5 fatalities

Night training crash in Devon kills five (N5024)

Yolland Marsh, United KingdomFlight

On January 18, 1940, an Avro 652 Anson (registration N5024) operated by Royal Air Force - RAF was involved in an aviation accident near Yolland Marsh, United Kingdom in flight. 5 people were killed. 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 2026-08-05Data APIEditorial standards

A twin-engine aircraft crashed into a field in Yolland Marsh during a night training exercise over Devon, resulting in the deaths of all five occupants on board.

What happened

The incident occurred during an evening departure from RAF Harwell for a scheduled night training mission. While cruising over the county of Devon, the flight encountered deteriorating weather conditions characterized by heavy snowfall. The twin-engine aircraft subsequently lost control and impacted the ground in a field within Yolland Marsh, situated approximately 11 kilometers west of Totnes.

The crash resulted in the death of all five occupants aboard the aircraft. The crew members belonged to the 148th Squadron and included one pilot officer and four aircrew personnel.