Crash of an Avro 652 Anson XI in Heraklion

Date & Time: Aug 29, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PH753
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The approach was completed in strong cross winds. After touchdown, the aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and hit a ditch. On impact, the undercarriage were sheared off and the aircraft came to rest on its belly. Both occupants were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Vickers 466 Wellington XIII in Elefsina AFB: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 7, 1946
Operator:
Registration:
MF466
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Elefsis - Elefsis
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a training mission at Elefsis AFB. On final approach, during the last segment, the captain decided to make a go around and increased power on both engines. For unknown reason, the aircraft failed to gain height, banked left, causing the left wing to hit the ground. Out of control, the aircraft crashed in flames. The copilot survived while five other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the left engine suffered a technical failure at a critical stage of flight.

Crash of a Vickers 466 Wellington XIII off Athens: 8 killed

Date & Time: Apr 10, 1946
Operator:
Registration:
MF188
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
While cruising at a height of some 1,500 feet during a training exercise and performing a turn to the right, the right engine failed. The crew increased power on left engine and elected to make an emergency landing but the aircraft dove into the sea and crashed off Pireas harbor. The aircraft was lost and all eight crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-20-DK in Heraklion: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 14, 1945
Operator:
Registration:
43-49791
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
15607/27052
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff for unknown reason, killing all three crew members.
Crew:
F/Sgt Frank F. Giordano,
Sgt Robert P. Marin,
1st Lt Leon I. McCaskill.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina in Greece: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 28, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
08093
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While flying at low height along a railroad track, the seaplane hit telegraph wires and crashed. Two crew members were killed. The accident occurred somewhere in Greece and the exact place remains unknown.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3m off Eretria: 16 killed

Date & Time: Feb 21, 1944 at 1710 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
D-AWAS
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Thessaloniki - Athens
MSN:
6561
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
Christened 'Joachim Blankenburg', the aircraft left Thessaloniki Airport at 1620LT bound for Athens. Some 41 minutes later, the radio navigator informed ATC that he was returning to Thessaloniki. Five minutes later, he announced that pilot reduced his altitude, that he was flying over the sea at a height of 30 meters and that he was encountering technical problems with the engines. A Pan message was sent few seconds later and eventually, the aircraft disappeared four minutes later and probably crashed into the South Euboean Gulf. SAR operations did not find any trace of the aircraft nor the 16 occupants.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3m off Leros Island: 12 killed

Date & Time: Nov 13, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
6799
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
The crew was taking part to the invasion of Leros Island. On approach, the three engine aircraft was shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the sea, killing all 12 crew members.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.75 bis II off Rhodes: 17 killed

Date & Time: Aug 14, 1943 at 0412 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
I-BETA
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
001
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Circumstances:
Shortly after a night take off from Rhodes-Maritsa Airport, while climbing, the three engine aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea 300 meters offshore. All 17 occupants were killed. The aircraft, a special version SM.75 bis II with s/n 001, had a dual registration civil and military with MM60554 and operated on behalf of Nucleo Comunicazioni Avio Linee (NCA).

Crash of a Martin B-26A-1 Marauder off Adamantas: 6 killed

Date & Time: Feb 21, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
FK139
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Shallufa - Shallufa
MSN:
7387
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Shallufa Airbase at 1240LT to attack ships cruising off Milos Island. While approaching the target, the aircraft was hit by enemy fire and crashed into the bay off Adamantas. All six crew members were killed.
Crew (14th Squadron):
F/Sgt Basil Herbert Yarwood, pilot,
Sgt H. Walker,
F/Sgt E. T. H. MacLean,
F/Sgt R. G. Davies,
Sgt F. Gotheridge,
Sgt W. J. E. Glenn.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Fiat G.12 off Gavdos Island

Date & Time: Nov 9, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
I-FELI
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Tobruk – Athens
MSN:
18
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
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.