Region
Africa

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero in Libya: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1941 at 2300 LT
Type of aircraft:
Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero
Operator:
Registration:
MM23881
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Desert
Schedule:
Berka - Berka
Location:
Libya
All Libya
Country:
Libya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Berka AFB near Benghazi to attack ships in the area of Crete. While returning to base in the evening, the pilot got lost and the airplane continued to the south before it crashed in a desert area, some 500 km southeast of Berka. All six crew members were killed.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in El Adem

Date & Time: Mar 21, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
L7973
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
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 undercarriage collapsed upon landing at El Adem Airport. The airplane was damaged beyond repair and there were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Undercarriage collapsed upon landing.

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
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Tobruk
Butnan (البطنان)
Country:
Libya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
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 Junkers JU.88A-5 in Benghazi: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 16, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.88
Operator:
Registration:
7A+FH
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
464
Location:
Benghazi-Benina
Benghazi (بنغازي)
Country:
Libya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Crashed upon takeoff from Benghazi-Benina Airport, colliding with an Italian fighter. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Obfw Hermann Peters, pilot,
Oblt Walter Gensch, observer,
Uffz Ferdinand Paul Holec, radio operator,
Fw Hans Janzen, air gunner.

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero in Benghazi: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jan 12, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Benghazi - Al Marj
Location:
Benghazi-Benina
Benghazi (بنغازي)
Country:
Libya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The three engine airplane crashed while taking off from Benina Airport in Benghazi. It was en route to Barce (Al Marj). All eight occupants were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Giuseppe Anelli, pilot,
S/Maj Gino Recagno, pilot,
Cpt Felice Giaccio, observer,
Pvt Italo Pecamicio, fitter,
Pvt Adriano Novelli, engineer,
Pvt Gaspare Cudia, photographer,
Pvt Antonio Barolini,
Pvt Belgio Bellanti, air gunner.

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
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
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 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 near Benghazi: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 19, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 130 Bombay
Operator:
Registration:
L5816
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
SH.09
YOM:
1939
Location:
Benghazi
Benghazi (بنغازي)
Country:
Libya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged on a raid to Benghazi when the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances while approaching the target area. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (216th Squadron):
F/Lt Edward Lionel Cullimore, pilot,
P/O Lyon Curtis Quick,
LAC William Robert York,
LAC Rolfe Vivian Minton,
LAC John Campbell Perrie.

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

Date & Time: Sep 27, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L8394
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Desert
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 was shot down by the pilot of a CR.42 and crashed near Al-Jaghbub. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Ambrose Sydney Barnard Godrich, pilot,
Sgt William Charles Clarke, observer,
Sgt William Henry Thompson, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by an Italian fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim near Derna

Date & Time: Sep 4, 1940 at 1520 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L8376
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Qutayfiyah - Qutayfiyah
Location:
Derna
Benghazi (بنغازي)
Country:
Libya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was shot down by enemy fire and crash landed near Derna with one engine dead. All three crew members became PoW.
Crew:
S/L A. R. G. Bax, pilot,
Sgt Ronald Alexander Bain,
AC1 Leonard Ernest Charles Wise.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

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

Date & Time: Aug 27, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 130 Bombay
Operator:
Registration:
L5849
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Heliopolis - Heliopolis
MSN:
SH.42
YOM:
1939
Location:
Tobruk
Butnan (البطنان)
Country:
Libya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
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.
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