Tunisia

Site:

Bizerte Governorate (ولاية بنزرت‎)

Schedule:

Tunis – Bizerta

MSN:

10057/1171

Location:

Bizerte

Country:

Region:

Landing (descent or approach)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While approaching Bizerta Airport from the east, the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances into the Mediterranean Sea, few km off shore. Both occupants were quickly rescued while the aircraft sank and was lost.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder in Protville

Date & Time: Sep 27, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Martin B-26 Marauder

Operator:

Registration:

FK128

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Ariana Governorate (ولاية أريانة‎)

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

7393

YOM:

1941

Location:

Protville

Country:

Region:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in a maritime patrol flight over the Mediterranean Sea when the aircraft was attacked by enemy fire. The captain decided to return to his base in Tunisia but was eventually forced to attempt an emergency landing in Protville. While all occupants were unhurt, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-30-DL in Djerba: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 22, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

42-23635

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Site:

MSN:

9497

YOM:

1943

Location:

Djerba

Gabès Governorate (ولاية قابس‎)

Country:

Region:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed on landing at Djerba Airport. At least one crew member was killed.

Crash of a Douglas Dakota III in Tunis: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jul 11, 1943 at 2208 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-3

Operator:

Registration:

FD815

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Tunis - Tunis

MSN:

9132

YOM:

1943

Location:

Tunis

Tunis Governorate (ولاية تونس‎)

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

913

Captain / Total hours on type:

120.00

Circumstances:

Three minutes after its night take off from Tunis-El Aouina Airport, while in initial climb, the aircraft caught fire and crashed in flames 5 km northwest of the airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all six occupants were killed.
Crew (267th Squadron):
F/O G. V. Gibson, pilot,
F/O H. G. Spencer, copilot,
Lt S. M. Yardwyn, navigator,
F/Sgt K. Patterson, wireless operator.
Passengers:
W/Cdr F. S. Leslie,
Maj Baxter.
Source: http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/showthread.php?17280-Dakota-FD815-Dummy-Parachutists

Probable cause:

The Court finds that a fire occurred in the aircraft, probably at the rear end of the cabin, shortly after take-off. There is no direct evidence as to the origin of the fire. The Court, however, considers that the fire did not originate in a dummy parachutist, but could have originated by the accidental firing of a pintail. The Court does not have any evidence as to the cause of the crash, but considers it possible that the fire inside the fuselage destroyed the elevator controls, or produced so much smoke as to blind the pilot. The highly inflammable nature of the cargo would have made remedial action almost impossible once a dummy parachutist had caught fire, which would happen at once if ignited by a pintail. The accidental firing of a dummy on the other hand gives three minutes warning during which the dummy could have been jettisoned. The Court considers that Major Baxter was properly instructed and capable of performing his duties. He probably commenced arming the pintails as soon as airborne. This coincides with the outbreak of the fire.

Crash of a Martin B-26A-1 Marauder in Bouficha

Date & Time: Jul 10, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Martin B-26 Marauder

Operator:

Registration:

FK152

Flight Phase:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Sousse Governorate (ولاية سوسة‎)

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

7434

YOM:

1941

Location:

Bouficha

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route, the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing following an engine failure. While all crew members were unhurt, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas Dakota III off Sfax: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 9, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-3

Operator:

Registration:

FD774

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Sfax Governorate (ولاية صفاقس)

Schedule:

Tunis – Castel Benito

MSN:

6238

YOM:

1943

Location:

Sfax

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft left Tunis-El Aouina Airport bound for Castel Benito with a crew of three on board. While cruising along the Tunisian coast at an altitude of 2,000 feet, both engine failed. The captain attempted to ditch the aircraft in rough sea. Few hours later, he was rescued while both other crew members were lost at sea.
Crew:
F/Sgt R. W. Cargill, pilot,
W/O John James Smith, navigator, †
F/Sgt Daniel James Arthur Hannan, wireless operator and air gunner. †

Probable cause:

Fuel starvation suspected. Last refuel at RAF Castel Benito where contaminated fuel problems were noted.

Crash of a Martin B-26A-1 Marauder off Tunis: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Martin B-26 Marauder

Operator:

Registration:

FK366

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Tunis Governorate (ولاية تونس‎)

Schedule:

Berka - Berka

MSN:

7430

YOM:

1941

Location:

Tunis

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew left RAF Berka III in Benghazi on a mine laying mission in the Gulf of Tunis. En route, the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances into the Gulf of Tunis and was lost. Five crew members were killed while the captain was rescued and taken PoW.
Crew (39th Squadron):
P/O John Trueman Willis, pilot,
F/Sgt Samuel Hart Porteous, copilot, †
F/O Eric William Barr, observer, †
F/O Peter Benson Martell, wireless operator and air gunner, †
Sgt Herbert Frank Ford, wireless operator and air gunner, †
Sgt Frank Barratt, air gunner. †

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

Date & Time: Jan 14, 1942 at 1320 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

Z7431

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Sfax Governorate (ولاية صفاقس)

Schedule:

Luqa - Luqa

Location:

Kerkennah Islands

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

Z7342

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Sfax Governorate (ولاية صفاقس)

Schedule:

Luqa - Luqa

Location:

Kerkennah Islands

Country:

Region: