V Force fatalities

[Pontius Navigator]

I have added notes to November 4's Vulcan list and also two more aircraft. XH497 didn't crash on its final landing but the rear crew bailed out after the first attempt and XA891 was an A&AEE aircraft so not listed as an RAF loss.

Vulcan

XA897 01/10/1956
Sqn Ldr J Stroud, Sqn Ldr Eames AFC, Sqn Ldr A Gamble, Mr F Basset (ACM Sir H Broadhurst and Sqn Ldt D Howard survived)
Heathrow

*XH497 03/07/1958 - rear crew bailed out - nose u/c down but nosewheel fell off - rear crew (nav) killed, see Goudie post below. 617 Sqn

*XA891 24/07/1959 A&AEE engine installation development crashed in Yorkshire crew unhurt

VX770 20/09/1958
Mr K Sturt, Mr R Ford, Mr W Howkins, Flt Lt R Parrott
Syerston high speed run

XA908 24/10/1958
Flt Lt J Willoughby-Moore, Flt Lt B Peacock, Sqn Ldr H Scull, Flt Lt J Watson, Fg Off A Baker, CT E Evison
Detroit - electrical failure - cascade generator failure 83 sqn

XA904 01/03/1961
Landed on grass and undercarriage collapsed
Waddington 44 sqn

XH477 12/06/1963
Flt Lt D Blackmore. Fg D Faulke, Flt Lt Roper, Flt Lt J Ross, Flt Lt J Chapman
Hills of St Coln (as titled in the Bomber Command FS Magazine) - they grazed the mist-shrouded saddle between two peaks 50 Sqn

XH535 11/05/1964
Flt Lt J Dingly, Flt Lt F Young, Flt Lt Chilton, MSig Christian AFM (Pilots ejected and survived Co Flt Lt R Beeson)
A&AEE Andover - super stall from FL400 IIRC

XA909 16/07/1964
Rear crew abandoned at 3000 feet then pilots ejected.
Five out over Valley (as titled in the Bomber Command FS Magazine) Over Wales after engine explosion 101 Sqn

XM601 07/10/1964
Wg Cdr K Baker (OC IX Sqn) Fg Off P Busfield, Flt Lt C Burkard, Flt Lt G Bingham, Fg Off A Jones
Coningsby on asymmetric overshot and aircraft span in - lack of rudder authority IX Sqn

XM576 25/05/1965
Loss of control on landing, minor injuries including an NCO on the ground.
Scampton 83 Sqn

XH536 11/02/1966
Flt Lt J MacDonald, Fg Off G Sutcliffe, Flt Lt B Waring, Flt Lt R Clare, Flt Lt G Fuller
Grazed high ground on low level in Wales. IX Sqn

XH556 18/04/1966
Undercarriage collapsed
Finningley 230 OCU

XL385 06/04/1967
Engine fire - no casualties
Scampton on take-off

XM604 30/01/1968
Flt Lt A Bennett, Flt Lt S Sumpter, Flt Lt B Goodman, Fg Off M Whelan (Pilots ejected believing rear crew to be out Flt Lt P Tait, Fg Off M Gillette)
I believe the captain knew the rear crew were still onboard and ejected technically too late. His chute caught on power cables and he survived. He had been advised to burn off fuel to normal max landing weight whereas he could have landed immediately. IX Sqn

XM610 08/01/1971
Caught fire in the air - crew abandoned and survived, Pilot FLt Lt G Alcock awarded AFC
Engine exploded over Northumberland 44 Sqn

XL384 12/08/1971
Heavy landing
Scampton 230 OCU

XJ781 23/05/1973
Undercarriage failed to lower, belly landing
Shiraz, port undercarriage, crew plus Iranian observer evacuated IX Sqn

XM645 14/10/1975
Sqn Ldr D Beeden, Flt Lt E Lambert, Flt Lt G Pulman, CT T Barrow, Sgt J Atkins. Mrs V Zammit killed by falling wreckage. Pilots ejected Flt Lt G Alcock AFC (see XH646), Flt Lt E Alexander
Malta IX Sqn

XM600 17/01/1977
Abandoned following serious engine fire - Pilots Flt Lt R Aspinall, Flt A Ryder and 3 rear crew escaped safely
Near Coningsby Giant Voice

XL390 11/08/1978
Flt Lt C Edwards, Flt Lt S Farlow, Flt J Hamilton, Flt Lt N Thomas
Glenview NAS display practice 617 Sqn

XL361 13/11/1981
Damaged beyond repair
Goose Bay, hangar floor collapsed as aircraft being towed out 35 Sqn