Zone
Matruh

Crash of a Vickers 290 Wellington I near Kasteli AFB: 6 killed

Date & Time: Nov 23, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 290 Wellington I
Operator:
Registration:
R9693
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Al Dabaa - Al Dabaa
Location:
Kasteli AFB
Crete / Κρήτη
Country:
Greece
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The airplane was shot down by the German Flak, caught fire and exploded in the air before crashing near Kasteli AFB. The airplane was destroyed and all six crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Edmund David Fleishman, pilot,
Sgt Lawrence Edgar Mathews, copilot,
Sgt George Richardson Haugh, navigator,
F/O Elwood Maurice William Bolton, bomb aimer,
Sgt Robert Arthur Giles, wireless operator,
Sgt Thomas Cecil Westwood, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC near Al Dabaa

Date & Time: Sep 5, 1942 at 2330 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 416 Wellington IC
Operator:
Registration:
Z8976
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Desert
Schedule:
Abu Sueir - Abu Sueir
Location:
LG.106 AFB (Al Dabaa)
Matruh
Country:
Egypt
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Abu Sueir at 1900LT on an operation to Tobruk. At 2315LT, while approaching the target area at an altitude of 12,000 feet, it was hit by the German Flak and the left engine stopped. The crew decided to return to base but was unable to maintain altitude with only the starboard engine running. Eventually, the pilot made a smooth emergency landing in a desert area located in the Qattara Depression, near Al Dabaa. All six crew members walked for 29 days before reaching the allied lines.
Crew:
Sgt Reginald Cyril Carter, pilot,
Sgt Arthur Dennis Bebbington, pilot,
Sgt Ivor Davies, navigator,
P/O Brian Earl Johnston, wireless operator,
Sgt John Christopher Haldon, air gunner,
F/Sgt Georges Thomas Boniface Croisiau, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Hit by the German Flak.
Subscribe to LG.106 AFB (Al Dabaa)