List of fatal accidents and incidents involving Royal Air Force aircraft from 1945

Many hundreds of fatal accidents and incidents involving military aircraft operated by the Royal Air Force have occurred since 1945, the great majority of them before the end of the Cold War. They are grouped by the year in which the accident or incident occurred. Combat losses and aircraft operated by experimental establishments not on RAF strength are not included. This is a very far from complete list: for example a total of 890 Gloster Meteors were lost in RAF service (145 of these crashes occurring in 1953 alone), resulting in the deaths of some 450 pilots.

1940s 1945 On 29 September PD343 an Avro Lancaster B.1 of No. 550 Squadron RAF went missing on a flight from Italy to the United Kingdom with 26 on board.Halley 1999, pp. 7–24 On 2 October KH219 a Consolidated Liberator GR.6 of No. 203 Squadron RAF went missing in the Bay of Bengal returning to Singapore on a supply flight, 12 on board. On 4 October PA278 an Avro Lancaster B.1 of No. 103 Squadron RAF went missing on a passenger flight from Italy to the United Kingdom with 25 on board. On 5 October KG867 a Consolidated Liberator GR.6 of the Czech-manned No. 311 Squadron RAF crashed at Elvetham, Hampshire after an engine fire shortly after taking off from RAF Blackbushe, England on a passenger flight, 23 killed.Crash in Hampshire, The Times (London, England), Monday, 8 October 1945; pg. 4; Issue 50267. The five Czech crew were flying 17 Czechoslovak citizens back to Prague. Repatriation by air was cancelled and further repatriation was carried out by sea. On 7 October LJ668 a Short Stirling GT.4 of No. 299 Squadron RAF crashed at Rennes, France. The aircraft was flying from Cairo, Egypt back to the United Kingdom when it ran short of fuel. It tried to land in bad visibility at Rennes but crashed into a row of trees, five crew and 21 soldiers and members of the Auxiliary Territorial Service were killed.R.A.F. Transport Wrecked. The Times (London, England), Monday, 8 October 1945; pg. 4; Issue 50267. On 13 October KL595 a Consolidated Liberator C.6 of 206 Squadron RAF failed to gain speed on takeoff from Melsbroek, Belgium and sank back into ground, 31 killed.31 Killed in R.A.F. Transport. The Times (London, England), Tuesday, 16 October 1945; pg. 4; Issue 50274. On 15 October NJ277 a Short Sunderland GR.5 of No. 230 Squadron RAF crashed into a hill in bad visibility near Tuas, Johore, Malaya., 22 killed. On 19 October BZ928 a Consolidated Liberator B.3 of No. 144 Maintenance Unit crashed five miles south of Maison Blanche, French Algeria following engine failure and stall, 15 killed. On 23 October KJ957 a Douglas Dakota C.4 of No. 48 Squadron RAF was last seen flying into cloud 20 miles east of Chiringa, India, presumed to have crashed, 14 on board. On 5 November 1945 PD383 an Avro Lancaster B.1 of No. 300 Polish Bomber Squadron went missing near Corsica on a passenger flight from Italy to the United Kingdom, 26 on board. On 11 November a Short Stirling C.5 operated by No. 158 Squadron RAF was departing for the United Kingdom when it crashed on takeoff from RAF Castel Benito in Libya after the wing caught fire, 21 soldiers and five crew were killed, one person survived.The Times (London, England), Thursday, 15 November 1945; pg. 4; Issue 50300 On 14 November PW422 a Short Stirling GT.4 operated by No. 570 Squadron RAF was dropping English newspapers at Evre aerodrome near Brussels when it hit an electric pylon and crashed into a hockey club, five crew killed and three girls in the building.The Times (London, England), Thursday, 15 November 1945; pg. 4; Issue 50300. On 22 November KH126 a Consolidated Liberator C.8 of No. 53 Squadron RAF flew into high ground after takeoff from RAF Merryfield, Somerset, England on a passenger flight, five crew and 21 soldiers killed."27 Killed in Air Accident." Times [London, England] 23 November 1945: 4. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 30 Nov. 2012. On 23 November KG520 a Douglas Dakota C.3 of No. 31 Squadron RAF crash landed following engine failure five miles east of Kemayoran, Java in the Netherlands East Indies, five crew and 21 Indian soldiers were murdered by Indonesians.Our Special Correspondent. "A Massacre in Java." Times [London, England] 3 December 1945: 4. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 30 November 2012. On 3 December KH125 a Consolidated Liberator C.8 of No. 220 Squadron RAF lost a wing flying in cu-nim cloud and crashed at Rochefort, France, 28 killed.

