Skydiving / Paratroopers

Flight Type:

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MSN:

184 19 04

YOM:

1941

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The airplane was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in an open field located 3-8 km from Peremyshl', bursting into flames. All four crew members were injured and three paratroopers were killed.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a GVF PS-84 in Judino

Date & Time: Jan 22, 1942

Type of aircraft:

GVF PS-84

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L3979

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

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Site:

MSN:

184 19 06

YOM:

1941

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Engaged in a paratroopers mission, the airplane passed the enemy lines when it was shot down by the German Flak. It crash landed in a field near the village of Judino and was damaged beyond repair. All 27 occupants escaped uninjured.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a GVF PS-84 in Lugi: 20 killed

Date & Time: Jan 20, 1942

Type of aircraft:

GVF PS-84

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L3967

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The airplane was carrying paratroopers to the enemy lines. While approaching the drop zone in Lugi, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in a field. Four crew members and 16 paratroopers were killed.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

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 Type:

Survivors:

Nuqat al Khams (النقاط الخمس)

Site:

Desert

Schedule:

Heliopolis - Heliopolis

MSN:

SH.40

YOM:

1939

Location:

Tawīlat al Ghazālah

Country:

Libya

Region:

Africa

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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 Tupolev ANT-9 in Vaziani: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Tupolev ANT-9 (PS-9)

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L157

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Site:

Schedule:

Vaziani - Vaziani

MSN:

158

YOM:

1933

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Aircraft flight hours:

5138

Circumstances:

At 0800LT, the crew departed Tbilisi Airport on a short flight to the nearest airport of Vaziani where seven skydivers were picked up for a local exercise. During the takeoff roll at Vaziani Airport, the airplane veered to the left and the pilot aborted. A second attempt to takeoff was also abandoned few minutes later for the same reasons. As the crew thought that the mudguard was rubbing the left wheel, they proceeded with a slight modification of the position of the mudguard. On the third attempt to takeoff, the airplane lifted off then climbed to a height of 2-3 metres when it turned 90° to the left, causing the left wheel to touch the ground. The airplane rolled on a distance of 88 metres then the right wheel struck the ground as well. The airplane continued on a distance of nine metres then crashed. The airplane was totally destroyed and two paratroopers were killed. The other occupants were injured.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the loss of control after takeoff was the consequence of the failure of the right rudder control cable.
The following contributing factors were identified:
- The person in charge of the maintenance of the airplane was asked on October 20 to proceed with the change of both rudder control cables. The mechanic failed to comply with this order, did not proceed with any change and reported to his superiors that he changed the cables, which was not the case,
- The superior failed to check the work from his mechanic prior to release the airplane,
- The crew failed to inspect the airplane prior to takeoff and did not comply with published procedures,
- The pilot continued the takeoff procedure with an apparently defective airplane and failed to reduce the engine power when the airplane turned left after liftoff.

Crash of a Beriev MP-1bis in Russia

Date & Time: Aug 30, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Beriev MP-1

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L2551

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

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Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

31P2

YOM:

1938

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While on a paratroopers mission, the floatplane landed on a lake located behind the enemy line then suffered a hole in the hull and sank. All eight occupants evacuated safely and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3mge near Kalamos: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 24, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.52

Operator:

Registration:

07+B70

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

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Site:

Schedule:

Tanagra - Tanagra

MSN:

2801

YOM:

1936

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed Tanagra AFB on a paratroopers mission. While in initial climb, the engines failed. All paratroopers bailed out and the crew attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crashed in a field near Kalamos, some 25 km east of Tanagra Airfield. Two crew members were killed and two others were injured.
Crew:
Fw Ludwig Wagner, pilot, †
Fw Leonard Lados, observer, †
Uffz Josef Freisinger, radio operator,
Fw Walter Kagemann, mechanic.

Probable cause:

It is believed that the engines failed due to sabotage after Greek workers put sugar in the fuel supply system.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3m in Leidschendam

Date & Time: May 10, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.52

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Registration:

1Z+GX

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Schedule:

Münster - Münster

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed Münster-Loddenheide on a paratroopers mission over South Holland. While cruising over The Hague, the airplane was shot down by Flak and crash landed in Leidschendam, east of The Hague. All six crew members became PoW.

Probable cause:

Shot down by Flak.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3m near Flekkefjord: 17 killed

Date & Time: Apr 17, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.52

Operator:

Registration:

1Z+FT

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