn. He was killed, when his BE12 suffered engine failure during a spin and he crashed on Moonshine Field, near the aerodrome at Stow Maries. He was comparatively “old” at 31.

24/4/18 (15.19) SE5a (C5339) 61 Sqn, Rochford. Wing collapsed while pulling out of dive, Rochford. Lt Charles Alexander Brown (20) killed. He was engaged in flight formation at the time. "Owing to the pilot diving at a very considerable speed and tending to pull the machine out too suddenly. Right wing was overstrained and doubled up." 

30/4/18 Sopwith Camel F1 (B6204) 207 TDS, Chingford. Spun and nose dived from 2,000ft, Edmonton.  2Lt Charles Frederick Stephen Jackson (23) killed. He is buried at Southend-on-Sea, (North Road), Cemetery. Nose dived from 2,000 feet into ground with engine full on.

8/5/18 Sopwith F1 Camel (D6649) 2^nd. Lieut. John Donald Baird (aged 20) (44 Training Squadron) accident spinning from 6000 feet, nose dive Hainault Farm. Pilot error.

11/5/18 RE8 (E58) Lt. Harry Lynn Hopkins (24) (189 Night Training Squadron) turning in air over field in Essex crashed and was killed. Buried Hornchurch.

17/5/18 (9.45am) R.E.8 (C2306) 8 AAP, Lympne. Engine failed, stalled and crashed, Weeley Heath, Essex. Lt Edward Terence Heard (28) killed. Due to engine failure, machine stalled and crashed. The Court of Enquiry simply concluded that "the cause of the accident is obscure". 8th Squadron was in France & Flanders at the time of Edwards' death, so more likely he was serving with 8 Aircraft Acceptance Park and most likely on a delivery flight.

19/5/18 Sopwith Camel (B4614) (23.45) Lt. W.E. Nicholson force landed (broken pressure valve) at Chingford.

19/5/18 (23.50) Gotha GV (925/16) ‘Pommern’pilot decended to 2000 feet through cloud and choked starboard engine and force landed St. Osyth. Pilot Lt. W. Rist and observer, Leutnant Wilheim Rist killed. Vize. Max Gummelt and Rudolf Huhnsdorf safe.

19/5/18 D.H.6 (A9598) 207 TDS, Chingford. Hit trees making forced landing in cemetery after engine failure, Chingford. 2Lt William Robert Burdett (21) killed. Crashed and caught fire after engine failure. In attempting to land in the cemetery he caught trees which brought the craft to the ground where the machine caught fire, killing the pilot before any assistance could be rendered. 

20/5/18 Gotha (00.20) shot down by Bristol Fighter (C4636) of 39 Squadron flown by Lieut. A.J. Arkell and 1^st AM A.T.C. Stagg. Crashed off Roman Road, East Ham. Crew of three killed. After firing around 700 rounds at the Gotha it caught fire and the crew jumped to their deaths. The aircraft spun and came down in a bean field between Roman Road and Beckton Road, East Ham. The site is now used for school playing fields.

20/5/18 Bristol F2B. North Weald.

21/5/18 (11.23am) Sopwith Camel (D6677) 78 Sqn, Hornchurch. Hit tree and crashed. 2Lt Cyril Gordon Joyce (20) died 22.5.18 (South African). Buried at Hornchurch (St Andrew) Churchyard. Spun to ground and engine choked trying to land and he then struck a tree, leaving him severely injured. The plane was seen to fall out of control. The engine choking was put down to pilot error. 

22/5/18 SE5a crashed Danbury. 2^nd/Lt. William Martin Burfoot (37 Squadron) suffered engine failure in his SE5a and stalled, turning near the ground, before crashing at Danbury.

19/6/18 Avro 504 (C732 or C733) 198 NTS, Rochford. Stalled and spun turning on approach, Rochford. Lt Harold Eborall Davis MC (28) killed. Flt Cadet Henry William Francis Rendall injured

15/7/1918 Avro 504K (D2085) Flight Cadet Thomas Eric Cotton of 198 (NT) Squadron  injured when he crashed. The court of inquiry determined that the cause of the accident was an error in judgement on the part of the pilot by turning with the engine shut off, causing the machine to stall and develop a spin which continued until  it crashed into the ground. The court stated that the pilot was not disobeying flying instructions but was disobeying the instructor’s order in that he shut off his engine and attempted to turn when near the ground. Cotton was in hospital for 4 months.He was subsequently posted to 37 Squadron where he had another crash on 3 February 1919 while flying Avro 504K E4108.  Unfortunately it seems that he continued to suffer from the effects of these crashes as he committed suicide in 1920 by gassing himself. 

