Africa | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The airplane departed RAF Luqa on an operation over Libya. It was shot down by enemy fire and crashed west of Tripoli. A crew was killed and two others became PoW.
Crew:
P/O Francis Henry William Keene, pilot,
Sgt Charles Theodore Small, observer,
Sgt Jack Pickup, wireless operator. †

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Massawa

Date & Time: Dec 12, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L4901

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Massawa - Massawa

MSN:

8916

YOM:

1939

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

The airplane suffered an engine failure on approach, crash landed, lost its undercarriage and came to rest. There were no casualties.

Probable cause:

Engine failure on approach.

Crash of a Douglas DC-2-120 near Hamata: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-2

Operator:

Registration:

DG475

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

1410

YOM:

1935

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

The airplane was shot down by three Me.110 and crash landed in a desert area located 16 km northeast of Hamata, near RAF LG-138. At least one passenger was killed and the airplane was destroyed. The aircraft was on its way to RAF LG-138 to deliver supply.
Crew:
F/Lt Howell, pilot,
W/O David Lummie Lord, copilot.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.86B Express in Egypt

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1941

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.86 Express

Operator:

Registration:

A31-8

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

2359

YOM:

1936

Location:

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The crew was performing an ambulance flight within Egypt when the twin engine airplane was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in a desert area located in the western part of Egypt, bursting into flames. The airplane was destroyed by a post crash fire and all three crew members were rescued.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Junkers JU.88A-4 near Benghazi

Date & Time: Dec 6, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.88

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

8572

Location:

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Circumstances:

The airplane was shot down by enemy fire and crash landed near Benghazi. There were no casualties among the crew.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC in Alexandria

Date & Time: Dec 1, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 416 Wellington IC

Operator:

Registration:

L7856

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Location:

Alexandria-Borg El Arab

Alexandria

Country:

Egypt

Region:

Africa

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

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Circumstances:

The airplane ran out of fuel and crashed landed in Borg El Arab, west of Alexandria. All six crew members escaped uninjured.
Crew:
Sgt J. C. Smith,
Sgt Walsh,
Sgt J. G. Alcock,
Sgt N. J. Rice,
Sgt E. Hall,
F/Sgt J. Napier.

Probable cause:

Fuel exhaution.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC near Benghazi

Date & Time: Nov 25, 1941 at 2230 LT

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 416 Wellington IC

Operator:

Registration:

Z8798

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

LG.09 - LG.09

Location:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed LG.09 (Bir Koriayim) on an operation to Benghazi. It failed to return to base and crashed some 80 km east of Benghazi. All six crew members became PoW.
Crew:
Sgt Gavin Matthew Goldfinch,
P/O George Edmund Guthrie,
P/O John Mcguire Taylor,
Sgt Laurence Sidney Barker,
Sgt Charles Joseph Bourner,
Sgt Harry Rose.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV near Erkowit: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 25, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

Z9612

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Wadi Gazouza - Wadi Gazouza

Location:

Ar Kaweit (Erkowit)

Red Sea (البحر الأحمر)

Country:

Sudan

Region:

Africa

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The crew departed Wadi Gazouza Airport on a training exercise. The airplane failed to return and its wreckage was found on December 31 near Erkowit. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Clive Colin Dunstone,
Sgt John Skinner,
Sgt James Murray Thomson.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I in Abukir: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 25, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L1534

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Abukir - Abukir

MSN:

8817

YOM:

1939

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

The airplane suffered an engine failure and crashed upon takeoff from Abukir Airfield. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Crew:
Sgt Peter Frederick Brook, pilot.

Probable cause:

Engine failure upon takeoff.

Ground accident of a Bristol 130 Bombay I at LG.75

Date & Time: Nov 21, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 130 Bombay

Operator:

Registration:

L5840

Flight Phase:

Taxiing

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

SH.33

YOM:

1939

Location:

LG.75 AFB (Sidi Barrani)

Matruh

Country:

Egypt

Region:

Africa

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane suffered an accident and was damaged beyond repair while taxiing at LG.75 Airfield located about 40 km south of Sidi Barrani. There were no injuries among the crew.