Tobruk

Operator:

Registration:

L5849

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Heliopolis - Heliopolis

MSN:

SH.42

YOM:

1939

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Heliopolis on a mission over Tobruk. Approaching the target area at night, it crashed in unknown circumstances, killing all five crew members.

Crash of a Bristol 130 Bombay I in Alexandria

Date & Time: Jul 18, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

L5819

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Supply

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Tobruk - Alexandria

MSN:

SH.12

YOM:

1939

Location:

Alexandria

Country:

Egypt

Region:

Africa

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew initiated the approach to Alexandria Airport in foggy conditions following a supply mission from Tobruk. Due to poor visibility, the captain was unable to locate the runway, abandoned the approach and initiated a go around. Few minutes later, while on a second approach, both engines failed. The aircraft stalled and crashed in the Mariout Lake, few hundred metres short of runway. All five occupants were rescued and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Crew (216th Squadron).

Probable cause:

Double engine failure on final approach due to fuel exhaustion.

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:

Site:

Schedule:

Tobrouk – Héliopolis

MSN:

SH.8

YOM:

1939

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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 130 Bombay I off Alexandria: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 14, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

L5848

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Supply

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Tobruk - Heliopolis

MSN:

SH.41

YOM:

1939

Location:

Alexandria

Country:

Egypt

Region:

Africa

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane was returning to Heliopolis following a supply mission in Tobruk. While cruising along the shore at night, it was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter and crashed into the sea. One body was recovered from sea but not trace from the four other crew members was ever found.
Crew:
P/O Thomas Albert Grundy, pilot,
Sgt John George Cowlishaw,
LAC Matthew Hetherington Winship,
LAC Peter Douglas Snowden,
LAC Thomas Murray.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I off Tobruk: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 29, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L8522

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Fuka - Fuka

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Approaching Tobruk, the airplane was shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the sea. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Ralph Harry Knott, pilot,
Sgt James Douglas Barber, observer,
LAC James Patrick Toner, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I off Tobruk: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 29, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L8447

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero

Schedule:

Maaten Bagush - Maaten Bagush

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Maaten Bagush to attack El Gubbi Airfield. It was shot down by the pilot of an Italian fighter and crashed into the sea off Tobruk. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Walter Ronald Price Knight Mason, pilot,
Sgt James George Juggins, observer,
Sgt George Kenneth Biggins, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by an Italian fighter.

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero near Tobruk: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jun 28, 1940 at 1730 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

I-MANU

Flight Phase:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Desert

Schedule:

El Feteyat - Tobruk

MSN:

32040

YOM:

1940

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The three engine aircraft departed El Feteyat Airfield at 1700LT bound for Tobruk. Half way down, the crew informed ground he was about 160 km east of his departure point. While approaching Tobruk, the aircraft was hit by ground fire, entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in some 60 km west of Tobruk, bursting into flames. All nine occupants were killed, among them the Italian Minister of Aviation Italo Balbo.
Crew:
Marechal Italo Balbo, Pilot,
Maj Ottavio Frailich, copilot,
Cpt Gino Cappannini, flight engineer,
Sgt-Major Giuseppe Berti, radio navigator,
Enrico Caretti,
Lino Balbo,
Claudio Brunelli,
Nello Quilici,
Cino Florio.

Probable cause:

One day after the crash, the Italian Government announced officially that the airplane had been accidentally shot down by the Italian navy ship named 'San Giorgio' mooring off the Libyan coast. The airplane was obviously misidentified.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Tobruk: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 11, 1940 at 0540 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L8476

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site: