Luqa

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

Z7294

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Gibraltar - Luqa

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

The crew departed Gibraltar on a ferry flight to Luqa. Shortly after takeoff, one of the engine failed. The crew decided to return for an emergency landing but on final approach, the airplane stalled and crashed into the sea. Two crew members were killed and two others were injured.
Crew:
P/O Andrew Thomas Lawson-Tancred, pilot,
Sgt D. R. McKinnon, observer,
Sgt Robert Sangster, wireless operator. †
Passenger:
Cpl William Harry Wallett. †

Probable cause:

Engine failure after takeoff. It is believed that on approach, the crew mistakenly raised the landing gear and mispositioned the flaps.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV into the Mediterranean Sea: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 24, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

Z9677

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Luqa - Luqa

Location:

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The airplane departed RAF Luqa to attack ships in the Zuara harbor in Libya. It is believed that it was hit by enemy fire and later crashed somewhere in the Mediterranean Sea. Lost without trace.
Crew:
Sgt Edwin Crossley, pilot,
Sgt Kenneth Thomas Hewson, observer,
Sgt Henry Gordon Luke, wireless operator.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

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

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

Z7915

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Luqa - Luqa

Location:

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Region:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Luqa to attack convoy of trucks on the Libyan coast. Approaching the target area, the airplane was shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the sea. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Roy Frederick Joseph Henley, pilot,
Sgt Harold Frederick Dolland Parsons, observer,
Sgt Desmond Philip D'Arcy, wireless operator.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV near Tripoli: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

Z9804

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Luqa - Luqa

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Luqa on an operation over Libya. It was shot down by enemy fire and crashed west of Tripoli. A crew was killed and two others became PoW.
Crew:
P/O Francis Henry William Keene, pilot,
Sgt Charles Theodore Small, observer,
Sgt Jack Pickup, wireless operator. †

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Argostóli

Date & Time: Dec 13, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

Z7800

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Ionian Islands / Ιόνια νησιά

Schedule:

Luqa - Luqa

Location:

Argostóli

Country:

Greece

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Luqa on an operation to the harbor of Argostóli. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the sea. All three crew members became PoW.
Crew:
Sgt Alan John Lee, pilot,
Sgt Richard Haggett, observer,
Sgt Ambrose John Comeau, wireless operator.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

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

Date & Time: Dec 13, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

Z7638

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Ionian Islands / Ιόνια νησιά

Schedule:

Luqa - Luqa

Location:

Argostóli

Country:

Greece

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Luqa on an operation to the harbor of Argostóli. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the sea. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Ronald Davidson Gracie, pilot,
Sgt Albert Perry McLean, observer,
Sgt Jack Sidney Alexander Calderwood, wireless operator.

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

Date & Time: Dec 11, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

Z7802

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Ionian Islands / Ιόνια νησιά

Schedule:

Luqa - Luqa

Location:

Argostóli

Country:

Greece

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

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Pax on board:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Luqa on an operation to Argostóli. It is believed that it was shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the sea while on approach to the target area. Lost without trace.
Crew:
F/Lt Everest George Edmunds, pilot,
Sgt Sigurd Edgar Hedin, observer,
Sgt Martin John Mills, wireless operator.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

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

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

Z9719

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Luqa - Luqa

Location:

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Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Luqa on an operation off Sicily. In unknown circumstances, it collided with a second RAF Blenheim registered Z7613. Both airplanes crashed into the sea off the harbor of Catania, killing all six crew members.
Crew:
Sgt William John Cuming, pilot,
Sgt John Herbert Pilley, observer,
Sgt Ralph Tollett, wireless operator.

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

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

Z7613

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site: