Date & Time:
Dec 16, 1942 at 1400 LT
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-26 Marauder
Operator:
Registration:
FK367
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Berka III - Berka III
MSN:
7422
YOM:
1941
Country:
Libya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
4
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
0
Other fatalities:
0
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Berka III Airfield at 0845LT to carry out a shipping strike between Zuara and Tripoli. Around noon, as no ships were sighted, the crew decided to return when the airplane was attacked by several German fighters. On the way back, an engine failed due to fuel shortage, and approaching the coast, the second engine also failed due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot attempted to ditch the airplane when it crash landed 24 km off Benghazi, bursting into flames. Three crew members were rescued and four others were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Leonard Alexander Einsaar, pilot,
Sgt Leslie Reginald Dixon, copilot,
Sgt Tom Ellis Exell, observer, †
F/Sgt Ralph Isaac Ploskin, observer, †
Sgt Percival Cockington, wireless operator, †
Sgt Leonard Basil Willcocks, wireless operator,
Sgt Alan Edwin Watts, air gunner. †
Crew:
Sgt Leonard Alexander Einsaar, pilot,
Sgt Leslie Reginald Dixon, copilot,
Sgt Tom Ellis Exell, observer, †
F/Sgt Ralph Isaac Ploskin, observer, †
Sgt Percival Cockington, wireless operator, †
Sgt Leonard Basil Willcocks, wireless operator,
Sgt Alan Edwin Watts, air gunner. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by German fighters.
