Zone
Matruh

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I in Fuka

Date & Time: Jun 3, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L8362
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Fuka - Fuka
Location:
Fuka
Matruh
Country:
Egypt
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane suffered an engine failure upon takeoff and crashed. All three crew members were rescued.
Probable cause:
Engine failure upon takeoff.

Crash of a Martin 167 Maryland II near Acroma: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 5, 1941 at 0832 LT
Type of aircraft:
Martin 167 Maryland
Operator:
Registration:
AH285
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Desert
Schedule:
Fuka - Fuka
Location:
Acroma
Butnan (البطنان)
Country:
Libya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Fuka Airfield at 0640LT on a reconnaissance mission consisting of photos of Derna, Martuba, El Timimi, El Gazala and the area between Tobruk and Bardia. While cruising at an altitude of 3,000 metres, it was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter and crashed in a desert area located some 10 km east-southeast of Acroma. The wreckage and the four crew members were never recovered.
Crew:
P/O Roy Dawson Allen,
S/L Garth Oliver Mills,
P/O John Bromley Sheridan,
Sgt Albert Turner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim in Bakbak: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 15, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L4820
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Desert
Schedule:
Fuka - Fuka
MSN:
8835
YOM:
1939
Location:
Bakbak (Buqbuq)
Matruh
Country:
Egypt
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew departed Fuka on a raid over Gazala. On return, an engine caught fire and the pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed near Bakbak, bursting into flames. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Michael Frederick Henry Fox, pilot,
Sgt Harry Francis Alfred Nicholas, observer,
Sgt Maurice Klines, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Engine fire in flight.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I off Tobruk: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 29, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L8522
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Fuka - Fuka
Location:
Tobruk
Butnan (البطنان)
Country:
Libya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Approaching Tobruk, the airplane was shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the sea. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Ralph Harry Knott, pilot,
Sgt James Douglas Barber, observer,
LAC James Patrick Toner, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Al-Jaghbub: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 14, 1940 at 0830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L8524
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Desert
Schedule:
Fuka - Fuka
Location:
Al-Jaghbub
Butnan (البطنان)
Country:
Libya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Fuka to attack the Italian positions in Al-Jaghbub. Approaching the target, the aircraft was shot down by enemy fire and crashed. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O John Scott Davies, pilot,
Sgt Geoffrey Edward Negus, observer,
LAC John King Copeland, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Sidi Barrani: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 11, 1940 at 0540 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L8519
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Desert
Schedule:
Fuka - Fuka
Location:
Sidi Barrani
Matruh
Country:
Egypt
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Following a night bombing mission over El Adem, the airplane was shot down by enemy fire and crashed near Sidi Barrani. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Maurice C. Thurlow, pilot,
Sgt Bernard Alfred Feldman, observer,
AC1 Henry Robinson, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Tobruk: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 11, 1940 at 0540 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L8476
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Fuka - Fuka
Location:
Tobruk
Butnan (البطنان)
Country:
Libya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane was shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the sea some 30 km east of Tobruk. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Peter Bower,
Sgt Stanley G. Fox,
AC1 John W. Allison.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV I near El Adem

Date & Time: Jun 11, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L4823
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Desert
Schedule:
Fuka - Fuka
MSN:
8838
YOM:
1939
Location:
El Adem
Butnan (البطنان)
Country:
Libya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Fuka on a bombing mission over Italian positions in El Adem. It was shot down by enemy fire and crashed 7 km from El Adem. All three crew members were seriously injured and became PoW.
Crew:
P/O D. Beauclair, pilot,
Sgt H. J. Owen, observer,
LAC J. Dobson, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I near Qalet el-Nakhl: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 12, 1940 at 0220 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L8386
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Fuka - Fuka
Location:
Qalet el-Nakhl
North Sinai
Country:
Egypt
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Fuka Airfield on a night training mission. While cruising in limited visibility, the pilot lost his bearings and was attempting to find formation and locate his position when the airplane impacted the slope of a mountain located near Qalet el-Nakhl, some 100 km east of Suez. A crew member was rescued while three others were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Ronald Henry Claxton, pilot, †
Sgt Nicholas Frank Smith, observer, †
LAC R. J. King, wireless operator and air gunner,
LAC Robert Casson Jobling, air gunner. †
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.
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