Italy | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Some 30 minutes after takeoff from Catania-Fontanarossa Airport, the right engine caught fire, forcing the crew to return to Catania. After landing, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway and collided with two parked Junkers JU.88. Several explosions occurred and the SM.75C was destroyed by fire. Nevertheless, all 17 occupants evacuated safely and there were no injuries.

Probable cause:

Engine fire in flight.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC off Venice

Date & Time: Jan 13, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 416 Wellington IC

Operator:

Registration:

T2807

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Mildenhall - Mildenhall

Location:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Mildenhall at 2130LT on an operation to Italy. It crashed in unknown circumstances off Venice. All six crew members were rescued and becake PoW.
Crew:
Sgt Richard Arthur Hodgson,
P/O Leslie Kenneth Sloan Wilson,
Sgt Leslie W. Hatherly,
Sgt E. E. Harding,
Sgt J. McAnally,
Sgt C. F. Pummery.

Crash of a Martin 167 Maryland off Catania: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 11, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Martin 167 Maryland

Operator:

Registration:

AR707

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Luqa - Luqa

Location:

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Region:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Luqa at 0700LT to proceed with a check of the fleet based at Taranto Airport. While approaching Catania at an altitude of 10,000 feet, the bomber was shot down by the pilot of a Macchi M.C. 200 and crashed in the Mediterranea Sea off the Sicily coast. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt René Duvauchelle, pilot,
Sgt George Taylor, observer,
Sgt Jacques Méhouas, wireless operator.

Probable cause:

Shot down by an Italian fighter.

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.75 off Capri Island: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 24, 1940 at 1130 LT

Type of aircraft:

Savoia-Marchetti SM.75

Operator:

Registration:

I-LIGO

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Catania – Rome

MSN:

32035

YOM:

1939

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

En route from Catania to Rome, the three engine aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a RAF fighter and crashed in the sea some 40 nautical miles southwest of Capri Island. All seven occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a RAF fighter.

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero in Cartosio: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 7, 1940 at 1300 LT

Type of aircraft:

Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Rome - Torino

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Pax on board:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed Rome to reach the CIAF headquarters (Italian Armistice Commission with France) in Torino with seven people on board. Weather conditions deteriorated when the airplane crashed in Cartosio, about 10 km southwest of Acqui Terme. All seven occupants were killed, among them General Pietro Pintor and General Aldo Pellegrini.
Crew:
Maj Cesare Quinto,
Col Attilio Corti, pilot,
Cpt Giuseppe Cadel, pilot,
Mar Ettore Alberi, engineer.
Sgt/M Paolo Cinti, mechanic.
Passengers:
Gen Pietro Pintor,
Gen Aldo Pellegrini.

Crash of a Fiat G.18 in Milan

Date & Time: Nov 26, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Fiat G.18

Operator:

Registration:

I-ELIO

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Tirana – Milan

MSN:

YOM:

1936

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

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Circumstances:

For unknown reason, the twin engine aircraft crashed upon landing and came to rest, bursting into flames. There were no casualties but the aircraft was destroyed by fire. Operated on behalf of Nucleo Comunicazioni Avio Linee (NCA).

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.73P in Brindisi: 27 killed

Date & Time: Nov 19, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Savoia-Marchetti SM.73

Operator:

Registration:

MM60513

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

The three engine airplane was used by the Regia Aeronautica to transfer troops in the Mediterranean area. Shortly after takeoff from Brindisi, while in initial climb, the airplane stalled and crashed. All 27 occupants, three crew members and 24 soldiers, were killed.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V in Valera: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 27, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley

Operator:

Registration:

P4990

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Harwell - Harwell

MSN:

1712

YOM:

1940

Location:

Country:

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Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Harwell to bomb the Sesto Calande aircraft factory. It is believed that it was shot down at Valera, near Varese. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O John Hugh Keith Parvin, pilot,
Sgt Harold Herbert George Howard, pilot,
Sgt Norman Reid Johnston, observer,
Sgt Hughie William Carter, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Joseph William Stephenson, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V in Milan: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 16, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley

Operator:

Registration:

N1497

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Abingdon - Abingdon

MSN:

1637

YOM:

1939

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Abingdon in the evening of August 15 to bomb an aircraft factory located in Milan, Italy. It is believed that it was shot down by the Italian Flak while approaching the target area and crash landed. The pilot was killed and four others became PoW.
Crew:
F/O Kenneth Hesketh Higson, pilot, †
Sgt D. W. Green,
Sgt Henry JohnDavis,
P/O Albert Ernest Victor Oliver,
Sgt A. Millington.

Probable cause:

Possibly shot down by the Italian Flak.