Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.82 in Villa Cisneros

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Savoia-Marchetti SM.82
Operator:
Registration:
I-BAIA
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Rome – Villa Cisneros – Sal – Natal – Rio de Janeiro
MSN:
23
YOM:
1940
Location:
Villa Cisneros
Oued Ed-Dahab-Lagouira
Country:
Western Sahara
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing the landing procedure at night while the runway was unlighted. After touchdown, the three engine aircraft collided with five camels sleeping on the runway. The aircraft sustained several damaged and was not repaired. There were no casualties among the occupants of the airplane while the fate of the camels remains unknown.
Probable cause:
Collision with five camels after landing.

Crash of a Bristol 130 Bombay I in Suez: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1940 at 1055 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 130 Bombay
Operator:
Registration:
L5821
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Desert
Schedule:
Heliopolis - Heliopolis
MSN:
SH.14
YOM:
1939
Location:
Suez
Suez
Country:
Egypt
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew departed Heliopolis on a turret practice for air gunners. While flying in the vicinity of Suez and while completing a turn, the pilot-in-command lost control of the airplane that entered a dive and crashed. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Francis Adrian Walton, pilot,
F/O Peter Aveline Slaney Baker, pilot,
AC2 Robert Coulson, wireless operator,
Sgt John Ogilvie Paul, wireless operator and air gunner,
P/O Harold Herbert Jordain Hobday, air gunner,
P/O John Cottrell Leonard Hanmer-Strudwick, air gunner,
P/O William Edward Laceby, air gunner.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I in El Salloum: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 12, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L8465
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Desert
Location:
El Salloum
Matruh
Country:
Egypt
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The bomber was shot down by the pilot of an Italian fighter and crashed near El Salloum. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Patrick Cullimore Traill-Smith, pilot,
P/O Vincent Dennis Fry, observer,
Sgt Tom Osborn Liggins, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by an Italian fighter.

Crash of a Lockheed 14-N2 Super Electra in Nairobi: 6 killed

Date & Time: Nov 10, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 14 Super Electra
Operator:
Registration:
AX688
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Germiston – Dodoma – Nairobi – Heliopolis
MSN:
1419
YOM:
1938
Location:
Nairobi-Wilson
Nairobi City District
Country:
Kenya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a cross continent flight from Germiston, South Africa, to Heliopolis, Egypt, with intermediate stops in Dodoma, Tanzania, and Nairobi, Kenya. The crew attempted to take off in poor weather conditions (strong winds and heavy rain falls). Shortly after take off from Nairobi-Wilson Airport, while climbing to a height of some 500 feet, the twin engine aircraft rolled to the left, entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a huge explosion. All six occupants were killed.
Crew:
S/L Frank Mackenzie Loudon, pilot,
F/L Harry George Ernest Davis, pilot.
Passengers:
Cpl Dennis Montague Carrington Cotton,
Lt John Guthrie Kneen,
Cpt Arthur Desmond Knox-Perkins,
Cptn Jan Jozua Van Nouhuys.

Crash of a Caproni Ca.133 in Garissa

Date & Time: Oct 19, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Caproni Ca.133
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Garissa
North Eastern
Country:
Kenya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While on a combat mission, the airplane was shot down by enemy fire and crash landed, bursting into flames. The airplane was destroyed by a post crash fire and all crew members became PoW, among them Sgt Mah Miniati.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Bristol 130 Bombay I near Benghazi: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 19, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 130 Bombay
Operator:
Registration:
L5816
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
SH.09
YOM:
1939
Location:
Benghazi
Benghazi (بنغازي)
Country:
Libya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged on a raid to Benghazi when the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances while approaching the target area. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (216th Squadron):
F/Lt Edward Lionel Cullimore, pilot,
P/O Lyon Curtis Quick,
LAC William Robert York,
LAC Rolfe Vivian Minton,
LAC John Campbell Perrie.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I in Gura: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 13, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L8502
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Wadi Gazouza - Wadi Gazouza
Location:
Gura
Debub
Country:
Eritrea
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Wadi Gazouza to attack the airport of Gura, Eritrea. Approaching the target, it was shot down by the pilot of an Italian fighter and crashed, killing all three crew members.
Crew:
P/O George Angus Cockayne, pilot,
Sgt Trevor Ascott Ferris, observer,
Sgt Robert William Reader, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by an Italian fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I in Gura: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 13, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L8463
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Gura
Debub
Country:
Eritrea
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
It is believed that the aircraft was shot down by enemy fire while over the target area. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Gordon Cyril Butler Woodroffe, pilot,
Sgt Eric Bromley Ryles, observer,
Sgt Albert Alfred Meadows, wireless operator,
P/O Laurence Stewart Roberts.
Probable cause:
Believed to have been shot down.

Crash of a Dewoitine D.338 in Dadjo: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 11, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Dewoitine D.338
Operator:
Registration:
F-AQBJ
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Niamey - Cotonou
MSN:
10
YOM:
1938
Location:
Dadjo
Collines
Country:
Benin
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While on a cargo flight from Niamey to Cotonou, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. The three engine aircraft impacted the slope of a mountain located near Dadjo, south of Carnotville. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Paul Perrichon, pilot,
Emile Bossard, radio navigator,
Marcel Locqueneux, flight engineer.
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