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Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I in Mt Grammont: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jul 13, 1943 at 0035 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 683 Lancaster
Operator:
Registration:
ED412
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Langar - Langar
Location:
Mt Le Grammont
Valais
Country:
Switzerland
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew left RAF Langar at 2236LT on a bombing mission to Torino. En route, while cruising at an altitude of 18,000 feet, the crew encountered stormy weather and decided to reduce his altitude and to reroute. In poor visibility, the aircraft hit the slope of Mt Le Grammont located southwest of Le Bouveret. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew (207th Squadron):
P/O Horace Badge, pilot,
Sgt Robert Wood, flight engineer,
F/S Ronald Oswald Charles Brett, air gunner,
Sgt James Arthur Spence, air gunner,
Sgt Edward Higgins, wireless operator,
Sgt Arthur Charles Wright, observer,
F/Lt Arthur Charles Jepps, navigator.

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:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Tunis - Tunis
MSN:
9132
YOM:
1943
Location:
Tunis
Tunis Governorate (ولاية تونس‎)
Country:
Tunisia
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
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:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
7434
YOM:
1941
Location:
Bouficha
Sousse Governorate (ولاية سوسة‎)
Country:
Tunisia
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
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
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Tunis – Castel Benito
MSN:
6238
YOM:
1943
Location:
Sfax
Sfax Governorate (ولاية صفاقس)
Country:
Tunisia
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
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 Douglas Dakota III in Gibraltar

Date & Time: Jul 8, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
FD888
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
9540
YOM:
1943
Location:
Gibraltar
All United Kingdom
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Overshot on landing in Gibraltar and crashed into the sea. No casualties.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford II in Moose Jaw: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 8, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Airspeed AS.10 Oxford
Operator:
Registration:
AS229
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Moose Jaw - Moose Jaw
Location:
Moose Jaw
Saskatchewan
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training flight jointly with another AS.10 Oxford registered AS625 and carrying a crew of two as well. While cruising at an altitude of 1,200 feet, both aircraft collided in unknown circumstances. Out of control, they dove into the ground and crashed in a prairie. All four pilots were killed.
Crew (32nd SFTS):
LAC Svatopluk Malý, pilot,
LAC Alfred Charles Channon, pilot.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford II in Moose Jaw: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 8, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Airspeed AS.10 Oxford
Operator:
Registration:
AS625
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Moose Jaw - Moose Jaw
Location:
Moose Jaw
Saskatchewan
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training flight jointly with another AS.10 Oxford registered AS229 and carrying a crew of two as well. While cruising at an altitude of 1,200 feet, both aircraft collided in unknown circumstances. Out of control, they dove into the ground and crashed in a prairie. All four pilots were killed.
Crew (32nd SFTS):
F/O Benedikt Blatný, pilot,
P/O George Moffat Urwin, pilot.

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:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
7388
YOM:
1941
Location:
Castel Benito (Qaser Bin Ghashir)
Tripoli (طرابلس)
Country:
Libya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
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 Consolidated B-24C Liberator II off Gibraltar: 16 killed

Date & Time: Jul 4, 1943 at 2307 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
AL523
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Government
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Gibraltar - Hendon
Location:
Gibraltar
All United Kingdom
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
The Captain Eduard Prchal, the only survivor, confirmed he received the green light from the tower and began the night take-off roll. He pulled the stick back and the aircraft started to climb. At an altitude of 150 feet, he pushed the controls of the aircraft forward to gain speed when he discovered he was unable to pull the stick back. The steering mechanism was jammed or locked. The aircraft then lost height rapidly. The Captain closed the four throttles and warned the others through the intercom "Attention, crash". The aircraft crashed into the sea 16 seconds after take off. The Captain was the only survivor as all 16 other occupants were killed, among them the Polish General and Prime Minister Władysław Sikorski, his daughter Zofia and his Chief of Staff, the Major General Tadeusz Klimecki. The crew was from the 511th Squadron.
Passengers:
Col Victor Cazalet,
Jan Gralewski,
Maj Gen Tadeusz Klimecki,
Adj Adam Kułakowski,
Zofia Leśniowska,
Walter Heathcote Lock,
Col Andrzej Marecki,
Adj Harry Pinder,
Lt Józef Ponikiewski,
Gen Władysław Sikorski
Brig John Percival Whiteley.
Probable cause:
A British Court of Inquiry convened on 7 July 1943 to investigate the crash, following the order by Air Marshal Sir John Slessor of 5 July 1943. On 25 July 1943 the Court concluded that the accident was caused by the "jamming of elevator controls" which led to the aircraft being uncontrollable after take-off. The report noted that "it has not been possible to determine how the jamming occurred" although it ruled out sabotage. Slessor was not satisfied with the report and on 28 July ordered the Court to continue its investigation to find out whether the controls were indeed jammed or not, and if they were, then for what reason. Despite further investigation the Court was unable to resolve Slessor's doubts. The Polish government refused to endorse this report because of the contradictions cited therein, and the lack of conclusive findings.

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
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Tiree - Glasgow
MSN:
5360
YOM:
1935
Location:
Loch Tarbert
Argyll
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
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.
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