1 fatality

RAF Croughton Night Training Incident Involving German Fighter Attack (N5074)

Croughton AFB, United KingdomLanding (descent or approach)

On August 31, 1941, an Avro 652 Anson (registration N5074) operated by Royal Air Force - RAF was involved in an aviation accident near Croughton AFB, United Kingdom during landing or approach. One person was killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft was shot down by a German fighter during a night training exercise. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-08-04Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft conducting a local night training exercise at RAF Croughton was shot down by a German fighter during approach, resulting in one fatality and four injuries among the crew.

What happened

The incident occurred while the aircraft was engaged in a local night training exercise at RAF Croughton. During the approach phase of the flight, the airplane came under attack from a German fighter. The engagement resulted in the aircraft being shot down, forcing it to crash land in the vicinity of the airbase.

The accident caused significant casualties within the crew. One member of the team was killed in the incident, while four others sustained injuries. The flight consisted of five individuals: the pilot, the copilot, and three observers. The loss of life occurred among the senior crew members during this hostile engagement.

Probable cause

The aircraft was shot down by a German fighter during a night training exercise.