No fatalities

Aircraft shot down over North Sea off Ramsgate (N9919)

Ramsgate, United KingdomFlight

On May 30, 1940, an Avro 652 Anson (registration N9919) operated by Royal Air Force - RAF was involved in an aviation accident near Ramsgate, United Kingdom in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft was destroyed by enemy fire, leading to a crash landing in the sea. 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 was hit by enemy fire and crashed into the North Sea near Ramsgate. All four crew members were successfully rescued by HMS Vega.

What happened

The incident occurred when the aircraft came under attack from enemy fire while operating in the vicinity of Ramsgate. The impact of the hostile action caused the plane to lose control and descend into the waters of the North Sea. Despite the severity of the crash landing, the situation did not result in any fatalities. All four individuals on board were located and brought to safety by the crew of HMS Vega.

Findings

The official investigation concluded that the primary cause of the accident was the direct hit from hostile weapons. The aircraft's destruction and subsequent ditching were a direct consequence of this external attack rather than mechanical failure or pilot error.

Probable cause

The aircraft was destroyed by enemy fire, leading to a crash landing in the sea.