THE TEST FLYING MEMORIAL PROJECT

BRITISH FLIGHT TEST FATAL ACCIDENTS — 1915-1918

This data is presented for open public scrutiny and correction - we want to make sure that the Roll is as accurate and complete as possible. If you can add to or correct the information below, please contact the Test Flying Memorial Project.

DATE: July 12, 1915
TAKE-OFF POINT: Royal Aircraft Factory, Farnborough, Hants
CRASH LOCATION: Royal Aircraft Factory, Farnborough, Hants
AIRCRAFT TYPE & SERIAL: —
CREW FATALITIES: Mr H.D. Liley
PURPOSE OF TEST FLIGHT: —
ACCIDENT DETAIL: —

DATE: February 21, 1916
TAKE-OFF POINT: RNAS Kingsnorth, Kent
CRASH LOCATION: RNAS Kingsnorth, Kent
AIRCRAFT TYPE & SERIAL: API Combination
CREW FATALITIES: Wg Cdr N.F. Usborne; Sqn Cdr de C.W.P. Ireland
PURPOSE OF TEST FLIGHT: —
ACCIDENT DETAIL: —

DATE: September 7, 1916
TAKE-OFF POINT: E. Cowes, Isle of Wight
CRASH LOCATION: —
AIRCRAFT TYPE & SERIAL: Wight converted Seaplane 9841
CREW FATALITIES: Mr A.F. Lashmar; Mr R.O. Lashmar
PURPOSE OF TEST FLIGHT: Prototype aircraft test
ACCIDENT DETAIL: —

DATE: September 12, 1916
TAKE-OFF POINT: Royal Aircraft Factory, Farnborough, Hants
CRASH LOCATION: —
AIRCRAFT TYPE & SERIAL: Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.7 2199
CREW FATALITIES: Mr G.L. Railton; Mr F. Williams
PURPOSE OF TEST FLIGHT: —
ACCIDENT DETAIL: —

DATE: September 21, 1916
TAKE-OFF POINT: Testing Squadron, Upavon, Wiltshire
CRASH LOCATION: Gosport, Hants
AIRCRAFT TYPE & SERIAL: Avro 521 7520
CREW FATALITIES: Lt W.H.S. Garnett
PURPOSE OF TEST FLIGHT: Testing of prototype which had proved longitudinally unstable and unpleasant to fly
ACCIDENT DETAIL: —

DATE: October 20, 1916
TAKE-OFF POINT: RNAS Eastchurch, Kent
CRASH LOCATION: Eastchurch, Kent
AIRCRAFT TYPE & SERIAL: Sopwith Triplane N510
CREW FATALITIES: Flt Lt L.H. Hardstaff
PURPOSE OF TEST FLIGHT: Hispano-Suiza-powered prototype test
ACCIDENT DETAIL: Tailplane failed in flight

DATE: January 28, 1917
TAKE-OFF POINT: Royal Aircraft Factory, Farnborough, Hants
CRASH LOCATION: Royal Aircraft Factory, Farnborough, Hants
AIRCRAFT TYPE & SERIAL: Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5 A4562
CREW FATALITIES: Major F.W. Goodden
PURPOSE OF TEST FLIGHT: Second prototype test
ACCIDENT DETAIL: Port wing failed in flight

DATE: March 21, 1917
TAKE-OFF POINT: Testing Squadron, Upavon, Wiltshire
CRASH LOCATION: Testing Squadron, Upavon, Wiltshire
AIRCRAFT TYPE & SERIAL: Bristol Scout 5556
CREW FATALITIES: Lt M.R.H.A. Allen
PURPOSE OF TEST FLIGHT: Clerget-engined prototype with large diameter cowling
ACCIDENT DETAIL: —

DATE: May 12, 1917
TAKE-OFF POINT: Blackburn, Lancs
CRASH LOCATION: Soldiers Field, Roundhay, Leeds
AIRCRAFT TYPE & SERIAL: Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2c 9952
CREW FATALITIES: Mr W.R. Ding, Blackburn P
PURPOSE OF TEST FLIGHT: Aircraft first flight
ACCIDENT DETAIL: Failure of interplane strut during loop

DATE: August 7, 1917
TAKE-OFF POINT: Isle of Grain, Kent
CRASH LOCATION: English Channel, overboard from flight deck of HMS Furious
AIRCRAFT TYPE & SERIAL: Sopwith Pup N6452
CREW FATALITIES: Sqn Cdr E.H. Dunning
PURPOSE OF TEST FLIGHT: Carrier landing trials
ACCIDENT DETAIL: After achieving the first ever landing of an aircraft on an aircraft carrier on August 2, 1917, Dunning gave a repeat performance on August 7, 1917. After two touchdowns, a third was attempted and the aircraft’s engine failed when opened up after a further success. The Pup went into the sea ahead of Furious’s bows

DATE: August 25, 1917
TAKE-OFF POINT: Joyce Green, Dartford, Kent
CRASH LOCATION: Crashed on airfield
AIRCRAFT TYPE & SERIAL: Vickers F.B.26
CREW FATALITIES: Mr H. Barnwell
PURPOSE OF TEST FLIGHT: F.B.26 prototype trials
ACCIDENT DETAIL: Spun into ground immediately after take-off

DATE: December 29, 1917
TAKE-OFF POINT: Aeroplane Experimental Station, Martlesham Heath, Suffolk
CRASH LOCATION: —
AIRCRAFT TYPE & SERIAL: Sopwith Camel B3888
CREW FATALITIES: Lt G.E. Cushing
PURPOSE OF TEST FLIGHT: —
ACCIDENT DETAIL: —

