Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim in Bakbak: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 15, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L4820
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Desert
Schedule:
Fuka - Fuka
MSN:
8835
YOM:
1939
Location:
Bakbak (Buqbuq)
Matruh
Country:
Egypt
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew departed Fuka on a raid over Gazala. On return, an engine caught fire and the pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed near Bakbak, bursting into flames. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Michael Frederick Henry Fox, pilot,
Sgt Harry Francis Alfred Nicholas, observer,
Sgt Maurice Klines, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Engine fire in flight.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I in Bir el Gobi

Date & Time: Jul 15, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L1491
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Desert
Schedule:
El Alamein - El Alamein
MSN:
8774
YOM:
1939
Location:
Bir el Gobi
Butnan (البطنان)
Country:
Libya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a raid over Ain el Gazala when he was forced to attempt an emergency landing due to fuel shortage. The airplane crash landed in a desert area located in Bir el Gobi. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and all three crew members became PoW.
Crew:
P/O Eric Garrard-Cole, pilot,
Sgt Walter Braithwaite Smith,
AC2 Edward Pearce Doolin.

Crash of a Bristol 130 Bombay I near Marsa Matruh: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 15, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 130 Bombay
Operator:
Registration:
L5815
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Desert
Schedule:
Tobrouk – Héliopolis
MSN:
SH.8
YOM:
1939
Location:
Mersa Matruh
Matruh
Country:
Egypt
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Following a supply mission in Tobruk, the aircraft was returning to Heliopolis. While cruising at night at low height, it impacted a cliff and crashed about 40 km south of Mersa Matruh. Two crew members were injured and three others were killed.
Crew (216th Squadron):
P/O Ralph Paul Joseph Osborne, pilot, †
S/L R. G. Taylor, pilot, †
LAC Kenneth Edward Webber, †
LAC George Niven,
Cpl A. C. Hazlitt.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Bristol 130 Bombay I off Alexandria: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 14, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 130 Bombay
Operator:
Registration:
L5848
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Tobruk - Heliopolis
MSN:
SH.41
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:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane was returning to Heliopolis following a supply mission in Tobruk. While cruising along the shore at night, it was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter and crashed into the sea. One body was recovered from sea but not trace from the four other crew members was ever found.
Crew:
P/O Thomas Albert Grundy, pilot,
Sgt John George Cowlishaw,
LAC Matthew Hetherington Winship,
LAC Peter Douglas Snowden,
LAC Thomas Murray.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IF off Mersa Matruh: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 13, 1940 at 1443 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
K7181
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
8134
YOM:
1938
Location:
Mersa Matruh
Matruh
Country:
Egypt
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a maritime patrol flight off the Egyptian coast when it was attacked and shot down by the pilot of an Italian SM.79 Sparviero and crashed into the sea off Mersa Matruh. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Derryk Austin Lea, pilot,
Sgt Christopher Frederick Burt, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by an Italian fighter.

Crash of a Potez 540 in Fez: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jun 30, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Potez 540
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Fez - Gibraltar
Location:
Fez
Fès-Boulemane
Country:
Morocco
Region:
Africa
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
Following a night takeoff from Fez Airport, while climbing, the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed, bursting into flames. All eight occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the airplane was en route to England via Gibraltar.
Crew:
Sgt Louis Le Digabel, pilot,
AC2 Robert Séraphin Raybaudi, pilot,
AC2 Marcel François Jeunehomme, pilot,
Cpl Emile Arthur Renaud, pilot,
Cpl/C Jean Joseph Frenzer, pilot,
AC2 Jean Baptiste Adolphe Diacono, pilot,
AC2 Jean-Marcel Foisset, pilot,
Cpl/C Paul Marius Eugène Sentenac, air gunner.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the aircraft was shot down by the French Flak or was deliberately sabotaged to avoid any defection from French troops.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I off Bardia

Date & Time: Jun 29, 1940 at 0640 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L8436
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Bardia
Butnan (البطنان)
Country:
Libya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was shot down by ground fire and crash landed into the sea off Bardia. All three crew members became PoW.
Crew:
P/O David Ivor Pike, pilot,
Sgt Redvers Charles Lidstone,
Sgt John Greenhow Taylor.
Probable cause:
Shot down by ground fire.

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

Date & Time: Jun 29, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L8522
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Fuka - Fuka
Location:
Tobruk
Butnan (البطنان)
Country:
Libya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Approaching Tobruk, the airplane was shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the sea. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Ralph Harry Knott, pilot,
Sgt James Douglas Barber, observer,
LAC James Patrick Toner, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

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

Date & Time: Jun 29, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L8447
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Maaten Bagush - Maaten Bagush
Location:
Tobruk
Butnan (البطنان)
Country:
Libya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Maaten Bagush to attack El Gubbi Airfield. It was shot down by the pilot of an Italian fighter and crashed into the sea off Tobruk. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Walter Ronald Price Knight Mason, pilot,
Sgt James George Juggins, observer,
Sgt George Kenneth Biggins, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by an Italian fighter.

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero near Tobruk: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jun 28, 1940 at 1730 LT
Type of aircraft:
Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero
Operator:
Registration:
I-MANU
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Desert
Schedule:
El Feteyat - Tobruk
MSN:
32040
YOM:
1940
Location:
Tobruk
Butnan (البطنان)
Country:
Libya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The three engine aircraft departed El Feteyat Airfield at 1700LT bound for Tobruk. Half way down, the crew informed ground he was about 160 km east of his departure point. While approaching Tobruk, the aircraft was hit by ground fire, entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in some 60 km west of Tobruk, bursting into flames. All nine occupants were killed, among them the Italian Minister of Aviation Italo Balbo.
Crew:
Marechal Italo Balbo, Pilot,
Maj Ottavio Frailich, copilot,
Cpt Gino Cappannini, flight engineer,
Sgt-Major Giuseppe Berti, radio navigator,
Enrico Caretti,
Lino Balbo,
Claudio Brunelli,
Nello Quilici,
Cino Florio.
Probable cause:
One day after the crash, the Italian Government announced officially that the airplane had been accidentally shot down by the Italian navy ship named 'San Giorgio' mooring off the Libyan coast. The airplane was obviously misidentified.
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