Zone
Matruh

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-10-DK in Marsa Matruh: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jul 16, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
349050
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Desert
Schedule:
El Adem – Nicosia – Saigon
MSN:
14866/26311
YOM:
1944
Location:
Marsa Matruh
Matruh
Country:
Egypt
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
While flying along the Egyptian coast, en route to Saigon via Nicosia, the aircraft suffered an engine failure. The pilot decided to reduce his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing but the aircraft crashed near Marsa Matruh, killing all nine crew members registered to the Touraine Group.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Junkers JU.88D-1 near Marsa Matruh: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 18, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.88
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Desert
Schedule:
Alexandria - Marsa Matruh
MSN:
1087
Location:
Marsa Matruh
Matruh
Country:
Egypt
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances on a flight from Alexandria to Marsa Matruh and was destroyed. All four crew members were killed. The exact location of the mishap remains unclear.
Crew:
Fw Rudolf Grossmeyer, pilot,
Fw Horst Helpenstein, observer,
Uffz Hardy Freisackern, radio operator,
Uffz Josef Heiss, air gunner.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3mge near Mersa Matruh: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 29, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.52
Operator:
Registration:
NQ+AV
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Ambulance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Desert
MSN:
5480
YOM:
1935
Location:
Marsa Matruh
Matruh
Country:
Egypt
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The three engine airplane departed Derna, Libya, on an ambulance flight to Greece, carrying wounded soldiers and three crew members. Over Mersa Matruh, it was shot down by a British fighter and crashed in a desert area near the city. At least a crew member, Uffz Rudolf Horan (air gunner) was killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a British fighter.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3m3ge in Marsa Matruh

Date & Time: Sep 4, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.52
Operator:
Registration:
D-AHFN
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
6047
YOM:
1938
Location:
Marsa Matruh
Matruh
Country:
Egypt
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane crashed on landing at Marsa Matruh Airport while approaching in poor weather conditions. There were no fatalities.

Crash of a Bristol 130 Bombay I near Marsa Matruh: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 15, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 130 Bombay
Operator:
Registration:
L5815
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Desert
Schedule:
Tobrouk – Héliopolis
MSN:
SH.8
YOM:
1939
Location:
Marsa Matruh
Matruh
Country:
Egypt
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Following a supply mission in Tobruk, the aircraft was returning to Heliopolis. While cruising at night at low height, it impacted a cliff and crashed about 40 km south of Mersa Matruh. Two crew members were injured and three others were killed.
Crew (216th Squadron):
P/O Ralph Paul Joseph Osborne, pilot, †
S/L R. G. Taylor, pilot, †
LAC Kenneth Edward Webber, †
LAC George Niven,
Cpl A. C. Hazlitt.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IF off Mersa Matruh: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 13, 1940 at 1443 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
K7181
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
8134
YOM:
1938
Location:
Marsa Matruh
Matruh
Country:
Egypt
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a maritime patrol flight off the Egyptian coast when it was attacked and shot down by the pilot of an Italian SM.79 Sparviero and crashed into the sea off Mersa Matruh. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Derryk Austin Lea, pilot,
Sgt Christopher Frederick Burt, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by an Italian fighter.

Crash of a Vickers Valentia in Mersa Matruh: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jul 7, 1936
Type of aircraft:
Vickers Valentia
Operator:
Registration:
K3166
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Heliopolis – Mersa Matruh
Location:
Marsa Matruh
Matruh
Country:
Egypt
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
13
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Captain / Total flying hours:
210
Captain / Total hours on type:
17.00
Circumstances:
The float plane was completing a night exercice from Heliopolis to Mersa Matruh with 13 crew members on board. On approach, at a height of about 800 feet, the airplane lost altitude, collided with a fence and came to rest, bursting into flames. Seven occupants were killed and six others were injured.
Those killed were:
Sgt Ronald George Allan, pilot, †
LAC Edward Adams, †
AC1 Albert George Hassall, †
AC1 John White, †
Cpt Edward Francis MacKay Barford, †
Cpt Herbert Frank Gordon D’arcy Symonds, †
Lt Douglas Elliott Macintosh, †
F/O N. de W. Boult,
LAC T. Sellars,
Cpt D. S. Cochrane,
Cpt J. P. Weir,
Cpt T. Brodie,
LT L. G. Charles.
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