Victor

Aircraft by type

Handley Page Victor

List being compiled

Date	Air Force	A'cft	Unit / Serial	based	crashed	crew	photo	seat
14th July 1953	RAF	Victor	Prototype WB771		Tail broke off. Crashed at Cranfield during low level position error runs


	31 DECEMBER 1953 VICTOR 1(P) WB771 Sqn Ldr H.G.Hazelden DFC (Graduate No.l Course; (Chief Test Pilot) Handley Page, Radlett. Sapphire engine development, systems test. High frequency vibration from the engines, now operating at their 8,3001b thrust ratings, caused the starboard inner flap to detach unknown to the crew. The aircraft completed an undemanded roll to port when the flaps were lowered during the landing approach. Flaps deselected and a flapless recovery successfully made. (ref 75). Nil casualties. Cat 3.

	14 JULY 1954 VICTOR B.1(P) WB771 Sqn Ldr RN.Ecclestone DFC AFC (Graduate No.8 Course; Test Pilot), Mr E.N.K.Bennett (Flight Test Observer), Mr B.Heithersay (Flight Test Observer) and Mr A.B.Cook (Flight Test Observer), Handley Page, Radlett. Position error calibration flight involving level runs at 100ft over Cranfield airfield at increasing speeds. After numerous runs over the airfield, induced tail flutter caused cracking of the bolt holes in the fin. These allowed the three bolts securing the tailplane to loosen and shear in quick succession, the complete tailplane and elevators broke away from the aircraft. The remainder of the aircraft dived into the ground at full power, striking exactly at the intersection of the two Cranfield runways. (refs 6, 14, 20, 62, 74, 75, 93 & 207). 4 killed. Cat 5.
DATE ???	RAF	Victor	Development aircraft XA919		Damaged in flying accident, landed but written off.

18th July 1960	RAF	Victor	XH613		4 engine flameout on approach to Cottesmore

19th July 1960	RAF	Victor B1A	XH617	57 Sqn	3 miles south east of Diss, Norfolk	Flt. Lt. J. Mudford (Captain)		Martin-Baker
19th July 1960	RAF	Victor				Flt. Lt. J. J. Mudford ejected		Martin-Baker
19th July 1960	RAF	Victor	XH617		Alternator drive shaft failure. Crashed over Norfolk

23rd March 1962	RAF	Victor	XL159		Stable stall, crashed near Newark
23rd March 1962	RAF	Victor B.Mk2	XL159	M.O.A	loss of control the aircraft went into a flat spin	pilot ejected 200-300 knots I.A.S. at 500ft FIJLT J.W.Watenon -AM P.Murphy ?????		Martin-Baker 3LS
23rd March 1962	RAF	Victor B.Mk2	XL159	M.O.A	loss of control the aircraft went into a flat spin	co-pilot ejected 200-300 knots I.A.S. at 500 - 1,000ft suffered back injuries		Martin-Baker 3LS
23rd March 1962	RAF	Victor B2	XL159	A&AEE	Stubton Notts ALL THREE OTHER CREW SURVIVED	Mr. P. Murphy		Martin-Baker
23rd March 1962	RAF	Victor B2	XL159	A&AEE	Stubton Notts ALL THREE OTHER CREW SURVIVED	Flt. Lt. J. W. Waterton		Martin-Baker
	23 MARCH 1962 VICTOR B.2 XL159 Mr P.Murphy (Test Pilot, Handley Page Aircraft), Flt Lt J Waterton (Graduate No. 19 Course), Mr M.P.Evans (Navigator) and Mr P Elwood (Flight Test Observer, Handley Page). `B' Sqn, A&AEE, flown from Radlett. Flight trial into the low speed handling characteristics with recently fitted production fixed droop leading edges that replaced the conventional nose flaps. During an approach to the stall at 16,OOOft in the landing configuration the aircraft was mishandled and entered a stable stall followed by a flat spin from which the crew were unable to recover, the aircraft sinking at a rate of about 6,OOOft/min. Both pilots ejected safely, the co‑pilot at 1,OOOft and the captain at 400500ft. One rear crew (Mr J.Tank AEO) abandoned the aircraft successfully, the other two‑rear crew remained with the aircraft. The aircraft, descending almost vertically, crashed onto a farmhouse at Stubton (Lincolnshire), near Newark‑on‑Trent, killing two residents and injuring two more (Mr and Mrs D.Burtt). (refs 2, 20, 28, 77 & 207). Pilots injured. 2 crew killed (Evans and Ellwood). 2 non‑occupant civilians killed (Mrs A.Gibson and Miss C.P.Gibson). Cat 5.
4th June 1962	RAF	Victor B.1A	XH613	15 Sqdn, Cottesmore	all four engines failed at 2,000ft	Pilot ejected OK		Martin-Baker
						Co-Pilot ejected OK		Martin-Baker
						all 3 rear crew "bailed out"
FEEDBACK	Hi I refer to the reason for the loss of Victor B1A XH613 on the 4th of June 1962. The reason that all four engines lost power was because an electrical socket, part of the fuel control system, became detached from the back of the central sliding fuel panel. I think it was called the AT Panel. It was a great surprise to all, that all four engine fuel controls were routed through the one socket. Even Radlett couldn't believe it. The socket of course should have been wire locked. I cannot remember now whether it had been, and the wire had broken, or if indeed it had been removed at some point and the wire not replaced and locked. I refer too to Victor XA 929 lost on the 16th of the same month. It was said at the time that the air was insufficiently dense for the aircraft to get enough lift .The temperature at the time being very hot. Bearing in mind it was a lone ranger on a full fuel load. The pilot realised he wasn't going to make it, and abandoned take off. The rest is history. I remember the great weight of sadness that hung over Cottesmore at the time. Hope the above helps to keep the info as accurate as possible. At that time I was an aircraft electrician on 10 Squadron David M T Ketley in email 31st January 2008
16th June 1962	RAF	Victor	XA929		Crashed on take off at Akrotiri

