Date:	Tuesday 8 April 1952
Time:	day
Type:	English Electric Canberra B.2
Owner/operator:	4 FPP RAF
Registration:	WD985
MSN:	71056
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Location:	Queensferry, 1 mile SE of Sealand, Flintshire, Wales -   United Kingdom
Phase:	Approach
Nature:	Military
Departure airport:	RAF Hawarden, Flintshire (EGNR)
Destination airport:	RAF Hawarden, Flintshire (EGNR)
Confidence Rating:	Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources

Narrative:
On 8 April 1952, WD985 Canberra B.2, of 4 Ferry PIlots Pool, crashed with nil casualties. The pilot was making his first solo on type and was assisted by another pilot, also undertaking his first flight in the type!

After 6 minutes airborne, the aircraft rejoined the circuit at RAF Hawarden, and the pilot began his downwind checks with the second pilot reading from the Pilots Notes checklist. The second pilot incorrectly operated the fuel switches during a fuel check and turned off the low pressure fuel cocks and pump switches in error. The Captain then carried out a forced landing in a field at Queensferry, one mile south east of RAF Sealand, Flintshire.

The Canberra was on its delivery flight to 12 Squadron, RAF, having made its first flight on 4/4/1952 - four days earlier.

1. Halley, James (1999) Broken Wings – Post-War Royal Air Force Accidents Tunbridge Wells: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. p.125 ISBN 0-85130-290-4.
2. Last Take-off: A Record of RAF Aircraft Losses 1950 to 1953 Colin Cummings p 236
3. Royal Air Force Aircraft WA100-WZ999 (James J Halley, Air Britain 1983)
4. https://www.key.aero/forum/historic-aviation/122595-anyone-know-more-about-this-canberra-photo
5. https://derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/10617
6. http://www.ukserials.com/results.php?serial=WD
7. https://www.forgottenairfields.com/airfield-sealand-945.html

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
03-Jun-2008 16:53	JINX	Added
03-Apr-2013 22:19	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Operator, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Other fatalities, Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative]
30-May-2013 16:16	Nepa	Updated [Operator]
02-Mar-2021 20:06	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Time, Operator, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative]
02-Mar-2021 20:23	Investig	Updated [Operator, Location, Operator]