29/7/18 Bristol F2B. ?

5/8/1918 - Zeppelin L70 in sea.

7/8/1918 Sopwith Camel (F1367) Flight Cadet Thomas Gardiner Keir of 37 Squadron injured when he crashed at Tolleshunt D'Arcy. Keir had taken off from Goldhanger and stalled on a left hand turn, got into a left hand spin and in correcting started to spin to the right and crashed. At the time of his crash he had completed 95 hours of solo flying.  His injuries were severe and life changing.  He had a penetration wound to the right eye which had left him almost totally blind in that eye and a compound fracture of the right foot which in 1919 had still leaving him with considerable difficulty in walking.

7/8/17 Sopwith Camel F1 (D6683). 2^nd Lieutenant Neville Metcalfe (aged 23) 189 Training Squadron Hornchurch. Low flying, went into spin and crashed on airfield. Pilot killed.

15/8/18 “2 seat British Aircraft” crashed after take off West Tilbury. Pilot Lt. King seriously injured and AM Miller slightly.

3/9/18 Sopwith Camel (D9569) crashed off low loop, South Ockendon. Pilot Lt. Brian Gerald Mahoney (aged 28. New Zealander) (189 NTS Squadron, Hornchurch) killed.

20/9/18 Sopwith Camel crashed Stow Maries. 20 year old, Lieutenant Edward Cecil Henry Robert Nicholls was flying a Sopwith Camel when he turned sharply after take-off from Stow (37 Squadron), spun, crashed and was killed.

27/9/18 Camel (F1395) Lt. John Wilton Sheridan killed (aged 29) (61 Squadron). Mid-air collision Rochford.

27/9/18 Camel (F1315) 2^ndLt. Reginald Frank Sanders (aged 19) (61 Squadron) killed. Mid-air collision Rochford.

23/10/18 Avro (E3598) William Thomas Cole. Harold Keates (21953) of 189 (Night) Training Squadron. Killed when 'flying in South Essex both in the same machine which nosedived and crashed to the ground' Court of inquiry said pilot deliberately put aircraft into a spin but failed to get out of spin. Reason unknown.

31/10/18 Sopwith Camel F1 (F6426) Second Lieutenant Harold Edward Crosby (aged 25), 61^st Squadron, Royal Air Force, died on the 31^st October 1918, aged 25.Crashed at Rochford at 4 p.m. The cause of the crash is unclear – the assumption seems to be the pilot fainted.

 

END

[Red Gate]

Some more to add in

??/12/1914 Maurice Farman flown by Lt Robert George Hamiliton Murray flying from Writtle crashed from about 40 ft.  He was apparently uninjured but  his passenger Lt William Alexander Milne was taken to Chelmsford Hospital.  Milne was one of the four officers mentioned in “Observers and Navigators” by Wing Cdr CG Jefford  as being based at Writtle for Observer training.

30/10/15 Caudron G3 1592 flown by Flt Sub-Lieut Arthur Montague Blake flying from RNAS Chelmsford (Widford) forced landed at Fairlop 

16/2/18 Sopwith Camel B5192, a Comic conversion,  flown by Henry Arthur Edwardes of 44 Squadron flying from Hainault Farm broke up in the air killing the pilot.  He was a local man and was born in Great Totham near Maldon and was aged 19 at the time of his death

[stephen p nunn]

Thank you very much again Red Gate. What with these three and other submissions, it is time for numbered version 3....

Version 3 (14/12/2023)

Essex GW Aircraft Crashes

1914

 ?/12/1914 Maurice Farman flown by Lt Robert George Hamiliton Murray flying from Writtle crashed from about 40 ft.  He was apparently uninjured but  his passenger Lt William Alexander Milne was taken to Chelmsford Hospital.  Milne was one of the four officers mentioned in “Observers and Navigators” by Wing Cdr CG Jefford  as being based at Writtle for Observer training.

1915

20/3/15 (11.15) Vickers Gunbus (1629) hit in wing by AA fire from Thameshaven and force landed.

15/5/15 Boxkite. Chingford.

1/6/15 (01.00) Bleriot Parasol (1546) Flt. Sub-Lieu. A.W. Robertson (RNAS Rochford) engine failure whilst on a defensive patrol and force landed on mud flats Leigh on Sea.

6/7/15 Boxkite. Chingford.

8/7/15 Avro 504B. Chingford.

13/7/15 Avro 504B. Chinford.

28/7/15 Boxkite. Chingford.

29/7/15 Avro 504. Chingford.

