Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress IIA off Punta Carnero

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
FK208
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
2670
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While on approach to RAF Gibraltar, the aircraft crashed into the sea off Punta Carnero, south of Algeciras. All ten crew members were rescued while the aircraft sank and was lost.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland III into the Bay of Biscay: 12 killed

Date & Time: Nov 10, 1943 at 1755 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EK572
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Pembroke Dock - Gibraltar
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
While approaching the Spanish coast, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter and crashed into the Bay of Biscay, killing all 12 occupants.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina into the Atlantic Ocean: 8 killed

Date & Time: Aug 3, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
FP114
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Castle Archdale - Gibraltar
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances into the Atlantic Ocean while on a flight from RAF Castle Archdale to Gibraltar. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was ever found.

Crash of a Douglas Dakota III in Gibraltar

Date & Time: Jul 8, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
FD888
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
9540
YOM:
1943
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Overshot on landing in Gibraltar and crashed into the sea. No casualties.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24C Liberator II off Gibraltar: 16 killed

Date & Time: Jul 4, 1943 at 2307 LT
Operator:
Registration:
AL523
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Gibraltar - Hendon
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
The Captain Eduard Prchal, the only survivor, confirmed he received the green light from the tower and began the night take-off roll. He pulled the stick back and the aircraft started to climb. At an altitude of 150 feet, he pushed the controls of the aircraft forward to gain speed when he discovered he was unable to pull the stick back. The steering mechanism was jammed or locked. The aircraft then lost height rapidly. The Captain closed the four throttles and warned the others through the intercom "Attention, crash". The aircraft crashed into the sea 16 seconds after take off. The Captain was the only survivor as all 16 other occupants were killed, among them the Polish General and Prime Minister Władysław Sikorski, his daughter Zofia and his Chief of Staff, the Major General Tadeusz Klimecki. The crew was from the 511th Squadron.
Passengers:
Col Victor Cazalet,
Jan Gralewski,
Maj Gen Tadeusz Klimecki,
Adj Adam Kułakowski,
Zofia Leśniowska,
Walter Heathcote Lock,
Col Andrzej Marecki,
Adj Harry Pinder,
Lt Józef Ponikiewski,
Gen Władysław Sikorski
Brig John Percival Whiteley.
Probable cause:
A British Court of Inquiry convened on 7 July 1943 to investigate the crash, following the order by Air Marshal Sir John Slessor of 5 July 1943. On 25 July 1943 the Court concluded that the accident was caused by the "jamming of elevator controls" which led to the aircraft being uncontrollable after take-off. The report noted that "it has not been possible to determine how the jamming occurred" although it ruled out sabotage. Slessor was not satisfied with the report and on 28 July ordered the Court to continue its investigation to find out whether the controls were indeed jammed or not, and if they were, then for what reason. Despite further investigation the Court was unable to resolve Slessor's doubts. The Polish government refused to endorse this report because of the contradictions cited therein, and the lack of conclusive findings.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24A-CO Liberator II in Gibraltar

Date & Time: May 23, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
AM911
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
2
YOM:
1940
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the take off roll, the aircraft went out of control and came to rest near the runway end. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
An engine caught fire and a landing gear failed during the take off run, just prior to rotation.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.54 Harrow II into the Bay of Biscay: 11 killed

Date & Time: Dec 19, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
K7011
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Portreath – Gibraltar
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
While cruising over the Bay of Biscay, the aircraft crashed into the sea off the Spanish coast in unknown circumstances. None of 11 occupants survived.
Crew (271st Squadron):
S/L Godfrey Allison Brown, pilot,
F/Lt Edward Thomson Halley,
P/O Peter Marsh Burton,
F/O Edwin Buckley Bowen,
F/Sgt Richard George Brett,
F/Sgt John Brister,
LAC Philip Cashmore.
Passengers:
Lt Andrew Jervis Hawkins,
Maj Harold John Palmer,
F/O William Milton Henderson,
F/O John Glen McCauley.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V off Gibraltar: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 26, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
G-AGCI
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Gibraltar - Gibraltar
MSN:
AW.2716
YOM:
1942
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from Gibraltar-North Front Airport, while in initial climb, the aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea. The aircraft was destroyed and all four crew members were killed. They were involved in a test flight following a maintenance operation.
Crew:
Sgt Samuel D. J. Cunrock,
P/O Philip R. Dean,
Cpt Charles G. K. Browne,
Ronald S. Mallett.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland off Gibraltar: 11 killed

Date & Time: Aug 22, 1942 at 0235 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
W4029
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Gibraltar - Gibraltar
Region:
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The crew was returning to his base in Gibraltar following a convoy mission. During a night approach, the seaplane hit the water surface, exploded and disintegrated some 1,000 yards off shore. A crew member was seriously injured while all 11 other occupants were killed. Two bodies were found on 3rd and 9th of September only.
Crew (202nd Squadron):
P/O Colin Arthur Rimmington, pilot, †
Sgt Frederick d'Arcy Scott, pilot, †
F7Sgt James Michael Corcoran, pilot, †
Sgt Ernest Frederick Chaplain, flight engineer, †
P/O Kenneth Gordon Gray, observer,
Sgt George Form, wireless operator and air gunner, †
Sgt Cecil John Barrington, wireless operator and air gunner, †
Sgt John Simpson Hay, wireless operator and air gunner, †
Sgt Alan Morgan, wireless operator and air gunner, †
Sgt Cecil James Lee, wireless operator and air gunner, †
Sgt Harold Wallis, air gunner, †
Sgt Keith Adams. †

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC in Sesimbra: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 25, 1942 at 1500 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
Z9098
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Portreath - Gibraltar
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Portreath on a transit flight to Gibraltar with a crew of six on board. While passing over Portugal, it is believed that it was mistakenly shot down by friendly fire (HM Trawler Loch Oskaig) and crashed on a beach in Sesimbra. Four crew members were killed and two others were injured.
Crew.
P/O Kenneth Duncan Adams, pilot, †
Sgt Noel Arnold Graystone, pilot, †
Sgt Hugh Berry, wireless operator, †
Sgt Thomas Patrick McBride, wireless operator, †
Sgt J. K. Evans,
Sgt L. F. J. Harris.
Probable cause:
Mistakenly shot down by friendly fire.