Aviation Safety Net quotes "According to a contemporary press report (The Times. Saturday, March 22, 1947. p.4.):
"R.A.F. PLANE CRASH OFF IRELAND.
Eight naval ships, including two destroyers and a submarine, searched all through yesterday for the survivors of an R.A.F. Lancaster which crashed about 50 miles out to sea north of Ireland just before midnight on Thursday. Three of the Lancaster's missing crew of nine were picked up, two of them dying later. Late last night it was stated that there was no hope of finding further survivors, and the search was called off. The crash was reported by H.M.S. "Vengeance", aircraft-carrier. The Lancaster was one of six on naval cooperation exercises operating from Ballykelly, 13 miles north-east of Londonderry."
Reportedly carrying 9 on board, but someone's maths are different to mine
Three of the Lancaster's missing crew of nine were picked up, two of them dying later.
which would mean 8 deaths and one survivor....?
Crew:
Pilot. Harry Stapleton - 1815249 - RP286
Eng. David J. Darby - 576946 - RP287
Nav. John D. Shaw - 1675594 - RP286
Signaller David G. Ryan - 1494556 - IRL104 ( Grangegorman Mil. Cem., Dublin City)
Sign Charles Lexton - 1314416 - Runnymede Panel 287
Lt Kenneth D.J. Lorimer - RN (HMS Ferret) - L o Solent B6 Panel 7
Sub. Lt. Hayden Shelton Moore - RN (HMS Ferret) - L o Solent B6 P7
but obviously the newspaper may have the number of casualties wrong.
UPDATE: Found BAAA Report
http://www.baaa-acro.com/aircraft/av...ncaster?page=4
While on a training exercise and flying at a height of 500 feet, the captain decided to reduce his altitude when the aircraft hit the water surface and crashed into the sea about 60 miles northeast of Malin Head, Ireland. The pilot and an officer were rescued while seven other occupants were killed.