31/7/15 Caudron. Chingford.

11/8/15 Avro 503. Chingford.

17/8/15 (23.55) Cauldron (1596) Flt. Sub-Lieu C.D. Morrison badly burned when 3 out of 4 Hales bombs detonated during a heavy landing at Chelmsford after an anti-Zeppelin patrol. (RNAS Widford?).

18/8/15 (01.15) Cauldron (1593) Flt. Sub-Lieu H.H. Square injured when crash landed Chelmsford following an anti-Zeppelin patrol. (RNAS Widford?).

19/8/15 Avro 504. Chingford.

6/9/15 P-B PB9. Chingford.

6/9/15 P-B 23E. Chingford.

7/9/15 Boxkite. Chingford.

13/10/15 (23.15) BE2C 2^nd Lieu J.C. Slessor following combat sortie was blinded by searchlight whilst landing and landed in field near Suttons Farm. Pilot safe.

14/10/15 G W Farman. Chingford.

30/10/15 Caudron G3 1592 flown by Flt Sub-Lieut Arthur Montague Blake flying from RNAS Chelmsford (Widford) forced landed at Fairlop 

28/12/15 BE2c. Chingford.

1916

31/1/16 BE2C (I 189) Flt. Sub-Lieu V. Nicholl force landed Thameshaven following defensive sortie. Pilot safe.

31/1/16 BE2c. Suttons Farm.

31/1/16 BE2c. Hainault.

31/1/16 BE2c. Hainault.

24/3/16 Avro 504B. Hainault.

2/6/16 G.W. XV. Chingford.

2/6/16 Avro 504B. Chingford.

25/8/16 BE2c. Hainault.

3/9/16 BE12. North Weald.

3/9/16 (02.55) Farman F56 (9167) Flt. Cdr. A.A. Arnold (RNAS Grain) force landed in a field adjacent to the landing ground at  Broomfield Court. Aircraft turned over and badly damaged. Pilot sprained ankle and suffered cuts.

24/9/1916 - Zeppelin L33 Little Wigborough.

24/9/1916 - Zeppelin L32 Great Burstead.

2/10/16 BE2c. North Weald.

1917

8/1/17 Nieuport 12. Hornchurch.

15/4/17 G.W. XV. Chingford.

21/4/17 Avro 504B. Chingford.

11/5/17 M-F Longhorn. Edmonton.

24/5/17 (04.25) BE2C (6817) 2^nd Lieu J.G. Goodyear blown off course during a defensive patrol and landed Burnham on Crouch.

5/6/17 (18.31) Gotha GIV (660/16) crashed in sea nearly two miles off Barton’s Point while being shelled by Sheerness and Shoeburyness guns.

5/6/17 Sopwith 1½ Strutter crashed Stow Maries. Young Australian pilot, 2^nd/Lt. Roy Walter Mouritzen (37 Squadron), was flying a Sopwith 1½ Strutter. Returning to Stow at dusk, he attempted a downwind landing when, according to one eyewitness, he struck a steamroller (some say it was a caravan). He was only 20 years old and had gained his wings nine days earlier.

12/6/17 Curtis JN4 tractor biplane. Probationary Flying Officer William George Parry (aged 26) of RNAS (HMS President) Chingford. Dived from 300 feet and struck the ground. Pilot killed.

13/6/17 Probationary Flying Officer Kenneth Stuart (aged 18) of RNAS Chingford. Killed whilst training at Chingford. Late to flatten out and struck the ground.

17/6/1917 - Zeppelin L48 Theberton.

7/7/17 Gotha shot down by FK8 of 50 Squadron (Grace and Murray) and crashed in sea off River Crouch.

7/7/17 Sopwith 1½ Strutter (A8271) 2^nd Lieutenant John E.R. Young and AM CC Taylor of 37 Squadron killed when aircraft crashed on Maplin Sands. Believed shot down by AA fire whilst engaging Gothas. During a raid by enemy Gotha aircraft. 37 Squadron joined the fray and 19 year old, 2^nd/Lt. John Edward Rostron Young (pilot) and Airman (2^nd Class) Cyril Charles Taylor (observer) were killed near the Nore Light, most likely by what we would now term “friendly fire”. (Official reports say shot down by enemy aircraft – outnumbered by 22 of them).

7/7/17 Sopwith Camel (B3761) Flt. Sub-Ltn A. Lofft (RNAS Manston) crash landed near Maningtree after combat with raiding Gothas. Aircraft a write off. Pilot safe.

26/7/1917 Sopwith Pup (A6244) Captain Eric William Seton Cotterill of 37 Squadron. Aircraft suffered engine failure shortly after take-off and went into a spinning nose dive from 300 ft.  His injuries were so severe that he was taken to the Chelmsford and Essex Hospital and was only transferred to the Colchester Military Hospital when his condition was stable.  He received a bill for 8 guineas for the cost of his treatment at Chelmsford but this was paid by the RFC. He was only discharged from hospital in November, just in time for his wedding in Paris.

 

27/7/17 M-F Longhorn. Chingford.

 

6/8/17 B.E.2c 988, RNAS, Chingford. Sideslipped and crashed after engine failure, Chingford. Flt Lt Charles Vernon Arnold (23) killed. Probationary Flight Officer Leonard Eales Forman (18) killed.

 

17/8/17 “2 British Aircraft” mid air collision over Thames. Lt. Tanmer crashed in the shallows and was rescued. Lt. A.G. Dow (Canadian Flying Corps) crashed in Kent near Joyce Green (killed). Allan Gladstone Dow lies in Watling Street Cemetery, Dartford. Gravestone reads Lt Allan George DOW (note George on headstone, but Gladstone in official records). Royal Flying Corps. Died 17 August 1917. Aged 22 years. "Drowned after a collision in the air, while flying at Joyce Green Aerodrome, Dartford, Kent, England (next to River Thames). Erected by Brother Officers in No 63 Training Squadron, Royal Flying Corps.

19/8/17 Sopwith Camel (B3788) Lieutenant George Robert Craig MC of East Lancashire Regiment, attached 44 Squadron (Hainault). Engaged in fighting practice and went into a spin. Crashed ½ mile north of aerodrome. Pilot killed.

 

4/9/17 Avro 504B (N6668) RNAS, Chingford. Fell in Chingford Reservoir. Probationary Flight Officer Allen Sandby Coombe (18) killed. Probationary Flight Officer Cecil Saunders injured.

 

27/9/17 (08.20) ? collided with another aircraft over Rochford whilst making spiral descent. Lieutenant Arthur Sydney Talbot (27) instructing student 2^nd-Lieutenant Geoffrey Cooper Malcolm (25) both killed. Both buried Rochford.

 

28/9/17 M-F Longhorn. Chingford.

29/9/17 (22.00) Sopwith 1½ Strutter (B2555) Lieut. N.C. Crombie (Observer) and Capt. F.W. Honnett (pilot) (78 Squadron) force landed Orsett in thick fog.

30/9/17 Sopwith 1½ Strutter (B2593) Lieut. J.S. Castle and 1^st A.M. Dawes (78 Squadron) force landed whilst on an operational patrol at North Benfleet.

6/10/17 BE2e (A1876) crashed Stow Maries. 2^nd/Lt. William Quintus Newsom Richardson, lies buried in Maldon’s London Road Cemetery. He died when his aircraft side-slipped during a practice flight out of Goldhanger (37 Squadron) He was 19. (n.b. a lot more to follow on this lad in due course).

19/10/17 “Sopwith” Lt. Aubrey de Tresalor stalled on T/O Hornchurch. Pilot killed.

20/10/17 ? Waltham Abbey.

1/11/17 (03.00) Sopwith 1½ Strutter (A5238) Capt. F. Billings of 78 Squadron force landed Orsett whilst on a defensive patrol.

11/11/17 Lieutenant Walter Wood MC of 44 (HD) Squadron took off in one of two Sopwith Camels tasked to practice dog-fighting; Wood was still suffering from influenza contracted in France. His Camel dived into the ground for no apparent reason, killing him; it is surmised he fainted at the controls.

22/11/1917 SE5a (B657) Capt. Charles William Bruce:The Deputy- Coroner (Mr. H.J. Jefferies) held an inquest on Saturday touching on the death of Capt. Charles W. Bruce, aged 22, of the Gordon Highlanders, attached to the R.F.C., who was killed at an Essex aerodrome on Thursday. Deceased was a native of Alburgh, near Harleston. The evidence showed that the deceased was an experienced and qualified pilot. On Thursday he was flying at a height of 100 feet when, in turning, his machine nose-dived and fell to the ground. At a court of inquiry it was found that the deceased attempted to turn while flying at an insufficient speed. Upon hitting the ground the machine burst into flames, and the deceased was terribly burnt. Lieut. Love, R.A.M.C., stated that in his opinion deceased was rendered unconscious by a blow in the face and the concussion when the machine hit the ground. When unconscious he was suffocated by the intense heat. He did not think the deceased suffered. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence, and expressed sympathy with the parents – and the loss which the country had sustained in the death of the officer. (Norwich Mercury dated Saturday December 1st, 1917). CWGC shows Captain Charles William Bruce, Royal Flying Corps and Gordon Highlanders, as having died on the 22nd November 1917. He is buried at Southend on Sea (Sutton Road) Cemetery. The death of the 22 year old Charles William Bruce was registered in the Rochford District. The RAF Museum Story Vault has him serving with 61 Squadron and flying a S.E.5a serial B657. I think from the Casualty Card that 61 Squadron were stationed at Rochford. 

