Date & Time:
Nov 23, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-26 Marauder
Operator:
Registration:
FK122
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Shallufa - Shallufa
MSN:
7357
YOM:
1941
Country:
Egypt
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
5
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
0
Other fatalities:
0
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a low level bombing practice at Shallufa AFB. While circling in the vicinity of the airbase, the airplane suffered a structural failure when the tail fin separated from the fuselage in flight. The airplane crashed near the airfield and was destroyed. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
W/O D. L. Rawson, pilot,
F/O William Richardson Bower, pilot,
F/O Peter Mackenzie Willis, observer,
Sgt Ernest Cookson, air gunner,
Sgt Hugh Garth Williams, air gunner.
Crew:
W/O D. L. Rawson, pilot,
F/O William Richardson Bower, pilot,
F/O Peter Mackenzie Willis, observer,
Sgt Ernest Cookson, air gunner,
Sgt Hugh Garth Williams, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Loss of control following the in-flight separation of the tail fin. As a result of the investigations, all Marauders were grounded to have the tail fins strengthened. The Glenn Martin Aircraft Corporation in USA flew technicians to Egypt, who completed the necessary modifications to all the aircraft in a few days. Unfortunately this was not done until after two more aircraft had been lost with the loss of 21 lives.