2nd October 1962	RAF	Victor	XA934
2nd October 1962	RAF	Victor B1	XA934	232 OCU RAF Gaydon	Engine failure 3 miles south west of RAF Gaydon	Pilot Captain Flight Lieutenant Noel Edward COOKE killed
						Flt. Lt. B. C. Gwinnell (co-pilot)		Martin-Baker
						Pilot Officer John Anthony COTTRIDGE killed
						Flying Officer Douglas Frank HAYNES killed
FEEDBACK	Hi , I did the pre-flight checks on XA 934 on the morning shift at R.A.F. Gaydon on October the 2nd 1962.During the night shift it crashed. Flt Lt. Gwinnel had ejected [his seat had been serviced by Junior Technician Philip [Sam] Weller. The aircraft was in a tail down attitude while entering a small copse. Gwinnel ejected and hit the ground still in the seat. He was badly injured but eventually returned to flying. The first pilot , Flt Lt. Noel Edward Cooke [Captain Cooke to us "erks"] fired his seat , but during the time delay for the canopy to be jettisoned , the aircraft exploded. All the best .ex Leading Aircraftman "Shingles" McVey [in email 5th November 2007]
20th March 1963	RAF	Victor	XM714		Stalled after take off from Wittering
20th March 1963	RAF	Victor B2	XM714	100 Sqn	3.5 miles east-north-east of RAF Wittering	Flt. Lt. B. J. Jackson (co-pilot)		Martin-Baker

20th March 1963	RAF	Victor 2	XM714		aircraft in spin	2nd pilot Major B. Jackson ejected at 2,00ft, 180 kts Suffered compression fracture		Martin-Baker Mk.3LS.2

29th June 1966	RAF	Victor	XM716		Crashed near Wyton

19th August 1968	RAF	Victor	XH646		Collided with a Canberra over Norfolk

10th May 1973	RAF	Victor	XL230		Lost control after touch and go at Wyton

24th March 1975	RAF	Victor Tanker	XH618:		collided with Buccaneer over North Sea
24th March 1975	RAF	Victor	XH618		Mid-air collision	Flt. Lt. K.L.Handscomb ejected using seat pan handle probably below 7000'.		Martin-Baker Mk3L1 Mk2
24th March 1975	Major compression fracture of vertebrae and incomplete fracture of left ankle. Co-pilot: Martin-Baker 3L2 Mk2. Unable to reach handles. Rear crew unable to escape from cabin due to high negative "G" forces. Beyond vertical nose down attitude. resulting in loss of control.
24th March 1975	RAF	Victor K1A	XH618	57 Sqn	Simulated refueling Buccaneer hit XH618's tailplane - off Sunderland	Flt. Lt. Keith L. Handscomb		Martin-Baker

DATE	RAF	Victor B2 prototype	XH668		lost over Irish Sea after pitot probe detached and leading edge slats auto deployed

28th September 1976	RAF	Victor	XL513		Take off abort, Marham

15th October 1982	RAF	Victor	XL232		Turbine disc failure leading to uncontrolled fire on take off roll, Marham

19th June 1986	RAF	Victor	XL191		Stalled on approach at Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

	RAF	Victor

	RAF	Victor
	15‑Mar‑93 XH671 Victor K2 55 Sqn RAF Marham 0 The main cabin door and the surrounds were damaged beyond repair in a pressure test. The aircraft was not repaired because the type was approaching the end of its service life

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19 JUNE 1957

VICTOR B.1

XA919

Flt Lt G.H.Moreau (Graduate No.l3 Course) and Flt Lt VMcNabney GM, `B' Sqn, A&AEE. Due to a technical defect the aircraft landed at Wittering with the starboard wheel brakes locked on. The front four tyres of the bogie were torn away, the rear four tyres burst and the wheels were damaged. Debris from the tyres damaged the starboard flaps, severed the electrical earth point in the undercarriage bay and pierced the fuselage and the bomb bay. The aircraft was recovered successfully to Boscombe Down with numerous electrical faults. Modifications subsequently introduced. (refs 62 & 180). Nil casualties. Cat 4.

20 AUGUST 1959

VICTOR B.2 (P)

XH668

Sqn Ldr R.J.Morgan (Graduate No. 16 Course) and Sqn Ldr G.B.Stockman (Graduate No. 15 Course), `B' Sqn, A&AEE. Trials flight ‑ high speed manoeuvrability. A fatigue fracture induced the loss of the starboard wingtip pitot head tube, which led to a low speed input to the auto Mach trim actuator and the stall detector thus lowering the elevators and extending the leading edge flaps. The aircraft progressed into a high‑speed dive from 54,OOOft. Partial structural failure preceded impact with the sea at Mach 0.855, off St Brides Bay, Wales. Unsuccessful ejection by the captain just prior to impact. The analysis of the accident was only achieved after a 14month sea search, which ended on 19 November 1960, during which time 46 ships were involved, 11,069 deep‑sea trawls were made and 592,610 pieces of wreckage recovered, amounting to 70 per cent of the aircraft. (refs 2, 16, 17, 28, 33 & 207). 5 missing, presumed killed (crew plus Flt Lt L.N.Williams, Flt Lt R.J.Hannaford and Mr R.Williams (Handley Page)). Cat 5.

2 MARCH 1961

VICTOR B.1

XA917

Mr W.R.Burton (1st pilot), Mr H Rayner (2nd pilot), Mr D John

(Navigator), Mr A.J.Vincent (AEO), and Mr D Cook (Observer,

RAE Farnborough), Handley Page, Radlett. X‑band radar trials.

The aircraft landed in the undershoot and damaged the nose

wheels, the aircraft then ran on to the runway and proceeded more

or less normally until the brake parachute was streamed. With a

strong crosswind, and without nose‑wheel steering, the aircraft ran

off the side of the runway onto grass where the nose dug in and the

undercarriage collapsed causing extensive damage to the fuselage.

(refs 1 & 207). Nil casualties. Cat 5.

5 DECEMBER 1960

VICTOR B.2

XH673

MC .1.W.Allan 1 (Test Pilot), Sqn Ldr R.L.Bates, Mr R.A.Funnell, Mr

J.P.Quinn and Mr J.Rudeforth, Handley Page, Radlett. High weight

functional tests. Hydraulic failure. The aircraft landed wheels‑up, tail

first, at Waddington, on foam. (refs 2, & 93). Nil casualties. Cat 4.