27/11/17 ? Waltham Abbey.

6/12/17 (04.45) Gotha GIV (906/16) port propeller shattered by AA fire over Canvey crashed on golf course after hitting a tree attempting to land at Rochford.

17/12/17 Curtiss H-4 (3587) RNAS, Felixstowe. Sideslipped and nosedived into sea after take-off, off Harwich. Ensign Phillips Ward Page (32) drowned (US Navy).

18/12/17 Sopwith Camel F1 (B2378). 2^nd Lieutenant Vane Carrington Manuel (aged 29) of 56 Squadron. Went into a spin whilst landing. Crashed Hainault Farm. Pilot killed.

22/12/17 BE2e (B4545) Captain Barrington Chadwick Quinan of 37 Squadron injured when he crashed at Woodham Walter. Quinan came over from Canada as part of the CEF and was sent to France in February 1915.  He was wounded in May and evacuated to England but, in addition to his wounds, he was suffering from shell shock.  His recovery was slow and he returned to Canada in October to recuperate.  He was still not fully fit when he returned to England and he continued in England based roles for the next 18 months or so and was promoted to Captain.  But he was keen to return to the Front so applied to join the RFC. He started his flight training in September 1917 and afterwards was with 37 Squadron for further training.  His flying career was still in its early stages as he had flown three solo flights totalling 1hr 45 mins by the time of his crash.  He was quite seriously injured in the crash and he was taken to Colchester Military Hospital with “brain lacerations”.  The Court of Enquiry determined that the crash had arisen due to engine failure on take-off but his medical notes state that he suddenly became nervous and lost control of his aircraft.  Although his physical health improved his mental health appeared to have deteriorated significantly and he was then admitted to Blake Hall Hospital, Ongar, Essex and then to Quarrybank Hospital, Liverpool. While at Quarrybank he contracted influenza which developed into pneumonia and he died on 20 July 1918. He was aged 25 years

1918

21/1/1918 Probationary Flight Officer William Eric Floyd, Royal Naval Air Service (aged 19). Buried at Birkenhead (Flaybrick Hill) Cemetery. Flying out of Chingford machine crashed at Fairlop, killing the pilot instantly and burst into flames on landing.

26/1/18 ? Waltham Abbey.

28/1/18 BE2c. Waltham Abbey.

28/1/18 (21.30) Sopwith Camel engine stopped by AA shell burst and crash landed near railway signal box at Hornchurch. Aircraft destroyed. Pilot, I.M. Davies safe.

28/1/18 Gotha GV (938/16) (22.10) shot down at Frund’s Farm, Wickford by Sopwith Camels flown by Capt. H.C. Hackwell and 2^nd Lieut. Banks of 44 Squadron. Gotha burnt out and crew of three killed (Leut. Friedrich von Thomsen (nav), Unter. Karl Ziegler (pilot – shot through neck) and Walter Heiden (gunner)). Hackwell and Banks awarded MM.

29/1/18 Bristol F2B. North Weald.

30/1/18 Bristol F2B. North Weald.

16/2/18 Sopwith Camel B5192, a Comic conversion, flown by Henry Arthur Edwardes of 44 Squadron flying from Hainault Farm broke up in the air killing the pilot.  He was a local man and was born in Great Totham near Maldon and was aged 19 at the time of his death.

18/2/18 (01.10) BE12 (6610) 2^nd Lieut. S. Armstrong of 37 Squadron killed when aircraft crashed and caught fire at Tolleshunt Major, possibly following engine failure whilst on a defensive patrol. 2^nd/Lt. Sydney Armstrong, who took off from Goldhanger airfield at 11 o’clock on the evening of February 17^th 1918 in his BE12 biplane. At 1 o’clock the following morning the body of the 18 year old pilot was discovered in the shell of his burnt-out machine, in a field at Tolleshunt Major.