1946 2 January EE335 a Gloster Meteor F.3 of 74 Squadron dived in to ground at RAF Warwell, one killed. 2 January 1946 KH836 a North American Mustang F.4 of 303 Squadron crashed on takeoff from RAF Turnhouse. 3 January MG445 an Avro Anson T.1 of 5 Air Navigation School, flew into high ground near Laxey, Isle of Man, four killed. 4 January KN363 a Douglas Dakota C.4 of 243 Squadron, ditched in the South China Sea, three killed. 4 January KK331 a Consolidated Liberator GR.8 of 111 Operational Training Unit flew into high ground in Norway, eight killed. 7 January 1946 PH242 an Airspeed Oxford T.2 of 21 PAFU, flew into high ground, Black Mountains, Brecknock, one killed. 8 January 1946 FA703 a Boeing Fortress GR.2 of 521 Squadron, ditched after engine problems 550 miles west of Land's End, five killed. 8 January 1946 NG269 an Avro Lancaster B.1 of 202 Squadron, hit tree and crashed into a hill, Normanby, Lincolnshire, four killed. On 15 January 1946 KN557 a Douglas Dakota C.3 of No. 271 Squadron RAF flew into a hill in bad weather five South of Marseilles, France, 25 killed.Halley 1999, pp. 25–58 On 30 January 1946 KN500 a Douglas Dakota C.4 of No. 525 Squadron RAF crashed after entering cloud, presumed loss of control, 11 killed. On 13 February 1946 VB885 a Short Sunderland GR.5 of 302 Flying Training Unit flew into the sea turning in bad visibility near Calshot, ten killed. On 27 March 1946 PP103 a Short Sunderland GR.5 of No. 209 Squadron RAF crashed landed at Seletar, Singapore after two engines failed, 13 killed. On 28 March 1946 KN760 a Consolidated Liberator GR.8 of No. 159 Squadron RAF crashed at Pegu, Burma after an engine failed. On 30 April 1946 FZ559 a Douglas Dakota C.3 of No. 3 Parachute Training School hit the ground at Pindi-Khut, India while low flying, 12 killed. On 8 June 1946 KG747 a Douglas Dakota C.3 operated by the Accra Station Flight hit trees while flying below cloud in bad weather 70 miles east of Lagos, Nigeria, 22 killed. On 29 June 1946 KJ918 a Douglas Dakota C.4 of No. 48 Squadron RAF went missing in bad weather in Malaya, 18 on board. On 25 July 1946 KN585 a Douglas Dakota C.4 of No. 267 Squadron RAF crashed into a swamp 25 miles east of Bassein, Burma, wing had failed flying in bad weather. On 19 September 1946 NX690 an Avro Lancaster B.7 of No. 40 Squadron RAF caught fire in the air and dived into ground five miles West of Homs, Libya, 25 killed. On 25 September 1946 KN414 a Douglas Dakota C.4 of No. 110 Squadron RAF flew into the ground two miles from Kai Tak, Hong Kong after control was lost in turbulence, 19 killed. On 6 October 1946 MW125 an Avro York C.1 of No. 511 Squadron RAF crashed in the Bay of Bengal 100 miles West of Penang, Malaya, 21 killed, cause not known.

1947 On 26 February 1947 KK120 a Douglas Dakota C.4 of No. 48 Squadron RAF went missing in bad weather on a flight from Changi to Saigon, 12 on board.Halley 1999, pp. 58–70 On 8 March 1947 KK122 a Douglas Dakota C.4 of No. 216 Squadron RAF flew into high ground at Ischia, Italy in bad visibility. On 18 March 1947 MW198 an Avro York C.1 of No. 51 Squadron RAF had an engine fail on takeoff, lost height and hit trees 2 miles North of Negombo, Ceylon, 11 killed.

1948 On 30 April 1948 RF474 an Avro Lincoln B.2 of No. 9 Squadron RAF broke up in cu-nim cloud and crashed at Verquires, Bouches-du-Rhone, France, 11 killed.Halley 1999, pp. 71–83 On 4 July 1948 MW428 an Avro York C.1 of No. 99 Squadron RAF collided with a Douglas DC-6 of Scandinavian Airlines System which was on approach to RAF Northolt, seven killed on the York and 32 on the DC-6. On 18 September 1948 TA507 a de Havilland Mosquito FB.6 of 51 Maintenance Unit stalled during an aerobatic display a crashed just beyond the SW perimeter of Fradley airfield, two crew killed Lt Hedley and Squadron Leader Shaw On 18 September 1948 TE808 a de Havilland Mosquito FB.6 lost control during a display at RAF Manston and crashed, two crew killed and ten on the ground.

