Zone

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

Date & Time: Jul 16, 1949
Operator:
Registration:
349050
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
El Adem – Nicosia – Saigon
MSN:
14866/26311
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
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 Bristol 130 Bombay I near Marsa Matruh: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 15, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L5815
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Tobrouk – Héliopolis
MSN:
SH.8
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
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:
Operator:
Registration:
K7181
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
8134
YOM:
1938
Country:
Region:
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:
Operator:
Registration:
K3166
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Heliopolis – Mersa Matruh
Country:
Region:
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.