26/2/18 BE2 crashed Goldhanger. Armstrong’s replacement was Irish born, Catholic lad, 2^nd/Lt. Frederick Augustus Crowley, who took off in a BE2 (from Goldhanger. 37 Squadron) on his third solo just before 9am on 26/2/1918. He clipped some trees, stalled and came down in a field at the back of ‘The Cricketers’ pub, where the aircraft burst into flames.

2/3/18 Sopwith Camel (C1625) 78 Sqn, Hornchurch. Stalled and spun on turn, Sutton's Farm, Hornchurch.  2Lt William Heys Pickup (33) killed. It was observed to spin into the ground from 100 feet. 

7/3/18 BE12 (C3208) Capt. Alex Kynoch (37 Squadron) killed following collision after take off from Stow Maries (23.29), crashed in a field at Wickford.

7/3/18 SE5A (B679) Capt. H.C. Stroud (aged 24) (61 Squadron) killed following collision (see above) after take-off from Rochford (23.30), crashed in a field at Wickford. Buried  Rochford.

A propeller memorial to 24 year old Captain Kynoch and the other pilot (Captain Stroud) was erected on the site by the local farmer.

23/3/18 Sopwith Camel (C6726) Captain Sidney Percival Gamon, 1/5 Cheshires and 78 Squadron RFC (Hornchurch). Went into spin and hit the ground. Pilot killed.

20/4/18 (3.30pm) Sopwith Camel F1 (C6717) Major  Cuthbert Roger Rowden, M.C. (aged 21), 78^th Squadron, Royal Air Force and 5^th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment, was killed on the 20^th April 1918, aged 21. The machine spun into the ground at Hornchurch. “The court having duly considered the evidence are of the opinion that the accident was due to no fault of the machine or engine. They find that the machine when it was approximately 50 feet from the ground did a right hand vertical bank, and owing to an error of judgment on the part of the pilot, its nose dropped and it dived straight into the ground."  

23/4/18 BE12 (B4535) 2^nd Lieut. C.L. Milburn (Canadian) (37 Squadron) killed in crash Stow Maries. Aircraft caught fire. 2/Lt. Edward Gerald Mucklow deserted from the Royal Fusiliers and served with 37 Squadron, under the name Cyril Lawson Milburn. He was killed, when his BE12 suffered engine failure during a spin and he crashed on Moonshine Field, near the aerodrome at Stow Maries. He was comparatively “old” at 31.

24/4/18 (15.19) SE5a (C5339) 61 Sqn, Rochford. Wing collapsed while pulling out of dive, Rochford. Lt Charles Alexander Brown (20) killed. He was engaged in flight formation at the time. "Owing to the pilot diving at a very considerable speed and tending to pull the machine out too suddenly. Right wing was overstrained and doubled up." 

30/4/18 Sopwith Camel F1 (B6204) 207 TDS, Chingford. Spun and nose dived from 2,000ft, Edmonton.  2Lt Charles Frederick Stephen Jackson (23) killed. He is buried at Southend-on-Sea, (North Road), Cemetery. Nose dived from 2,000 feet into ground with engine full on.

8/5/18 Sopwith F1 Camel (D6649) 2^nd. Lieut. John Donald Baird (aged 20) (44 Training Squadron) accident spinning from 6000 feet, nose dive Hainault Farm. Pilot error.

11/5/18 RE8 (E58) Lt. Harry Lynn Hopkins (24) (189 Night Training Squadron) turning in air over field in Essex crashed and was killed. Buried Hornchurch.

17/5/18 (9.45am) R.E.8 (C2306) 8 AAP, Lympne. Engine failed, stalled and crashed, Weeley Heath, Essex. Lt Edward Terence Heard (28) killed. Due to engine failure, machine stalled and crashed. The Court of Enquiry simply concluded that "the cause of the accident is obscure". 8th Squadron was in France & Flanders at the time of Edwards' death, so more likely he was serving with 8 Aircraft Acceptance Park and most likely on a delivery flight.

19/5/18 Sopwith Camel (B4614) (23.45) Lt. W.E. Nicholson force landed (broken pressure valve) at Chingford.

19/5/18 (23.50) Gotha GV (925/16) ‘Pommern’pilot decended to 2000 feet through cloud and choked starboard engine and force landed St. Osyth. Pilot Lt. W. Rist and observer, Leutnant Wilheim Rist killed. Vize. Max Gummelt and Rudolf Huhnsdorf safe.

19/5/18 D.H.6 (A9598) 207 TDS, Chingford. Hit trees making forced landing in cemetery after engine failure, Chingford. 2Lt William Robert Burdett (21) killed. Crashed and caught fire after engine failure. In attempting to land in the cemetery he caught trees which brought the craft to the ground where the machine caught fire, killing the pilot before any assistance could be rendered. 

