On another forum that I frequent, a request has been posted for more information on this accident. The key components of the post on the other forum are as follows.
A tragic accident occurred at RAF West Malling on the 22nd May 1952 involving RE200, a Lancaster MR3 of 203 Squadron from RAF St Eval. This aircraft was taking part in exercise “Lightstrike 6” which took place between the 19th to 22nd May. As the name suggests this was the sixth of a series of exercises designed to test how effective fighter aircraft would be in defending against nighttime attacks made by enemy motor torpedo boats. The incident was reported in the press at the time in the following terms.
‘Bomber crash in Kent orchard kills four – Four airmen were killed and another seven injured when a four engined Lancaster bomber crashed at a farm at Mereworth, near Maidstone, on May 22, 1952.
About an acre of young apple trees and gooseberry bushes was devastated as the machine overshot the perimeter of Malling aerodrome and travelled some 150 yards at ground level before impact. The pilot, who suffered a broken leg, managed to get out of the wreckage and fire Verey lights to attract attention. Wreckage from the bomber, which was returning from a night exercise, was strewn across nearby Latter’s Farm. The farmer, Mr A Kemp, revealed it was the fifth time a plane had crashed on his land. “My wife heard the plane at about 1am and heard a bit of a bump. Then it was quiet. Soon after we heard shouting, both from the direction of the aerodrome and from the plantation about 400 yards from the farm buildings” ‘.
Tragically of the four who were fatally injured, three were members of the resident 25 and 85 squadrons and were onboard as passengers. It appears that the cause of the accident was a flare igniting, causing the aircraft to belly land. It would seem that as part of the operation, Lancasters of Coastal Command were tasked to fly over the Thames Estuary and drop flares over Royal Navy torpedo boats to illuminate them whilst fighters attacked. Unfortunately a flare from RE200 accidentally ignited inside the aircraft and for some reason could not be jettisoned. West Malling was only a relatively short distance away but nevertheless RE200 together with four personnel came to a tragic end that night.
Can anyone help with more information about this accident and/or point to a published source for the same?
By: avion ancien - 3rd January 2012 at 17:48
Thank you, nimgen, I’m most grateful for that information. I’ll pass it on the the poster on the other forum. But in the meantime, if anyone else can add information concerning this accident, or point me in the direction where such information can be found, I shall be grateful to them.
By: avion ancien - 3rd January 2012 at 17:48
Thank you, nimgen, I’m most grateful for that information. I’ll pass it on the the poster on the other forum. But in the meantime, if anyone else can add information concerning this accident, or point me in the direction where such information can be found, I shall be grateful to them.
By: nimgen - 3rd January 2012 at 16:00
Lancaster MR3 RE200, 203 Sqn, Mereworth Kent, 22May52
Last Take Off by Colin Cummings quotes:
The aircraft caught fire in the air and the pilot attempted to make an emergency landing at RAF West Malling. Unfortunately, the aircraft crashed into an orchard about 800 yards short of the runway. Seven of those on board were injured but four killed.
Flt Lt King had been a navigator in the middle east and had been shot down on the 13th sortie of his first tour with 104 Sqn. He and his crew evaded capture and were rescued immediately by ground forces. After his return to England, he bagan a second tour of bomber operations flying Halifax’s. On the 13th sortie of this tour, he was shot down and taken prisoner of war. King was one of ‘X’ Organisation in Stalag Luft 111 and was involved in planning and implementing the escape of 76 officers, of whom 50 were later murdered by the Gestapo. He was not however one of the ‘ticket holders’ who made the Great Escape in March 1944. He left the RAF in 1945 to become a teacher but rejoined in 1949. He was married with two daughters.
Flt Lt Harry John King 29 Adjutant 25 Sqn Navigator
Flt Sgt William McKune
LAC John Albert Bacon
LAC Raymond Henry Pearson
By: nimgen - 3rd January 2012 at 16:00
Lancaster MR3 RE200, 203 Sqn, Mereworth Kent, 22May52
Last Take Off by Colin Cummings quotes:
The aircraft caught fire in the air and the pilot attempted to make an emergency landing at RAF West Malling. Unfortunately, the aircraft crashed into an orchard about 800 yards short of the runway. Seven of those on board were injured but four killed.
Flt Lt King had been a navigator in the middle east and had been shot down on the 13th sortie of his first tour with 104 Sqn. He and his crew evaded capture and were rescued immediately by ground forces. After his return to England, he bagan a second tour of bomber operations flying Halifax’s. On the 13th sortie of this tour, he was shot down and taken prisoner of war. King was one of ‘X’ Organisation in Stalag Luft 111 and was involved in planning and implementing the escape of 76 officers, of whom 50 were later murdered by the Gestapo. He was not however one of the ‘ticket holders’ who made the Great Escape in March 1944. He left the RAF in 1945 to become a teacher but rejoined in 1949. He was married with two daughters.
Flt Lt Harry John King 29 Adjutant 25 Sqn Navigator
Flt Sgt William McKune
LAC John Albert Bacon
LAC Raymond Henry Pearson
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January 2, 2012 at 6:02 pm