Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford II near Westacre Junction

Date & Time: Apr 24, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Airspeed AS.10 Oxford
Operator:
Registration:
R5997
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Bulawayo - Bulawayo
Location:
Westacre Junction
Bulawayo
Country:
Zimbabwe
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Both pilots were engaged in a training flight on behalf of the 21st Army Training School. En route, the twin engine aircraft collided with birds that hit the right wing and the right engine. The crew was forced to reduce his altitude and to attempt an emergency landing in an open field. On touch down, the aircraft lost its undercarriage and slid for several yards before coming to rest. Both crew escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Bird strike.

Crash of a Douglas C-49H in Freetown

Date & Time: Apr 19, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-49 (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-38254
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1993
YOM:
1937
Location:
Freetown-Hastings
Western Area
Country:
Sierra Leone
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on take off from Freetown-Hastings Airport for unknown reason. Crew fate unknown.

Crash of a Junkers JU.88A-4 in Benghazi: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 9, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.88
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1504
Location:
Benghazi
Benghazi (بنغازي)
Country:
Libya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Crashed for unknown reasons at Benghazi Airport. Two crew members were killed and two others were injured.
Crew:
Fw Martin Bär, pilot, †
Uffz Wolfgang Wetzel, observer,
Ogefr Karl Bartuneck, radio operator,
Uffz Herbert Bier, air gunner. †

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I in Nakuru

Date & Time: Feb 27, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L6659
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Nakuru - Nakuru
Location:
Nakuru
Rift Valley
Country:
Kenya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training flight at Nakuru Airstrip on behalf of the 70 OTU. During the takeoff roll, a tyre burst. The airplane swung and the undercarriage collapsed. Both crew members escaped uninjured while the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
P/O King, instructor,
Sgt McDonald, student pilot.
Probable cause:
A tyre burst during takeoff.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in East London: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 1, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
1212
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Aerial photography
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
East London - East London
Location:
East London
Eastern Cape
Country:
South Africa
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew departed East London-Collondale AFB on an aerial photography mission in formation with a second SAAF Anson registered 3164. In unknown circumstances, both aircraft collided in flight. While the pilot of the 3164 was able to perform an emergency landing at Collondale AFB, the second Anson registered 1212 entered a dive and crashed in a field located 1,5 mile southwest of the airbase, bursting into flames. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (41st Squadron):
P/O D. I. Fraser, pilot,
2nd Lt C. P. Davis, copilot,
LAC E. Portnell, observer,
LAC T. E. D. Tighe, observer,
LAC J. D. Schenfield, observer.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV near Tripoli: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 29, 1942 at 1500 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
Z7271
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Luqa - Luqa
Location:
Tripoli
Tripoli (طرابلس)
Country:
Libya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Luqa on an operation to Tripoli. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by enemy fire and crashed east of the city. Two crew members were killed and a third became PoW.
Crew.
F/Lt Edwin Fox, pilot, †
P/O Robert Edwin Taylor, observer, †
Sgt Andrew Lorimer Pepper, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Farman F.222.2 in Tizi Ouzou: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 27, 1942 at 0600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Farman F.220/F.224
Operator:
Registration:
L-208
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
13
YOM:
1940
Location:
Tizi Ouzou
Tizi Ouzou
Country:
Algeria
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
At 0600LT, the airplane impacted the slope of a mountain located near Tizi Ouzou. The passenger Sgt Aimé Augier survived while seven others were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Bristol 130 Bombay I in Zāwiyat Masūs: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 23, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 130 Bombay
Operator:
Registration:
L5811
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Desert
Schedule:
El Adem – Zāwiyat Masūs
MSN:
SH.4
YOM:
1939
Location:
Zāwiyat Masūs
Benghazi (بنغازي)
Country:
Libya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Approaching Zāwiyat Masūs at night, the airplane was shot down by the German Flak and crashed. A crew was killed and seven others became PoW.
Crew (216th Squadron):
Sgt Anthony Edward Carter, †
F/O Frank Edward Wilcox,
F/O J. N. G. Bateman,
Sgt J. R. Bell,
LAC L. D. F. Llewellyn,
AC1 W. Hutchison,
F/Lt E. G. L. Pelling,
LAC E. W. Walker.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German 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:
Z7431
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Luqa - Luqa
Location:
Kerkennah Islands
Sfax Governorate (ولاية صفاقس)
Country:
Tunisia
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
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.
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