Military

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

9228

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While taking part to the Sicily invasion, the aircraft was shot down by anti-aircraft fire and crashed 6,5 km northeast of Gela. All four crew members from the 32nd TCS were killed.

Probable cause:

Shot down by anti-aircraft fire.

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:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Sfax Governorate (ولاية صفاقس)

Schedule:

Tunis – Castel Benito

MSN:

6238

YOM:

1943

Location:

Sfax

Country:

Tunisia

Region:

Africa

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 Focke-Wulf Fw.200 Condor in Aljezur: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jul 9, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Focke-Wulf Fw.200 Condor

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Landing (descent or approach)

Survivors:

Site:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The four engine airplane was shot down by the pilot of a British fighter and crashed near Aljezur. All seven crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a British fighter.

Crash of a Douglas Dakota III in Gibraltar

Date & Time: Jul 8, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-3

Operator:

Registration:

FD888

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Landing (descent or approach)

MSN:

9540

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Overshot on landing in Gibraltar and crashed into the sea. No casualties.

Crash of a Martin B-26A-1 Marauder in Castel Benito

Date & Time: Jul 8, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Martin B-26 Marauder

Operator:

Registration:

FK141

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

MSN:

7388

YOM:

1941

Location:

Castel Benito (Qaser Bin Ghashir)

Tripoli (طرابلس)

Country:

Libya

Region:

Africa

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After touchdown, an undercarriage collapsed. The aircraft skidded, veered off runway and came to rest. All occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Undercarriage collapse on landing.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson III off Guadalcanal Island: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 7, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-414 Hudson

Operator:

Registration:

NZ2033

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

414-3856

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While flying along the coast of the Guadalcanal Island, the twin engine aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a Japanese fighter and crashed into the sea. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (3rd Squadron):
F/Lt Wilfred Rutherford,
F/O Vivian Eady,
Sgt Lisle Smith,
Sgt William Lankshear,
Sgt John McDougall.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Fokker F22 into the Loch Tarbert: 20 killed

Date & Time: Jul 3, 1943 at 1715 LT

Type of aircraft:

Fokker F22

Operator:

Registration:

HM159

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Tiree - Glasgow

MSN:

5360

YOM:

1935

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route, the four-engine aircraft caught fire and crashed into the Loch Tarbert, some 300 yards off shore. All 20 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

It is believed the in-flight fire was caused by a cigarette.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-CU in Indochina

Date & Time: Jul 2, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

41-5168

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

26370

YOM:

1942

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed following an engine failure.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson VI in Khartoum: 16 killed

Date & Time: Jun 30, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-414 Hudson

Operator:

Registration:

FK618

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type: