Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Prizzi: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 4, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
Z9824
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Luqa - Luqa
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Luqa to attack the Palermo Harbor. Over Sicily, the airplane was shot down by enemy fire and crashed near the village of Prizzi. Two crew members were killed and a third became PoW.
Crew:
F/Sgt Jack Kendrick Ibbotson, pilot, †
P/O Donald Jack Clement, observer, †
Sgt Herbert Edward Graham, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV near Tripoli: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 29, 1942 at 1500 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
Z7271
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Luqa - Luqa
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Luqa on an operation to Tripoli. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by enemy fire and crashed east of the city. Two crew members were killed and a third became PoW.
Crew.
F/Lt Edwin Fox, pilot, †
P/O Robert Edwin Taylor, observer, †
Sgt Andrew Lorimer Pepper, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Kerkennah Islands: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 14, 1942 at 1320 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
Z7431
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Luqa - Luqa
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Luqa to attack a German vessel off the Kerkennah Islands. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by the German Marine Flak and crashed into the sea. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Kenneth James Coakley, pilot,
Sgt Donald Ivor Groves, observer,
Sgt Douglas Brian McLaren, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Marine Flak.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Kerkennah Islands: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 14, 1942 at 1320 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
Z7342
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Luqa - Luqa
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Luqa to attack a German vessel off the Tunisian coast. The crew had just bombed the ship from the sea level when the airplane collided with the mast of the ship and crashed into the sea. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Lt Harold Frederick Dukes-Smith, pilot,
F/Sgt Anthony Hussey, observer,
Sgt Alfred James Wratten, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Martin 167 Maryland I off Valetta: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 13, 1942 at 1245 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AR721
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Luqa - Luqa
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Luqa on a combat mission off the Maltese coast. It was shot down by a Me.110 and crashed into the sea off Valetta. Two crew members were killed and a third was rescued.
Crew:
W/Cdr John Noel Dowland, pilot, †
P/O Arnold Potter, observer,
P/O Robert Victor Gridley, wireless operator. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV into the Mediterranean Sea: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 4, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
Z7689
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Heliopolis - Luqa
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Cairo on a transit flight to RAF Luqa. Approaching Malta from the south, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed into the sea. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Donald Wood Beirnes, pilot,
Sgt Paul Chaning-Pearce,
Sgt John James Henry Robbins.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Junkers JU.88A-4 off Luqa

Date & Time: Jan 3, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
M7+AK
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1346
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane was shot down by a Hurricane and crashed off Luqa. All four crew members were rescued and became PoW.
Crew:
Oblt Viktor Schnez, pilot,
Fw Arnold Ulrich, observer,
Ogfr Gerhard Heppe, radio operator,
Fw Geinrich Fresse, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a British fighter.

Crash of a Junkers JU.88A-4 off Luqa: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1586
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane suffered an engine failure and crash landed in the sea off Luqa. A crew was killed.
Crew.
Fw Max Koch, observer. †
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Junkers JU.88A-4 off Luqa: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 30, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
M7+AL
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
3571
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane was shot down by a Hurricane and crashed into the sea off Luqa. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Oblt Georg Lust, pilot,
Ofw Bruno Stötzer, observer,
Uffz Alfred Hechter, radio operator,
Ogefr Wilhelm Steinkamp, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a British fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Gibraltar: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
Z7294
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Gibraltar - Luqa
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew departed Gibraltar on a ferry flight to Luqa. Shortly after takeoff, one of the engine failed. The crew decided to return for an emergency landing but on final approach, the airplane stalled and crashed into the sea. Two crew members were killed and two others were injured.
Crew:
P/O Andrew Thomas Lawson-Tancred, pilot,
Sgt D. R. McKinnon, observer,
Sgt Robert Sangster, wireless operator. †
Passenger:
Cpl William Harry Wallett. †
Probable cause:
Engine failure after takeoff. It is believed that on approach, the crew mistakenly raised the landing gear and mispositioned the flaps.