On 28 November 1946 an Avro York MW168 belonging to the Transport Command Development Unit at RAF Brize Norton failed to become airborne and instead crashed on to the railway line between Brize Norton and Carterton stations, coming to rest in a field, as pictured. Needless to say the line was closed for several days while the RAF effected recovery. Photograph from the Martin Loader Collection
On August 16th 1940 RAF Brize Norton was bombed by 2 German aircraft. Nos 1 and 3 C-type hangars plus 46 aircraft were destroyed or written off. Possibly the most spectacular attack on any British airfield during WWII. One civilian, Frederick Harden from Witney aged 61 was killed. On the same day 6 Irish civilian workmen were killed in the raid on RAF Stanton Harcourt which was under construction.