20/5/18 Gotha (00.20) shot down by Bristol Fighter (C4636) of 39 Squadron flown by Lieut. A.J. Arkell and 1^st AM A.T.C. Stagg. Crashed off Roman Road, East Ham. Crew of three killed. After firing around 700 rounds at the Gotha it caught fire and the crew jumped to their deaths. The aircraft spun and came down in a bean field between Roman Road and Beckton Road, East Ham. The site is now used for school playing fields.

20/5/18 Bristol F2B. North Weald.

21/5/18 (11.23am) Sopwith Camel (D6677) 78 Sqn, Hornchurch. Hit tree and crashed. 2Lt Cyril Gordon Joyce (20) died 22.5.18 (South African). Buried at Hornchurch (St Andrew) Churchyard. Spun to ground and engine choked trying to land and he then struck a tree, leaving him severely injured. The plane was seen to fall out of control. The engine choking was put down to pilot error. 

22/5/18 SE5a crashed Danbury. 2^nd/Lt. William Martin Burfoot (37 Squadron) suffered engine failure in his SE5a and stalled, turning near the ground, before crashing at Danbury.

19/6/18 Avro 504 (C732 or C733) 198 NTS, Rochford. Stalled and spun turning on approach, Rochford. Lt Harold Eborall Davis MC (28) killed. Flt Cadet Henry William Francis Rendall injured

15/7/1918 Avro 504K (D2085) Flight Cadet Thomas Eric Cotton of 198 (NT) Squadron  injured when he crashed. The court of inquiry determined that the cause of the accident was an error in judgement on the part of the pilot by turning with the engine shut off, causing the machine to stall and develop a spin which continued until  it crashed into the ground. The court stated that the pilot was not disobeying flying instructions but was disobeying the instructor’s order in that he shut off his engine and attempted to turn when near the ground. Cotton was in hospital for 4 months.He was subsequently posted to 37 Squadron where he had another crash on 3 February 1919 while flying Avro 504K E4108.  Unfortunately it seems that he continued to suffer from the effects of these crashes as he committed suicide in 1920 by gassing himself. 

29/7/18 Bristol F2B. ?

5/8/1918 - Zeppelin L70 in sea.

7/8/1918 Sopwith Camel (F1367) Flight Cadet Thomas Gardiner Keir of 37 Squadron injured when he crashed at Tolleshunt D'Arcy. Keir had taken off from Goldhanger and stalled on a left hand turn, got into a left hand spin and in correcting started to spin to the right and crashed. At the time of his crash he had completed 95 hours of solo flying.  His injuries were severe and life changing.  He had a penetration wound to the right eye which had left him almost totally blind in that eye and a compound fracture of the right foot which in 1919 had still leaving him with considerable difficulty in walking.

7/8/17 Sopwith Camel F1 (D6683). 2^nd Lieutenant Neville Metcalfe (aged 23) 189 Training Squadron Hornchurch. Low flying, went into spin and crashed on airfield. Pilot killed.

15/8/18 “2 seat British Aircraft” crashed after take off West Tilbury. Pilot Lt. King seriously injured and AM Miller slightly.

3/9/18 Sopwith Camel (D9569) crashed off low loop, South Ockendon. Pilot Lt. Brian Gerald Mahoney (aged 28. New Zealander) (189 NTS Squadron, Hornchurch) killed.

20/9/18 Sopwith Camel crashed Stow Maries. 20 year old, Lieutenant Edward Cecil Henry Robert Nicholls was flying a Sopwith Camel when he turned sharply after take-off from Stow (37 Squadron), spun, crashed and was killed.

27/9/18 Camel (F1395) Lt. John Wilton Sheridan killed (aged 29) (61 Squadron). Mid-air collision Rochford.

27/9/18 Camel (F1315) 2^ndLt. Reginald Frank Sanders (aged 19) (61 Squadron) killed. Mid-air collision Rochford.

23/10/18 Avro (E3598) William Thomas Cole. Harold Keates (21953) of 189 (Night) Training Squadron. Killed when 'flying in South Essex both in the same machine which nosedived and crashed to the ground' Court of inquiry said pilot deliberately put aircraft into a spin but failed to get out of spin. Reason unknown.

31/10/18 Sopwith Camel F1 (F6426) Second Lieutenant Harold Edward Crosby (aged 25), 61^st Squadron, Royal Air Force, died on the 31^st October 1918, aged 25.Crashed at Rochford at 4 p.m. The cause of the crash is unclear – the assumption seems to be the pilot fainted.

