Matruh | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The airplane suffered an accident and was damaged beyond repair while taxiing at LG.75 Airfield located about 40 km south of Sidi Barrani. There were no injuries among the crew.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I in Fuka

Date & Time: Jun 3, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L8362

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Fuka - Fuka

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane suffered an engine failure upon takeoff and crashed. All three crew members were rescued.

Probable cause:

Engine failure upon takeoff.

Crash of a Lockheed 14-N3 Super Electra near El Salloum

Date & Time: Apr 8, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed 14 Super Electra

Operator:

Registration:

AX682

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

1496

YOM:

1939

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route to Tobruk, the airplane suffered an engine failure. The crew attempted an emergency landing in a desert area located some 16 km northwest of El Salloum. Upon landing, the brakes failed and the left main gear collapsed. The aircraft came to rest and was damaged beyond repair. All occupants escaped uninjured.
Photo and source: http://www.virtualwings.org/hudson/l14_g.htm

Probable cause:

Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I at RAF LG.102: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 15, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L8467

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

LG.102 - LG.102

Location:

LG.102 AFB (Sidi Haneish)

Matruh

Country:

Egypt

Region:

Africa

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane crashed while on a night takeoff from RAF LG.102 located in Sidi Haneish. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Stanley John Barbour, pilot,
Sgt Thomas Herman Gill, observer.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC near Sidi Barrani

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 416 Wellington IC

Operator:

Registration:

L7865

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

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Circumstances:

The crew was performing a flight to Berka when an engine failed en route, forcing the pilot to reduce his altitude and to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in a desert area located 30 miles southeast of Sidi Barrani, bursting into flames. The aircraft was wrecked and all five crew members were rescued.

Probable cause:

Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I in El Salloum: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 12, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L8465

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

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Circumstances:

The bomber was shot down by the pilot of an Italian fighter and crashed near El Salloum. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Patrick Cullimore Traill-Smith, pilot,
P/O Vincent Dennis Fry, observer,
Sgt Tom Osborn Liggins, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by an Italian fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I in Fuka

Date & Time: Oct 18, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L1538

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

8821

YOM:

1939

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances in Fuka. Crew fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I in Qutayfiyah

Date & Time: Sep 17, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L6660

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Qutayfiyah - Qutayfiyah

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Back from a mission, the bomber was approaching Qutayfiyah Airfield at night. On final, it was too low and impacted the ground short of runway, bounced and crashed on a car. All three crew members were rescued and the airplane was written off.
Crew:
Sgt Hutt, pilot,
Sgt Vynor Pollard, observer,
Sgt John Munro, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim in Bakbak: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 15, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L4820

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Desert

Schedule:

Fuka - Fuka

MSN:

8835

YOM:

1939

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The crew departed Fuka on a raid over Gazala. On return, an engine caught fire and the pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed near Bakbak, bursting into flames. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Michael Frederick Henry Fox, pilot,
Sgt Harry Francis Alfred Nicholas, observer,
Sgt Maurice Klines, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Engine fire in flight.

Crash of a Bristol 130 Bombay I near Marsa Matruh: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 15, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 130 Bombay

Operator:

Registration:

L5815

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Tobrouk – Héliopolis

MSN:

SH.8

YOM:

1939

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

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Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Following a supply mission in Tobruk, the aircraft was returning to Heliopolis. While cruising at night at low height, it impacted a cliff and crashed about 40 km south of Mersa Matruh. Two crew members were injured and three others were killed.
Crew (216th Squadron):
P/O Ralph Paul Joseph Osborne, pilot, †
S/L R. G. Taylor, pilot, †
LAC Kenneth Edward Webber, †
LAC George Niven,
Cpl A. C. Hazlitt.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.