17 AUGUST 1962

VICTOR B.2

XL161

Mr J.Baker and Mr Longhurst (Flight Test Observer), Avro. Blue

Steel carriage and release testing trials by No.4 JSTU, Woomera,

Australia. At 47,OOOft in the climb to 50,OOOft, a leak in the

second pilot's pitot static system caused the auto Mach trimmer to

run fully out and apply a rearward force to the control column and

the second pilot's Mach meter to read Mach 1.03 (above the

permissible limit). The first pilot's Mach meter correctly

indicated Mach 0.76. Thinking that he had excessive speed, the

first pilot reacted to the second pilot's instrument by throttling

back and extending the air brakes thus reducing speed. The

aircraft stalled and pitched up, the pilot lost control and the

aircraft spun. Recovery was not achieved until the landing brake

parachute was streamed and used as an anti‑spin device. A return

to level flight was accomplished at 17,OOOft. (refs 1 & 207). Nil

casualties. Cat 3.

Victor XA929 16‑Jun‑62

Victor XA934 02‑Oct‑62

Victor XH613 14‑Jun‑62

Victor XH617 19‑Jul‑60

Victor XH618 24‑Mar‑75

Victor XH646 19‑Aug‑68

Victor XH668 20‑Aug‑59

Victor XH671 15‑Mar‑93

Victor XL159 23‑Mar‑62

Victor XL191 19‑Jun‑86

Victor XL230 10‑May‑73

Victor XL232 15‑Oct‑82

Victor XL513 28‑Sep‑76

Victor XM714 20‑Mar‑63

Victor XM716 29‑Jun‑66

14‑Jul‑54

WB771

Victor Prototype H Page

Cranfield airfield, Bedfordshire

The aircraft broke up whilst making calibration runs over the airfield. The cause of the loss was failure of the tailplane. 'Taffy' Ecclestone was a graduate of the Empire Test Pilots' School No 8 Course in 1949 and had recently joined Handley Page. He accepted the task to fly the Victor on this sortie so that the senior test pilot; Squadron Leader Hedley George Hazelden DFC & Bar, could carry out a rescheduled demonstration of another aircraft to a foreign sales delegation. Ecclestone had been awarded the Distnguished Flying Cross following a tour with 218 Sqn. Ian Bennett had been one of the two man crew (the other was Squadron Leader Hazelden) who made the first flight in a Victor on 24 December 1952.

Squadron Leader Ronald Vivian Ecclestone DFC Handley Page Test Pilot ‑ Captain Mr Ian K BENNETT Handley Page Flight Test Observer Mr B HEITHERSAY Handley Page Flight Test Observer Mr A B COOK Handley Page Flight Test Observer

20‑Aug‑59

XH668

Victor B2

A&AEE

off Milford Haven

The aircraft was on a test flight when it lost the starboard pressure head. This gave incorrect airspeed readings and the aircraft was then allowed to dive and became out of control before breaking up. A massive search was conducted to recover the wreckage of this aircraft from the sea and to identify the cause of the loss.

Squadron Leader Raymond James MORGAN 34 Pilot Captain

Squadron Leader George Breakspear STOCKMAN 29 Co‑Pilot

Flight Lieutenant Lewis Nicholas WILLIAMS Navigator

Flight Lieutenant Ronald John HANNAFORD Air Electronics Officer

Mr Robert H WILLIAMS Handley Page Flight Test Observer

19‑Jul‑60

XH617

Victor KlA

57 Sqn

3 Miles South East of Diss Norfolk

Abandoned on fire after alternator drive failed and penetrated fuel tank. The Captain, Flight Lieutenant J Mudford and the Air Electronics Operator, Flying Officer G C Stewart, survived the accident

Flying Officer Michael John WILKES Co‑Pilot

Flight Lieutenant John Bernard Paul WILDING Navigator (Radar)

Flight Lieutenant Rodney Syd BRISTOW Navigator (Plotter)

23‑Mar‑62

XL159 Victor B2

A&AEE

Stubton Notts

Stalled and dived into house killing 2 on ground

Mr M EVANS 25 Navigator Handley Page Flight Test Crew

Mr P ELWOOD 26 Flight Test Observer Handley Page Flight Test Crew

Mr P Murphy (Captain), Mr J Tank and Flight Lieutenant J Waterton all survived the accident)

