What happened
On a night training exercise, a twin engine airplane departed RAF Llandwrog, located near Caernarfon, at 0124 local time. The mission was directed toward RAF Penrhos. At 0132 local time, the crew established contact with ground control, which marked the final recorded communication from the flight. Following this transmission, the aircraft reportedly lost control and impacted the sea while in the approach phase to RAF Penrhos.
Despite search efforts, no physical trace of the airframe or its occupants was ever located. The incident resulted in the loss of all personnel on board, totaling five fatalities. The crew consisted of a pilot, a navigator, and three other service members assigned to the 9th Air Fighting Unit.