DATE: December 31, 1917
TAKE-OFF POINT: Armament Experimental Station, Orfordness, Suffolk
CRASH LOCATION: —
AIRCRAFT TYPE & SERIAL: Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8 A3432
CREW FATALITIES: 2nd Lt P.W. Wilcox
PURPOSE OF TEST FLIGHT:
ACCIDENT DETAIL:

DATE: January 19, 1918
TAKE-OFF POINT: Wireless Experimental Establishment, Biggin Hill, Kent
CRASH LOCATION: —
AIRCRAFT TYPE & SERIAL: Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a C5341
CREW FATALITIES: Cpt E.H.G. Sharples
PURPOSE OF TEST FLIGHT: —
ACCIDENT DETAIL: —

DATE: February 5, 1918
TAKE-OFF POINT: Aeroplane Experimental Station, Martlesham Heath, Suffolk
CRASH LOCATION: —
AIRCRAFT TYPE & SERIAL: Sopwith Dolphin C3779
CREW FATALITIES: Cpt L.M. Barlow MC**
PURPOSE OF TEST FLIGHT: Third production aeroplane test
ACCIDENT DETAIL: —

DATE: March 16, 1918
TAKE-OFF POINT: Aeroplane Experimental Station, Martlesham Heath, Suffolk
CRASH LOCATION: —
AIRCRAFT TYPE & SERIAL: Airco D.H.9A C6350
CREW FATALITIES: Cpt K.K. Muspratt MC; Flt Sgt S. Ashby MM
PURPOSE OF TEST FLIGHT: Prototype Eagle VIII-powered D.H.9A test
ACCIDENT DETAIL: —

DATE: April 14, 1918
TAKE-OFF POINT: Armament Experimental Station, Orfordness, Suffolk
CRASH LOCATION: —
AIRCRAFT TYPE & SERIAL: Bristol F.2B B1308
CREW FATALITIES: Lt B.M.H. Jones; Air Mechanic 1 H.H. Palmer
PURPOSE OF TEST FLIGHT:
ACCIDENT DETAIL:

DATE: May 6, 1918
TAKE-OFF POINT: Wireless Experimental Establishment, Biggin Hill, Kent
CRASH LOCATION: —
AIRCRAFT TYPE & SERIAL: Sopwith Camel B6303
CREW FATALITIES: Lt F.M.C. Houghton
PURPOSE OF TEST FLIGHT: —
ACCIDENT DETAIL: —

DATE: May 8, 1918
TAKE-OFF POINT: Royal Aircraft Establishment Farnborough, Hants
CRASH LOCATION: —
AIRCRAFT TYPE & SERIAL: Airco D.H.4 A7671
CREW FATALITIES: Lt L.F.D. Lutyens; Mr D.H. Pinsent
PURPOSE OF TEST FLIGHT:
ACCIDENT DETAIL:

DATE: June 8, 1918
TAKE-OFF POINT: Cricklewood, Herts
CRASH LOCATION: Golders Green, London
AIRCRAFT TYPE & SERIAL: Handley Page V/1500 B9463
CREW FATALITIES: Cpt V.E.G. Busby, Martlesham Heath TP; Mr B.G. Cooper; Mr G.A. Cooper, Harland and Wolff; Mr J. Hathaway, Handley Page
PURPOSE OF TEST FLIGHT:
ACCIDENT DETAIL: On its 13th flight the V/1500 climbed away to the north with the intention of attaining 10,000ft when all four engines stopped. Busby attempted to turn back towards the airfield whilst still in a climbing attitude but the aircraft stalled and spun in to crash in allotments at Golders Green. Colonel Ogilvie and one other survived from the six on board

DATE: June 8, 1918
TAKE-OFF POINT: Aeroplane Experimental Station, Martlesham Heath, Suffolk
CRASH LOCATION: —
AIRCRAFT TYPE & SERIAL: BAT Bantam II
CREW FATALITIES: Lt S.H.A. D’Arcy DSO
PURPOSE OF TEST FLIGHT: —
ACCIDENT DETAIL: —

DATE: August 19, 1918
TAKE-OFF POINT: Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough, Hants
CRASH LOCATION: Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough, Hants
AIRCRAFT TYPE & SERIAL: Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8 A4205
CREW FATALITIES: Capt O. Horsely; Capt H.A. Renwick
PURPOSE OF TEST FLIGHT: —
ACCIDENT DETAIL: —

DATE: September 9, 1918
TAKE-OFF POINT: Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment, Isle of Grain, Kent
CRASH LOCATION: —
AIRCRAFT TYPE & SERIAL: Grain Griffin N102
CREW FATALITIES: Lt A.V. Lewis
PURPOSE OF TEST FLIGHT: —
ACCIDENT DETAIL: —

DATE: September 11, 1918
TAKE-OFF POINT: Aeroplane Experimental Station, Martlesham Heath, Suffolk
CRASH LOCATION: —
AIRCRAFT TYPE & SERIAL: Vickers Vimy B9954
CREW FATALITIES: Lt G.S. Wilkin
PURPOSE OF TEST FLIGHT: Service trials (fourth prototype)
ACCIDENT DETAIL: Stalled after take-off from Martlesham, carrying bombs which exploded when aircraft hit the ground

DATE: November 10, 1918
TAKE-OFF POINT: Acoustic Experimental Sub Station, Butley, Suffolk
CRASH LOCATION: —
AIRCRAFT TYPE & SERIAL: Bristol F.2B D8030
CREW FATALITIES: Lt O.B.W. Wills
PURPOSE OF TEST FLIGHT:
ACCIDENT DETAIL: Capt J.H.O. Windsor survived