Country
code

Butnan (البطنان)

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

Date & Time: Jun 28, 1940 at 1730 LT
Operator:
Registration:
I-MANU
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
El Feteyat - Tobruk
MSN:
32040
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
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.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Al-Jaghbub: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 14, 1940 at 0830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L8524
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Fuka - Fuka
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Fuka to attack the Italian positions in Al-Jaghbub. Approaching the target, the aircraft was shot down by enemy fire and crashed. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O John Scott Davies, pilot,
Sgt Geoffrey Edward Negus, observer,
LAC John King Copeland, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

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

Date & Time: Jun 11, 1940 at 0540 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L8476
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Fuka - Fuka
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane was shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the sea some 30 km east of Tobruk. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Peter Bower,
Sgt Stanley G. Fox,
AC1 John W. Allison.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV I near El Adem

Date & Time: Jun 11, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L4823
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Fuka - Fuka
MSN:
8838
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Fuka on a bombing mission over Italian positions in El Adem. It was shot down by enemy fire and crashed 7 km from El Adem. All three crew members were seriously injured and became PoW.
Crew:
P/O D. Beauclair, pilot,
Sgt H. J. Owen, observer,
LAC J. Dobson, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.