Country
Libya
code

Butnan (البطنان)

Crash of a Martin 167 Maryland II near Acroma: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 5, 1941 at 0832 LT
Type of aircraft:
Martin 167 Maryland
Operator:
Registration:
AH285
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Desert
Schedule:
Fuka - Fuka
Location:
Acroma
Butnan (البطنان)
Country:
Libya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Fuka Airfield at 0640LT on a reconnaissance mission consisting of photos of Derna, Martuba, El Timimi, El Gazala and the area between Tobruk and Bardia. While cruising at an altitude of 3,000 metres, it was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter and crashed in a desert area located some 10 km east-southeast of Acroma. The wreckage and the four crew members were never recovered.
Crew:
P/O Roy Dawson Allen,
S/L Garth Oliver Mills,
P/O John Bromley Sheridan,
Sgt Albert Turner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in El Adem

Date & Time: Mar 21, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
L7973
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
El Adem
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 undercarriage collapsed upon landing at El Adem Airport. The airplane was damaged beyond repair and there were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Undercarriage collapsed upon landing.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I in Tobruk: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 4, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L8530
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Tobruk
Butnan (البطنان)
Country:
Libya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shot down by the pilot of an Italian fighter and crashed near Tobruk. Two crew members were killed and a third was injured.
Crew:
Sgt Colin Pryce Edwards, †
Sgt Harry Cecil Thomas Holmans, †
F/Lt J. Paine.
Probable cause:
Shot down by an Italian fighter.

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
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
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 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 Bristol 142 Blenheim I in Al-Jaghbub: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 27, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L8394
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Desert
Location:
Al-Jaghbub
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 was shot down by the pilot of a CR.42 and crashed near Al-Jaghbub. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Ambrose Sydney Barnard Godrich, pilot,
Sgt William Charles Clarke, observer,
Sgt William Henry Thompson, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by an Italian fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 130 Bombay I in Tobruk: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 27, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 130 Bombay
Operator:
Registration:
L5849
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Heliopolis - Heliopolis
MSN:
SH.42
YOM:
1939
Location:
Tobruk
Butnan (البطنان)
Country:
Libya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Heliopolis on a mission over Tobruk. Approaching the target area at night, it crashed in unknown circumstances, killing all five crew members.

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 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.
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