Gibraltar

Flight Type:

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Site:

Consolidated PBY Catalina

Schedule:

Pembroke Dock - Gibraltar

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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:

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Site:

Landing (descent or approach)

Schedule:

Castle Archdale - Gibraltar

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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:

Douglas DC-3

Operator:

Registration:

FD888

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Site:

Consolidated LB-30 Liberator

MSN:

9540

YOM:

1943

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Overshot on landing in Gibraltar and crashed into the sea. No casualties.

Crash of a Consolidated LB-30 Liberator II off Gibraltar: 16 killed

Date & Time: Jul 4, 1943 at 2307 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

AL523

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Government

Survivors:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Site:

Schedule:

Gibraltar - Hendon

MSN:

021

YOM:

1941

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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

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated B-24 Liberator

Operator:

Registration:

AM911

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Site:

MSN:

YOM:

1940

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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 Consolidated PBY Catalina IB off Cape Touriñan

Date & Time: Apr 17, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated PBY Catalina

Operator:

Registration:

FP271

Flight Phase:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Gibraltar - Gibraltar

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Circumstances:

The seaplane departed Gibraltar in a maritime patrol flight. While cruising along the Spanish coast, one of the engine failed. The pilot ditched the airplane off Cape Touriñan. All 10 crew members were rescued and interned.
Crew:
F/Sgt William Stanley Alderson, pilot,
P/O Alfred James Isaac, pilot,
F/O George Wersley Adanson, navigator,
Sgt Paul Stanley Gees, flight engineer,
Sgt Frank Gordon Hobson, observer,
Sgt Claud Alfred Pottinger, air gunner,
F/Sgt Alan Brian Allen, air gunner,
F/Sgt Charles Williams Carson, air gunner,
Sgt William James McDonald,
Lac Thomas James Bouvier.

Probable cause:

Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland III off Leixões

Date & Time: Mar 5, 1943 at 0510 LT

Type of aircraft:

Short S.25 Sunderland

Operator:

Registration:

W6065

Flight Phase:

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Site:

Vickers 417 Wellington III

Schedule:

Pembroke - Gibraltar

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Circumstances:

The seaplane departed Pembroke at 2300LT on March 4 on a flight to Gibraltar, carrying 11 crew members and three passengers, among them two French citizens. In the early morning of the following night, while cruising along the Portuguese coast, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to ditch the airplane off Leixões, north of Porto. All 14 occupants were rescued then the seaplane sank at 0710LT and was lost.
Crew:
F/Lt Daniel Michael McCarthy,
Sgt Stanley Edward Hoare,
Sgt Douglas George Truman,
F/Sgt Sydney Arthur Shaw,
F/Sgt Harry David Meagher,
F/O James Sinclair,
Sgt Reginald Arnott,
F/Sgt Richard Albert Knott,
F/Sgt Roy Laurence Cheeseman,
F/O Simon Rowan,
F/Lt Gordon Young.
Passengers:
Sir Harold Edward Whittingham, director of the Health Services from the Royal Air Force.

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III off RAF Portreath: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 5, 1943 at 0645 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

HF673

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

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Site:

Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II

Schedule:

Portreath - Gibraltar

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Portreath on a flight to Gibraltar, first intermediate stop on a flight to India. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing, it caught fire and crashed into the sea 6,4 km west of the airbase. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Amar Chandra De, pilot,
Sgt Roy McKenzie,
F/O Herbert L. Martin,
Sgt George Scott,
Sgt Ernest H. J. Grove.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II into the Bay of Biscay: 10 killed

Date & Time: Feb 3, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

DT503

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