The 1945 Broadway Consolidated Liberator crash occurred on 22 November 1945 when a Royal Air Force Consolidated Liberator C Mk VIII transport crashed shortly after take-off from

RAF Merryfield Royal Air Force Merryfield or more simply RAF Merryfield (also known as Isle Abbotts) is a former Royal Air Force station in the village of Ilton near Ilminster in southwest Somerset, England. The airfield is located approximately north of ...

with the loss of all 27 on board."27 Killed In Air Accident." Times ondon, England23 November 1945: 4. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 6 July 2015. The Liberator (

serial number A serial number is a unique identifier assigned incrementally or sequentially to an item, to ''uniquely'' identify it. Serial numbers need not be strictly numerical. They may contain letters and other typographical symbols, or may consist enti ...

''KH126'') was being operated by 53 Squadron on a trooping flight from

to India.Halley 1999, p. 19 It failed to gain enough height to clear a hill. It struck a tree and crashed at White's Farm near Broadway Pound, six miles from the airfield. It burst into flames with the loss of the five-man crew (all but one were Polish) and 22 Army passengers.

Investigation

The cause of the crash was determined to be pilot error. The captain completed the first turn to the left after takeoff about 700 feet too low, at about 800 feet instead of the minimum 1,500 feet as mentioned in the departure procedures. Low visibility and poor weather conditions were considered as contributory factors.

References

* Accidents and incidents involving Royal Air Force aircraft Broadway Consolidated Liberator crash Aviation accidents and incidents in England Accidents and incidents involving the Consolidated B-24 Liberator Aviation accidents and incidents caused by pilot error Broadway Consolidated Liberator crash Broadway Consolidated Liberator crash Disasters in Somerset Broadway Consolidated Liberator crash {{England-hist-stub

Investigation

See also

References