Africa | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Crashed upon takeoff from Benghazi-Benina Airport, colliding with an Italian fighter. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Obfw Hermann Peters, pilot,
Oblt Walter Gensch, observer,
Uffz Ferdinand Paul Holec, radio operator,
Fw Hans Janzen, air gunner.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I in Ras Bir

Date & Time: Jan 16, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L8456

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The crew was forced to make an emergency landing near Ras Bir, east of Obock. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero in Benghazi: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jan 12, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Benghazi - Al Marj

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The three engine airplane crashed while taking off from Benina Airport in Benghazi. It was en route to Barce (Al Marj). All eight occupants were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Giuseppe Anelli, pilot,
S/Maj Gino Recagno, pilot,
Cpt Felice Giaccio, observer,
Pvt Italo Pecamicio, fitter,
Pvt Adriano Novelli, engineer,
Pvt Gaspare Cudia, photographer,
Pvt Antonio Barolini,
Pvt Belgio Bellanti, air gunner.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3msa1 near Mbeya: 15 killed

Date & Time: Jan 8, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.52

Operator:

Registration:

668

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

5905

YOM:

1938

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The three engine airplane was en route from South Africa to North Africa, probably somewhere in Egypt, when it crashed in unknown circumstances 13 km northeast of Mbeya, killing all 15 occupants.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I off Tobruk: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 3, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L8479

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

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Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

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The bomber was shot down by the pilot of a CR.42 and crashed into the Mediterranean Sea off Tobruk. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Peter James Bingham Griffiths, pilot,
Sgt Arthur Charles Tadhunter, observer,
Sgt Colin Blackshaw, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by an Italian fighter.

Crash of a Supermarine Walrus in Port Sudan

Date & Time: Jan 2, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Supermarine Walrus

Operator:

Registration:

L2214

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Location:

Port Sudan

Red Sea (البحر الأحمر)

Country:

Sudan

Region:

Africa

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Crashed for unknown reasons in the sea off Port Sudan. Crew fate unknown.

Crash of an Avro 594 Avian II in Aasvoelkop

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Avro 594 Avian

Operator:

Eric Stanbridge

Registration:

ZS-AAC

Flight Phase:

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Schedule:

Cape Town - Cape Town

MSN:

122

YOM:

1928

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The pilot was completing a solo sortie from Cape Town. While approaching the Piketberg area, weather conditions worsened and the airplane crashed in hilly terrain in Aasvoelkop. The pilot was uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Vickers 290 Wellington I in Bizerte

Date & Time: Dec 26, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 290 Wellington I

Operator:

Registration:

L4391

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Location:

Bizerte

Bizerte Governorate (ولاية بنزرت‎)

Country:

Tunisia

Region:

Africa

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Crashed shortly after take off for unknown reasons. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC near Sidi Barrani

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 416 Wellington IC

Operator:

Registration:

L7865

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The crew was performing a flight to Berka when an engine failed en route, forcing the pilot to reduce his altitude and to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in a desert area located 30 miles southeast of Sidi Barrani, bursting into flames. The aircraft was wrecked and all five crew members were rescued.

Probable cause:

Engine failure in flight.