Heliopolis

Site:

Schedule:

London – Luqa – Heliopolis

MSN:

10097

YOM:

1943

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Region:

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Circumstances:

Just after liftoff from Luqa Airport, while in initial climb, the airplane suffered an engine failure. It stalled and crashed by the runway, bursting into flames. Nine passengers were killed while seven other occupants were seriously injured. The airplane was destroyed. It was en route from London to Cairo via Malta.

Probable cause:

Engine failure just after liftoff.

Crash of a Lockheed 18 LodeStar II in Heliopolis: 11 killed

Date & Time: Jan 4, 1943 at 1826 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed 18 LodeStar

Operator:

Registration:

EW986

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

De Havilland DH.86 Express

MSN:

2154

YOM:

1942

Location:

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Circumstances:

On final approach to Heliopolis, the twin engine aircraft lost altitude and crashed 3 km short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all 11 occupants were killed, among them Air Vice-Marshal Wilfred Ashton McClaughry, his wife and staff.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined. However, the assumption that the aircraft was caught by downdraft (micro-burst) during the final descent is not ruled out.

Crash of De Havilland DH.86A Express in Siwa

Date & Time: Jun 24, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

AX762

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Ambulance

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Heliopolis - Siwa

MSN:

2333

YOM:

1936

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On landing at Siwa, while on an ambulance flight from Heliopolis, the right main gear failed. The aircraft went out of control and veered off runway before coming to rest. While the aircraft was damaged beyond repair, there was no casualties.

Probable cause:

Right main gear failure on touchdown.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV into the Mediterranean Sea: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 4, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

Z7689

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Heliopolis - Luqa

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The airplane departed Cairo on a transit flight to RAF Luqa. Approaching Malta from the south, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed into the sea. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Donald Wood Beirnes, pilot,
Sgt Paul Chaning-Pearce,
Sgt John James Henry Robbins.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Lockheed 18-08 LodeStar in Tobruk

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed 18 LodeStar

Operator:

Registration:

G-AGCZ

Flight Phase:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Heliopolis - Tobruk

MSN:

2023

YOM:

1941

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Circumstances:

The airplane crashed for unknown reasons upon landing at Tobruk Airfield. There were no injuries.

Crash of a Bristol 130 Bombay I near Tawīlat al Ghazālah: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1941 at 0200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 130 Bombay

Operator:

Registration:

L5847

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Skydiving / Paratroopers

Survivors:

Nuqat al Khams (النقاط الخمس)

Site:

Desert

Schedule:

Heliopolis - Heliopolis

MSN:

SH.40

YOM:

1939

Location:

Tawīlat al Ghazālah

Country:

Libya

Region:

Africa

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed Heliopolis to drop paratroopers over Tmimi. While flying between Tmimi and Gazala, it was shot down by enemy fire, entered a dive and crashed near Tawīlat al Ghazālah. Seven crew members became PoW while Sgt Pott was killed. About two weeks later, P/O Martin and AC1 Humphries died from injuries sustained.
Crew (216th Squadron):
Sgt John Henry Pott, †
P/O Donald Sunman Martin, pilot, †
AC1 William Humphries, †
W/O R. P. Head,
LAC R. W. Gowing,
F/S Charlie E. West +2.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson III in Heliopolis: 8 killed

Date & Time: Oct 5, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-414 Hudson

Operator:

Registration:

P5164

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

414-1853

YOM:

1940

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Circumstances:

After takeoff from Heliopolis Airport, while climbing, the airplane suffered an engine failure. It stalled and crashed near the district of El-Abaseya, west of the airport. All eight occupants were killed, among them Major General V. V. Pope.
Crew:
Sgt Frank Deryck Ward, pilot,
Sgt Lucien Georges Levy,
Sgt Brian Chadwick Gray,
LAC Charles Chapman.
Passengers:
Maj Gen V. V. Pope,
Brig E. S. Unwin,
Brig H. E. Russel,
Ctn G. R. Amery.

Probable cause:

Engine failure after takeoff.

Crash of a Bristol 130 Bombay I in Heliopolis: 6 killed

Date & Time: Sep 23, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 130 Bombay

Operator:

Registration:

L5822

Flight Phase:

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Following a supply mission, the airplane was on final approach to Heliopolis Airfield when it stalled and crashed short of runway. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Jeffrey Turner, pilot,
A2C Kenneth Adamson,
A2C Thomas Archibald Berrill,
LAC Cyril Jenkins,
A1C Ronald William Joseph Winslade,
F/Sgt Pete Charles McCue, wireless operator.

Crash of a Bristol 130 Bombay I in Heliopolis

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 130 Bombay

Operator:

Registration:

L5854

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site: