1945 Devon Consolidated Liberator crash

A B-24 Liberator similar to the accident aircraft
Accident
Date	22 November 1945 (1945-11-22)
Summary	Pilot error
Site	Broadway Pound, Somerset, England 50°57′41″N 2°56′00″W / 50.9614°N 2.9333°W / 50.9614; -2.9333
Aircraft
Aircraft type	Consolidated Liberator C Mk VIII
Operator	53 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Registration	KH126
Flight origin	RAF Merryfield
Destination	India
Occupants	27
Passengers	22
Crew	5
Fatalities	27
Survivors	0

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 with the loss of all 27 on board.^[1]

The Liberator (serial number KH126) was being operated by 53 Squadron on a trooping flight from RAF Merryfield to India.^[1][2] 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.^[1] It burst into flames with the loss of the five-man crew (all but one were Polish) and 22 Army passengers.^[1]

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.^[3]

• 1943 Gibraltar B-24 crash

• Halley, James (1999). Broken Wings – Post-War Royal Air Force Accidents. Tunbridge Wells, Kent, United Kingdom: Air-Britain (Historians) Litd. ISBN 0-85130-290-4.

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