1949 On 19 February 1949 VV243 an Avro Anson T.21 of No. 2 Air Navigation School collided with a British European Airways Douglas DC-3 over Exhall, four miles north of Coventry, four crew killed and ten on the Douglas DC-3.Halley 1999, pp. 83–96 9 August 1949 KN336 a Douglas Dakota C.4 flew into the ground on approach in cloud to Salalah, Oman, 12 killed.

1950s 1950 3 January 1950 VV741. a De Havilland Vampire FB.5 of No. 3 Squadron RAF flew into a hill at Arnsberg, Germany, one killed. 5 January 1950 FT376, a North American Harvard T.2B of No 7 Flying Training School hit a tree while low flying at Normanby, Lincolnshire, two killed. 5 January 1950 VP199, a De Havilland Mosquito B.35 of No. 109 Squadron RAF flew into a hill at Micckle Fell in Yorkshire, two killed. 6 January 1950 FX305. a North American Harvard T.2B of the Royal Air Force College crashed during aerobatics new Coleby Hall, Lincolnshire, one killed. 10 January 1950 VS287, a Percival Prentice T.1 of No. 3 Flying Training School dived into the ground near Feltwell, two killed. 10 January 1950 SM978. a Supermarine Spitfire FR.18 of Station Flight at RAF Tengah, Singapore hit ground on approach, one Thai national killed. 12 January 1950 PX351, a De Havilland Hornet F.3 of No. 64 Squadron RAF crashed on approach to RAF Linton-on-Ouse, one killed. 12 January 1950 SW363, an Avro Lancaster GR.3 of No. 236 Operational Conversion Unit RAF crashed on takeoff from RAF St. Eval, five killed. 13 January 1950 PP624 and RG254, De Havilland Mosquitos of No. 81 Squadron RAF collided off Serei, Brunei while in formation, four killed. 14 January 1950 DE689, a De Havilland Tiger Moth of No. 4 Flying Training School, crashed after engine cut in Southern Rhodesia. one killed. 17 January 1950 PX388, a De Havilland Hornet F.3 of No. 65 Squadron RAF flew into a house in low cloud in Germany, one killed. 20 January 1950 TP319, a Supermarine Spitfire FR.18 of No. 60 Squadron RAF dived into the ground one mile west of Malacca, Malaysia one killed. 25 August 1950 KN630 a Douglas Dakota C.4 of No. 52 Squadron RAF crashed into a ravine at Kempong Jenera, Malaya, 12 killed.Halley 1999, pp. 98–109

1951 5 January 1951 VZ449, a Gloster Meteor F.8 of No. 74 Squadron RAF crashed into sea off Norfolk coast, one killed. 6 January 1951 EE550 a Gloster Meteor F.4 of No. 615 Squadron RAF dived into ground near Ashford, Kent, one killed. 8 January 1951 VV531, De Havilland Vampire FB.5 of No. 26 Squadron RAF dived into ground after losing control in cloud in West Germany, one killed. 11 January 1951 VS838 a Bristol Brigand B.1 of No. 45 Squadron RAF caught fire and crashed at Penang, Malaysia, three killed. 12 January 1951 VN310 a Supermarine Spitfire F.24 of No. 80 Squadron RAF lost control in cloud and crashed off Hong Kong, one killed. 12 January 1951 VF273 a De Havilland Vampire of 203 AFS dived into the ground near Thwaites, Northumberland, one killed. 13 January 1951 T6524 a De Havilland Tiger Moth T.2 spun into ground after take-off, Southern Rhodesia, one killed. 15 January 1951 RG183 a De Havilland Mosquito PR.34 of 58 Squadron hit trees on approach to RAF Benson, one killed. 18 January 1951 RA712 an Avro Lincoln B.2 of 617 Squadron hit two other Lincolns while landing on three engines at RAF Binbrook and caught fire, one killed. 19 January 1951 VZ469 a Gloster Meteor F.8 of 43 Squadron hit sea during a low run near RAF Leuchars, one killed. 20 January 1951 TG295 a De Havilland Vampire F.1 of 203 AFS lost control and crashed near RAF Dishforth, one killed.