Blida | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The twin engine airplane departed Blida Airport at 2359LT on a night maritime patrol flight. Immediately after liftoff, while climbing, the right engine caught fire. The pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed inverted 900 metres past the runway end, bursting into flames. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Edmond Patrick Osbourne Watson, pilot,
F/O Alvan Rodney Wecker, observer,
F/Sgt Joseph Fernleigh Garbutt, wireless operator,
P/O Norman Sherriff, wireless operator.

Probable cause:

The right engine caught fire immediately after takeoff.

Crash of a Martin B-26A-1 off Algiers: 9 killed

Date & Time: Mar 10, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Martin B-26 Marauder

Operator:

Registration:

FK154

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Teleghma – Blida

MSN:

7423

YOM:

1941

Location:

Algiers

Country:

Algeria

Region:

Africa

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While descending below clouds and flying over the Bay of Algiers, on a flight from Teleghma to Blida, the twin engine airplane was mistakenly shot down by friendly fire and crashed into the sea off Algiers. All nine crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Lt Neville Thomas George Beacham,
Sgt Victor Brown,
Lac Donald Victor Bullen,
F/Sgt Reginald Arthur Clapson,
S/L Peter Goode,
F/Sgt Leslie William Hunt, wireless operator,
F/Lt Henry Morgan Siewart,
F/Sgt Walter Tatlow,
F/Sgt Clarnec Victor Walkinshaw.

Probable cause:

Mistakenly shot down by friendly fire.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7B Boston in Aïn Oussera

Date & Time: Mar 1, 1943 at 1230 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston

Operator:

Registration:

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Blida - Laghouat

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Blida Airfield at 1200LT on a transit flight to Laghouat. At 1225LT, while cruising 25 km from Aïn Oussera, the left engine lost power and black smoke was coming out from the nacelle. The crew decided to divert to Aïn Oussera but was unable to maintain a safe height because the left propeller could not be feathered. On final, the airplane stalled and crash landed, bursting into flames. All four crew members escaped unhurt while the airplane was destroyed.
Crew:
Sgt/C Jean Mérigon, pilot,
Adj/C Georges Touzé, cdt,
Sgt Albert Roure, mechanic,
Sgt/C Henri Juret, radio operator.

Probable cause:

Failure of the left engine in flight.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson V near Gouraya: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 6, 1943 at 1245 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-414 Hudson

Operator:

Registration:

AM623

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Blida - Blida

MSN:

414-2705

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane departed Blida Airfield at 0730LT to escort convoy. After noon, while returning to base, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. Flying in clouds, the airplane impacted the slope of a mountain located near Gouraya and exploded upon impact. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Ralph Norman Roy Wherrett, pilot,
F/Sgt Arthur James Bedale, navigator,
Sgt Norman Robert Heron Campbell, wireless operator,
Sgt Charles William Darwin, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim V near Tunis: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 2, 1942 at 0625 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

BA872

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Blida - Blida

Location:

Tunis

Tunis Governorate (ولاية تونس‎)

Country:

Tunisia

Region:

Africa

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Blida Airfield to bomb the Tunis Airport. In unknown circumstances, it crashed near Tunis and was destroyed. Two crew members were killed and one was injured.
Crew:
F/O Thomas Arthur Buzzard Young, pilot, †
W/O George Thomas Campbell, navigator, †
Sgt A. J Walsh, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim V in Blida

Date & Time: Nov 20, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

BA726

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Blida - Blida

Location:

Blida

Country:

Algeria

Region:

Africa

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Blida at 0053LT on an operation to Bizerte. Over the target area, it was shot about by enemy fire. Nevertheless, the crew was able to return to base but the undercarriage collapsed and the airplane crash landed. A crew was injured.
Crew:
P/O Neville Marwood Tucker, pilot,
F/Sgt Eric Yelland, observer,
Sgt Anthony Stuart Roberts, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Undercarriage failure upon landing after being hit by enemy fire.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim V near Bizerte

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1942 at 1338 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

BA828

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Blida - Blida

Location:

Bizerte

Bizerte Governorate (ولاية بنزرت‎)

Country:

Tunisia

Region:

Africa

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew departed Blida on an operation to the Bizerte-Sidi Ahmed Airport. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed 15 km northwest of Bizerte. All three crew members were rescued and became PoW.
Crew:
F/Sgt W. L. Williams,
F/Sgt J. C. McCombie,
F/Sgt J. R. Brown.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Farman F.222 in Metlili: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 22, 1939 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Farman F.220/F.224

Operator:

Registration:

L-226

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Blida – Casablanca

MSN:

YOM:

1940

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route from Blida to Casablanca, the crew encountered poor weather conditions when the aircraft crashed near the bus station of Metlili. All six crew members were killed.