Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I near Hargeisa: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 18, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L1479
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Aden - Aden
MSN:
8762
YOM:
1939
Location:
Hargeisa
Woqooyi Galbeed (وقويي جالبيد‎)
Country:
Somalia
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Aden to attack Italian vehicles based near Laferug. It was shot down by the pilot of an Italian Fiat CR.32 and crashed in Nasiye, in the south suburb of Hargeisa. All three crew members bailed out, were seriously injured and became PoW. LAC Porter died almost at once and LAC Clarke died on 25 August from injuries sustained.
Crew:
Sgt Albert Thomas Gay, pilot,
LAC Ernest Charles Clarke, observer, †
LAC Matthew Edward Porter, wireless operator and air gunner. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by an Italian fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I in Ismailia

Date & Time: Aug 13, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L8392
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Ismailia - Ismailia
Location:
Ismailia
Ismailia
Country:
Egypt
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll at Ismailia Airport, a tyre burst. The airplane swerved on runway, lost its undercarriage and came to rest, bursting into flames. There were no casualties but the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
Loss of control during takeoff following a tyre burst.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60GIII Moth Major in Nairobi: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 12, 1940
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Kenya Auxiliary Air Unit
Registration:
K22
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
5100
YOM:
1934
Location:
Nairobi-Eastleigh (Moi Air Base)
Nairobi City District
Country:
Kenya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Nairobi-Eastleigh Airport, the single engine airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed. Both occupants were killed.

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

Date & Time: Aug 12, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L8402
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Berbera
Woqooyi Galbeed (وقويي جالبيد‎)
Country:
Somalia
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Engaged on a raid over Italian positions, the airplane was attacked and shot down by the pilot of an Italian fighter and crash landed near Berbera. A crew was killed and two others were injured.
Crew:
F/Sgt B. J. Thomas, pilot,
Sgt Geoffrey Mortimer Hogan, wireless operator and air gunner,
Cpl Wintl, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by an Italian fighter.

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

Date & Time: Aug 5, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L8375
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Hargeisa
Woqooyi Galbeed (وقويي جالبيد‎)
Country:
Somalia
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in a raid over convoy in the area of Hargeisa when it was shot down by the pilot of an Italian fighter and crashed. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Roy Kingsley Felstead, pilot,
P/O Tom McKenzie Mitchell, observer,
Sgt Aubrey Douglas Wright, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by an Italian fighter.

Crash of a Vickers Valentia near Kibaya: 8 killed

Date & Time: Aug 2, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Vickers Valentia
Operator:
Registration:
269
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Kibaya
Manyara
Country:
Tanzania
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in the region of Kibaya. Eight occupants were killed and four others were rescued.

Crash of a Vickers 290 Wellington I in Ismailia

Date & Time: Jul 30, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 290 Wellington I
Operator:
Registration:
L4235
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Ismailia - Ismailia
Location:
Ismailia
Ismailia
Country:
Egypt
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown at Ismailia Airfield, the aircraft swerved on runway, lost its undercarriage and came to rest in surrounding area. The crew escaped unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

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

Date & Time: Jul 29, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L4817
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
8832
YOM:
1939
Location:
Assab
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 crashed in unknown circumstances while taking part to an attack of Assab. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt John Joseph Barry, pilot,
Sgt Gilbert John Harnden, observer,
LAC Alexander MacKintosh, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Bristol 130 Bombay I in Alexandria

Date & Time: Jul 18, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 130 Bombay
Operator:
Registration:
L5819
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Tobruk - Alexandria
MSN:
SH.12
YOM:
1939
Location:
Alexandria
Alexandria
Country:
Egypt
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew initiated the approach to Alexandria Airport in foggy conditions following a supply mission from Tobruk. Due to poor visibility, the captain was unable to locate the runway, abandoned the approach and initiated a go around. Few minutes later, while on a second approach, both engines failed. The aircraft stalled and crashed in the Mariout Lake, few hundred metres short of runway. All five occupants were rescued and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Crew (216th Squadron).
Probable cause:
Double engine failure on final approach due to fuel exhaustion.

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

Date & Time: Jul 16, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero
Operator:
Registration:
MM60399
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Benghazi - Gondar
MSN:
19052
Location:
Benghazi-Benina
Benghazi (بنغازي)
Country:
Libya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
At Benghazi Airport, the pilot aborted the takeoff procedure for unknown reasons. The airplane lost its undercarriage and came to rest. There were no injuries.
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