Zone
Blida

Crash of a Douglas DB-7B Boston in Aïn Oussera

Date & Time: Mar 1, 1943 at 1230 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
98
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Blida - Laghouat
Location:
Aïn Oussera
Djelfa
Country:
Algeria
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Blida Airfield at 1200LT on a transit flight to Laghouat. At 1225LT, while cruising 25 km from Aïn Oussera, the left engine lost power and black smoke was coming out from the nacelle. The crew decided to divert to Aïn Oussera but was unable to maintain a safe height because the left propeller could not be feathered. On final, the airplane stalled and crash landed, bursting into flames. All four crew members escaped unhurt while the airplane was destroyed.
Crew:
Sgt/C Jean Mérigon, pilot,
Adj/C Georges Touzé, cdt,
Sgt Albert Roure, mechanic,
Sgt/C Henri Juret, radio operator.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine in flight.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson V near Gouraya: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 6, 1943 at 1245 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
AM623
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Blida - Blida
MSN:
414-2705
YOM:
1941
Location:
Gouraya
Tipaza
Country:
Algeria
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Blida Airfield at 0730LT to escort convoy. After noon, while returning to base, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. Flying in clouds, the airplane impacted the slope of a mountain located near Gouraya and exploded upon impact. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Ralph Norman Roy Wherrett, pilot,
F/Sgt Arthur James Bedale, navigator,
Sgt Norman Robert Heron Campbell, wireless operator,
Sgt Charles William Darwin, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim V near Tunis: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 2, 1942 at 0625 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
BA872
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Blida - Blida
Location:
Tunis
Tunis Governorate (ولاية تونس‎)
Country:
Tunisia
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Blida Airfield to bomb the Tunis Airport. In unknown circumstances, it crashed near Tunis and was destroyed. Two crew members were killed and one was injured.
Crew:
F/O Thomas Arthur Buzzard Young, pilot, †
W/O George Thomas Campbell, navigator, †
Sgt A. J Walsh, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim V in Blida

Date & Time: Nov 20, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
BA726
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Blida - Blida
Location:
Blida
Blida
Country:
Algeria
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Blida at 0053LT on an operation to Bizerte. Over the target area, it was shot about by enemy fire. Nevertheless, the crew was able to return to base but the undercarriage collapsed and the airplane crash landed. A crew was injured.
Crew:
P/O Neville Marwood Tucker, pilot,
F/Sgt Eric Yelland, observer,
Sgt Anthony Stuart Roberts, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Undercarriage failure upon landing after being hit by enemy fire.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim V near Bizerte

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1942 at 1338 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
BA828
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Blida - Blida
Location:
Bizerte
Bizerte Governorate (ولاية بنزرت‎)
Country:
Tunisia
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew departed Blida on an operation to the Bizerte-Sidi Ahmed Airport. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed 15 km northwest of Bizerte. All three crew members were rescued and became PoW.
Crew:
F/Sgt W. L. Williams,
F/Sgt J. C. McCombie,
F/Sgt J. R. Brown.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Farman F.222 in Metlili: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 22, 1939 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Farman F.220/F.224
Operator:
Registration:
L-226
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Blida – Casablanca
MSN:
31
YOM:
1940
Location:
Metlili
Oriental
Country:
Morocco
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
En route from Blida to Casablanca, the crew encountered poor weather conditions when the aircraft crashed near the bus station of Metlili. All six crew members were killed.
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