Date & Time:
Sep 7, 1942 at 0200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Short S.25 Sunderland
Operator:
Registration:
W3927
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Abukir - Abukir
Country:
Egypt
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
14
Crew fatalities:
8
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
0
Other fatalities:
0
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The four engine seaplane departed the bay of Abukir (Abu Qir) on a night maritime patrol flight. Shortly after takeoff from the bay, while in initial climb, the engine number one caught fire. The captain attempted to return for an emergency landing but due to smoke spreading in the cockpit, he lost control of the airplane that crashed into the sea few hundred metres offshore. Eight crew members were killed while six others were injured.
Crew:
F/Lt A. F. Howell, pilot, †
F/O S. R. H. Dunfield, pilot,
P/O A. G. G. Richmond, pilot,
Cpl F. Milne, flight engineer, †
F/Lt R. F. Crockett, observer, †
F/Sgt R. D. Adamson, wireless operator and air gunner, †
Sgt B. W. Jenkins, wireless operator and air gunner, †
Sgt J. McSherry, wireless operator and air gunner, †
P/O R. J. Lunn, wireless operator and air gunner, †
Sgt A. M. Goldsmith, wireless operator and air gunner,
Ac1 W. Thomas, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt G. F. A. Whitehead, air gunner,
Lac K. Barrow, air gunner, †
Lac Cowles, instructor.
Crew:
F/Lt A. F. Howell, pilot, †
F/O S. R. H. Dunfield, pilot,
P/O A. G. G. Richmond, pilot,
Cpl F. Milne, flight engineer, †
F/Lt R. F. Crockett, observer, †
F/Sgt R. D. Adamson, wireless operator and air gunner, †
Sgt B. W. Jenkins, wireless operator and air gunner, †
Sgt J. McSherry, wireless operator and air gunner, †
P/O R. J. Lunn, wireless operator and air gunner, †
Sgt A. M. Goldsmith, wireless operator and air gunner,
Ac1 W. Thomas, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt G. F. A. Whitehead, air gunner,
Lac K. Barrow, air gunner, †
Lac Cowles, instructor.
Probable cause:
Engine failure after takeoff.