14‑Jun‑62

XH613 Victor

KlA

15 Sqn

5 miles North East of RAF Cottesmore

Whilst approaching RAF Cottesmore at the end of the sortie, all four engines ran down because the electrical connectors became disconnected on the throttle box. The aircraft was being flown by the squadron commander; Wg Cdr Matthews with Flying Officer Lowther as his co‑pilot. On the order to abandon the aircraft, it is believed that the rear crew left the aircraft in less than half a minute and,

although one man left the rubber of his flying boots along the fuselage, the entire crew survived. It was particularly tragic, therefore, that a few days later another Victor from the Cottesmore sister squadron should crash with the loss of all on board. (Crew: Captain ‑ Wg Cdr J G Matthews, Co‑Pilot ‑ Fg Off W B Lowther, Navigator Plotter ‑ Flt Lt G B Spencer, Navigator Radar ‑ Flt Lt B H Stubbs, Air Electronics Operator ‑ Flt Lt E W Anstead). In June 1983, the author joined Bill Lowther for a drink to celebrate his second 21st birthday!

16‑Jun‑62

XA929

Victor B1

10 Sqn

RAF Akrotiri Cyprus

Incorrect flap reading led to wrong selection on take off. By the time the pilot had realised the possible T reason for the aircraft not becoming airborne it was too late to avoid the crash. The co‑pilot ejected T shortly before the crash but his ejection was outside the design limits of the seat and he did not survive.

Flight Lieutenant George Alfred GOATHAM 27 Pilot Captain

Flight Lieutenant David Cairns BROWN 28

Flight Lieutenant John GRAY 36

Flying Officer Anthony William MITCHELL 21 Co‑Pilot

Flying Officer Albert Peter PACE 24

Master Technician Donald Arthur SMITH 40 Crew Chief

02‑Oct‑62

XA934

Victor B1

2320CU

3m South‑west RAF Gaydon

Engine failed on take off and the aircraft was abandoned after two others failed

Flight Lieutenant Noel Edward COOKE 39 Pilot Captain

Pilot Officer John Anthony COTTRIDGE

Flying Officer Douglas Frank HAYNES

(the co‑pilot; Flight Lieutenant E B C Gwinnel, a former Canberra pilot with 45 Squadron was saved)

20‑Mar‑63

XM714

Victor B2

100 Sqn

3 1 / 2 M East‑north‑east RAF Wittering

The aircraft, with a crew of five and a Bomber Command 'umpire' took off in the early evening to fly a bomber night exercise. The weather was good and the aircraft had only recently been delivered new from the factory. After a normal take‑off and after passing 800 feet, the co‑pilot noticed the No 2 engine fire warning light illuminated. He told the captain that No 1 engine was on fire but the captain

contradicted him with the correct engine details and instructed the co‑pilot to tell Air Traffic Control and then told the rear crew members to check their parachutes. The co‑pilot noticed that the undercarriage warning flag, which is activated if speed drops below 160 knots and the undercarriage has not been lowered, was flashing and he warned the captain to watch his speed. The captain replied that he was climbing for height and despite the severe juddering believed that the aircraft had sufficient speed because, it is thought, he believed he was at 100 knots higher speed than was the case. At around 5000 feet the aircraft flicked over to port and fell away partly inverted. The captain ordered the crew to abandon the aircraft and the rear crew members were unable to do so because of the increasing 'G' forces as the aircraft spun down. The co‑pilot ejected and was unharmed. It seems the only possible explanation for an experienced captain losing control in this way was for him to have assumed he had the right speed and that the juddering was not a stall but structural failure caused by the engine fire.

Flight Lieutenant Alexander Douglas GALBRAITH 29 Pilot

Flight Lieutenant Edward Joseph VERNON 32 Navigator Radar

Flight Lieutenant James CHURCHILL 31 Navigator Plotter

Flying Officer Terence Ian SANDFORD 23 Air Electronics Officer

Master Navigator Albert STRINGER 39 (Exercise Umpire, on loan from 139 Squadron)

(co pilot Flight Lieutenant B J Jackson escaped)

29‑Jun‑66

XM716

Victor SR2

543 Sqn

Near Warboys Airfield

Broke up in high speed low level turn. The aircraft, the first SR2 to enter service with the squadron, was being demonstrated to the Press. The evidence suggests that it was overstressed in the turn and broke up over the old airfield at Warboys.

Squadron Leader John Anthony HOLLAND Captain

Flying Officer Harry WALSH Co‑Pilot

Flight Lieutenant Royston Arthur NORMAN Navigator

Flight Lieutenant Kenneth SMITH Air Electronics Officer

19‑Aug‑68

XH646

Victor

K1 A

214 Sqn

Kelling Heath Norfolk

Whilst flying in extremely poor weather conditions which rendered the radar cover inadequate, the Victor was in collision with a Canberra. The crews of both aircraft were killed. Squadron Leader Doyle had assumed his responsibilities as a flight commander on 214 Squadron on the morning of his death.

Squadron Leader Michael Thomas DOYLE Navigator

Flight Lieutenant William Anthony GALLIENE Captain

Gallienne

Flight Lieutenant Kenneth John PEACOCK Navigator

Flight Lieutenant Roger Stanley MORTON Co‑Pilot

10‑May‑73

XL230

Victor SRZ

543 Sqn

RAF Wyton

Loss of control during unauthorised asymetric night approach and rolled over. It appears that the pilot may have allowed the speed to decay too much and that he lost control authority and was unable to prevent the aircraft rolling onto its back. As a co‑pilot, Stevenson had been amongst a crew taking part in a transatlantic race held in 1969 to mark the anniversary of the Alcock and Browne crossing.

Flight Lieutenant Stuart Hawthorne STEVENSON Captain

Flight Lieutenant John Weir PHILIPS 27 Co‑Pilot

Flight Lieutenant Keith Robert QUINNEY 29 Navigator

Squadron Leader John Philip MUSSON 38 Navigator (Flight Commander)

Flight Lieutenant Richard John SWAIN 33 Navigator

Flight Lieutenant John Henry GIBBS 42 Air Electronics Officer

24‑Mar‑75

XH618

Victor

KlA

57 Sqn

off Sunderland

Mid air collision with Buccaneer XV156. The Victor was taking part in simulated refuelling when the Buccaneer struck the tailplane rendering the Victor immediately uncontrollable. It bunted over and the 'g' forces made it impossible for the crew to escape; the captain, Flight Lieutenant Keith Handscomb managed to reach the ejection handle with the fingers of one hand and although injured was subsequently rescued by a merchant ship. The aircraft exploded as it reached the cloud tops. The Buccaneer was undamaged and returned to base.

Flight Lieutenant David Hallam CROWTHER

Flight Lieutenant Peter Joseph Leo SLATTER

Flying Officer Terence Patrick EVANS

Flying Officer John Arthur PRICE

28‑Sep‑76

XL513

Victor K2

55 Sqn

RAF Marham

Crashed into the overshoot following birdstrike whilst taking off

15‑Oct‑82

XL232

Victor K2

55 Sqn

RAF Marham

Engine explosion and major fire when taking off. The aircraft was brought to a stop and quickly evacuated by its crew and despite prompt attention from the fire crew, the aircraft was engulfed by flames from its heavy fuel load and completely destroyed

19‑Jun‑86

XL191

Victor K2

55 Sqn

Hamilton Canada

Crashed into the undershoot during approach to land. The detailed circumstances of this accident are taught within the RAF flight safety training environment as an example of how not to do things. In essence there was a breakdown in crew cooperation which, when taken with other factors led to the loss of the aircraft

FIRST SET OF INFORMATION

UK Flight Testing Accidents 1940-1971 – Derek Collier Web – Air Britain – isbn 0-85120-331-1

SECOND SET OF INFORMATION

To Fly No More Service – Colin Cummings – isbn 0-9526619-2-6

Lost to Service – Colin Cummings - isbn 09526619-0-X

Please note the date difference given for WB771

Collier-Webb gives 1953 whereas Cummings gives 1954

(I think DCW is correct – Any confirmation – Derek was a stickler for accuracy and a good friend. He was editor of PROFILE – the Boscombe Down Safety Magazine Editor for a several years in the 1990s and actually got me to write several articles for him on Assisted Aircrew escape Systems History. I was never on time, always too wordy – he was a brilliant individual – ever patient with this “civilian writer” – he is sadly missed)

All info from Andrew Brooke's excellent book 'Handley Page Victor' ISBN 0-7110-1803-0
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