Tobruk

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Desert

Schedule:

Cairo - Djerba - Poole

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

While cruising over Libya by night and in good weather conditions, one the right engine caught fire. The crew reduced his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing in the desert but while descending, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in flames some 150 km southeast of Tobruk. All 19 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

According to officials, a fire with very high intensity broke out on one of both right engines and quickly spread to the right wing that separated during the descent, causing the plane to crash.

Crash of a Fiat G.12 off Gavdos Island

Date & Time: Nov 9, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Fiat G.12

Operator:

Registration:

I-FELI

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Landing (descent or approach)

Schedule:

Tobruk – Athens

MSN:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Pax on board:

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Circumstances:

En route from Tobruk to Athens, the crew encountered technical problems with the fuel supply system. The captain attempted to ditch the aircraft off Gavdos Island, south of Crete. All occupants were rescued while the aircraft was lost. The aircraft was carrying the military registration MM60666 as well.
Crew:
Cpt Fenili.

Probable cause:

Failure of the fuel supply system.

Crash of a Lockheed 18-08 LodeStar in Tobruk

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed 18 LodeStar

Operator:

Registration:

G-AGCZ

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Heliopolis - Tobruk

MSN:

2023

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The airplane crashed for unknown reasons upon landing at Tobruk Airfield. There were no injuries.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I in Tobruk: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 4, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L8530

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

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Site:

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Circumstances:

Shot down by the pilot of an Italian fighter and crashed near Tobruk. Two crew members were killed and a third was injured.
Crew:
Sgt Colin Pryce Edwards, †
Sgt Harry Cecil Thomas Holmans, †
F/Lt J. Paine.

Probable cause:

Shot down by an Italian fighter.

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

Date & Time: Jan 3, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L8479

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

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Circumstances:

The bomber was shot down by the pilot of a CR.42 and crashed into the Mediterranean Sea off Tobruk. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Peter James Bingham Griffiths, pilot,
Sgt Arthur Charles Tadhunter, observer,
Sgt Colin Blackshaw, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by an Italian fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 130 Bombay I in Tobruk: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 27, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

L5849

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Heliopolis - Heliopolis

MSN:

SH.42

YOM:

1939

Location:

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Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed Heliopolis on a mission over Tobruk. Approaching the target area at night, it crashed in unknown circumstances, killing all five crew members.

Crash of a Bristol 130 Bombay I in Alexandria

Date & Time: Jul 18, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

L5819

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Supply

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Tobruk - Alexandria

MSN:

SH.12

YOM:

1939

Location:

Alexandria

Country:

Egypt

Region:

Africa

Crew on board:

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Pax on board:

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Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew initiated the approach to Alexandria Airport in foggy conditions following a supply mission from Tobruk. Due to poor visibility, the captain was unable to locate the runway, abandoned the approach and initiated a go around. Few minutes later, while on a second approach, both engines failed. The aircraft stalled and crashed in the Mariout Lake, few hundred metres short of runway. All five occupants were rescued and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Crew (216th Squadron).

Probable cause:

Double engine failure on final approach due to fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Bristol 130 Bombay I near Marsa Matruh: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 15, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

L5815

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Tobrouk – Héliopolis

MSN:

SH.8

YOM:

1939

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

Following a supply mission in Tobruk, the aircraft was returning to Heliopolis. While cruising at night at low height, it impacted a cliff and crashed about 40 km south of Mersa Matruh. Two crew members were injured and three others were killed.
Crew (216th Squadron):
P/O Ralph Paul Joseph Osborne, pilot, †
S/L R. G. Taylor, pilot, †
LAC Kenneth Edward Webber, †
LAC George Niven,
Cpl A. C. Hazlitt.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Bristol 130 Bombay I off Alexandria: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 14, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

L5848

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Supply

Survivors:

Site: