Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC off RAF Portreath: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 7, 1942 at 0430 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
Z9040
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Saint Eval - Gibraltar
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF St Eval on a transit flight to Gibraltar. Few minutes after takeoff, while flying at night along the coast, it went out of control and crashed into the sea off RAF Portreath, about 31 km southwest of RAF St Eval. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Harry Wallace Tindley,
Sgt Leslie Jennings, wireless operator,
Sgt Arthur Thompson Rene Renshaw,
Sgt Alan John Griffiths,
Sgt Myles David Gould.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Gibraltar: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
Z7294
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Gibraltar - Luqa
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew departed Gibraltar on a ferry flight to Luqa. Shortly after takeoff, one of the engine failed. The crew decided to return for an emergency landing but on final approach, the airplane stalled and crashed into the sea. Two crew members were killed and two others were injured.
Crew:
P/O Andrew Thomas Lawson-Tancred, pilot,
Sgt D. R. McKinnon, observer,
Sgt Robert Sangster, wireless operator. †
Passenger:
Cpl William Harry Wallett. †
Probable cause:
Engine failure after takeoff. It is believed that on approach, the crew mistakenly raised the landing gear and mispositioned the flaps.

Crash of a Bristol 130 Bombay I off Gibraltar

Date & Time: Nov 26, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L5846
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Hampstead Norris – Gibraltar
MSN:
SH.39
YOM:
1939
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Hampstead Norris on a transit flight to Gibraltar with a crew of four on board. On final approach to Gibraltar, both engines stopped and the airplane stalled and crashed into the sea some two km south of Gibraltar. All four crew members were quickly rescued and the airplane sank by a depth of about 40 metres.
Probable cause:
The subsequent investigation revealed that the pilot had very little knowledge of the aircraft’s fuel system and it was his mishandling of the fuel supply that caused fuel starvation and the subsequent accident.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Gibraltar

Date & Time: Nov 4, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
T1853
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane crashed for unknown reasons at Gibraltar Airport. A crew was injured.
Crew:
F/Sgt McRae,
F/Lt Horton,
F/Sgt Howe.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC at RAF Hampstead Norris: 10 killed

Date & Time: Oct 26, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
X9974
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Hampstead Norris - Gibraltar - Luqa
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Hampstead Norris bound for Gibraltar, with Malta as its ultimate destination. Almost immediately after takeoff, the bomber crashed, bursting into flames. All 10 occupants who were transferred to the Malta detachment were killed.
Crew:
P/O Clyffurde George Randall Saunders, pilot,
Sgt Hoyt Leslie Steadman, pilot,
Sgt Victor John Hale, observer,
Sgt Allister Nelson Irving, wireless operator,
Sgt David Young Nurse Crosby, wireless operator,
P/O Alan Lodge, air gunner,
Sgt Edward John Beard,
LAC Clifford Robson,
Cpl George Ian Frederick Davies,
F/Sgt Harry Higginson.

Crash of a Bristol 130 Bombay I in Gibraltar

Date & Time: Oct 13, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L5834
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
SH.27
YOM:
1939
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane suffered an engine failure upon landing at Gibraltar Airport. It veered off runway, lost its undercarriage and came to rest. There were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Vickers 406 Wellington II off Lampedusa: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 30, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
W5559
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Gibraltar - Luqa
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Then airplane departed Gibraltar on a flight to Luqa with a crew of five on board. While cruising over the Mediterranean Sea, it was shot down by a Cr.42 and crashed into the sea some 15 km south of Lampedusa. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt William Francis Butler,
Sgt Thomas Preston Butterfield,
Sgt Maurice Henry Cope,
Sgt Donald Robert Arthur Garrick,
Sgt David Dawson Todd.
Probable cause:
Shot down by an Italian fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV near São Jacinto AFB

Date & Time: Aug 27, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
Z7678
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Portreath - Gibraltar - Luqa
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane was on a transit flight from RAF Portreath to Luqa with an intermediate stop in Gibraltar. Passing south of Porto, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and made an emergency landing near the São Jacinto Airbase. All three crew members became PoW.
Crew:
Sgt J. B. Thompson,
Sgt Harold Frederick Dolland Parsons,
Sgt R. G. Martin.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Monte da Caparica

Date & Time: Aug 27, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
Z7585
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Portreath - Gibraltar - Luqa
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane was on a transit flight from RAF Portreath to Luqa with an intermediate stop in Gibraltar. Passing over Lisbon, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and made an emergency landing in Monte da Caparica, south of the capital city. All three crew members became PoW.
Crew:
Sgt D. Grant,
Sgt J. Bowling,
Sgt Raymond Vincent Dart.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY Catalina off Gibraltar: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 11, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
W8425
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Gibraltar - Gibraltar
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While on approach to Gibraltar Airport following a maritime patrol mission, the floatplane crashed into the sea. Three crew members were killed and six others were rescued.
Crew:
F/O John Lambton, air gunner, †
Sgt James Gould Summers, air gunner, †
P/O Robert Gordon Scott, †
Sgt J. E. Scott,
Sgt J. White,
Sgt P. G. Smith,
Sgt E. Wharton,
F/Lt R. W. Whittome,
Sgt J. Turnbull.