What happened
The incident occurred while the crew was conducting a night navigation exercise departing from RAF Wigtown. During the return leg to their base, the aircraft overshot its intended path on a northerly heading. At approximately 22:00, the machine flew into high ground located north of Newton Stewart. Because the aircraft failed to report back to Wigtown as expected, it was declared overdue.
At 00:30 on 2 September, the station's Medical Officer was notified of the situation and organized a search party. This team coordinated with local police in Newton Stewart to commence ground searches at first light. By 12:30, search teams had located the crash site. Despite sustaining head injuries and a broken bone in his right foot, one crew member managed to move off the hillside on his own accord and arrived at Craigencallie.
The flight was operated by personnel from 1st AFU. The crew consisted of five individuals: the pilot, a navigator, two wireless operators who also served as air gunners, and a fifth wireless operator. Two members of the crew were killed in the accident.