 

END

[stephen p nunn]

I thought it might be a good idea to compliment the list of Essex crashes by also listing the airfields as follows:

Great War Landing Grounds in (old) Essex

Beaumont

Blackheath Common

Bournes Green

Braintree

Broomfield Court

Burnham-on-Crouch

Chingford

Clacton

East Hanningfield

Easthorpe

Fairlop

Fyfield

Goldhanger

Hainault Farm

Hondon-on-the-Hill

Little Clacton

Mountnessing

North Benfleet

North Ockendon

North Weald Bassett

Orsett

Rochford

Runwell

Shenfield

Sible Hedingham

Stow Maries

Thaxted

Widford/Writtle

Worminford

(A good source of information about these is Paul Doyle's 'Fields of the First' (Forward Airfield Research Publishing 1997).

Regards.

Stephen (Maldon).

 

Edited 15 December , 2023 by stephen p nunn

[PRC]

20.2.16    Avro 504C 8587, RNAS, Chingford.  Crashed and caught fire, Chingford

               Flt Sub-Lt Francis Hamilton Toms (26) killed

Flight Sub Lieutenant Francis Hamilton G. Toms RNAS, died on the 20^th February 1916 and is buried at Fulham (St. Thomas of Canterbury) Roman Catholic Churchyard. https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2905362/francis-hamilton-g-toms/

The death of a 26 year old Francis Hamilton Toms was registered in the Epping District in the January to March quarter, (Q1), of 1916.

The original CWGC grave registration report shows the grave marker recording him as F.H. Toms, but at some point this has morphed in the Cemetery Register as F.H.G., presumably at the request of the family. However the most likely birth registration was that of a Francis Hamiliton Toms in the Chelsea District in Q1 1890.
His entry in the RAF Museum storyvault adds nothing more. https://www.rafmuseumstoryvault.org.uk/archive/toms-f.h.g.-francis-hamilton-g

There are a number of sources for this crash recorded on the Aviation Safety Network. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/218776

30.4.16   Curtiss JN-4 3431, RNAS, Chingford.  Crashed attempting loop, Edmonton

               Flt Sub-Lt Thomas Robson Liddle (20) killed

Flight Sub-Lieutenant T. Robson Liddle, aged 20, died on the 30^th April 1916 and is buried at Grimsby (St. Andrew’s) Anglican Cemetery, Canada. The Cemetery Register adds “Killed whilst flying at Chingford, Epping". https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2001394/t-robson-liddle/

The death of a 20 year old Thomas Robson Liddle was registered in the Edmonton District in the April to June quarter, (Q2), of 1916.

His entry in the RAF Museum storyvault adds nothing more. https://www.rafmuseumstoryvault.org.uk/archive/liddle-t.r.-thomas-robson

From the Toronto Star courtesy https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/2001394

A bit more about one already on the list

24.9.16   Zeppelin L32, Kaiserliche Marine. Shot down by 2Lt Frederick Sowrey, Snail's Hall Farm, Gt Burstead, Essex

               All 22 crew killed:

               Oberleutnant zur See Werner Gustav Iwan Peterson (29)

               Adolf Bley (29), Obersignalmaat

               Albin Ernst Bocksch (30), Obermaschinistenmaat

               Karl Bortscheller (27), Funkentelegrafieobermaat

               Wilhelm Otto Brockhaus (27), Oberheizer

               Karl Friedrich Brodrück (25), Leutnant zur See

               Paul Dorfmüller (26), Maschinistenmaat

               Richard Hermann Fankhänel (34), Obermaschinistenmaat

               Georg Hagedorn (28), Obermaschinistenmaat

               Friedrich Heider (28), Oberbootsmannsmaat

               Robert Klisch (23), Funkentelegrafieobergast

               Hermann Mägdefrau (36), Obermaschinist

               Bernhard Mohr (21), Obersegelmachersgast

               August Müller (28), Matrose

               Friedrich Pache (26), Bootsmannsmaat

               Karl Paust (26), Obermaschinistenmaat

               Ewald Picard (29), Obersignalmaat

               Walter Prüss (21), Maschinistenmaat

               Paul Schiering (31), Obermatrose

               Bernhard Schreibmüller (23), Steuermann

               Karl Völker (27), Obermaschinistenmaat

               Alfred Zöpel (27), Oberbootsmannsmaat

All three incidents sourced http://www.rcawsey.co.uk/Acc1916.htm

Cheers,
Peter

Edited 15 December , 2023 by PRC
Formatting

[stephen p nunn]

And still they come !!! Thank you Peter.