DATE	AIRCRAFT	SQUADRON	SERIAL	NOTES
04.01.50	F. Firefly AS FR.5	812	WB287	c/n F8505. Aircraft crashed into the sea on HMS Glory’s starboard side, seven-and-a-half nautical miles off Delimara Point. Two fatalities, but observers’ body never recovered. Pilot’s body recovered by HMIS Ranjit.
10.01.50	Av. Lancaster	37	RE185	Aircraft was returning from Nicosia. The No. 1 engine magneto became u/s, the aircraft making a three-engined landing.
11.01.50	Av. Lancaster		SW289	Suffered from a “towing accident”, no further details. Was operated by one of the locally based squadron 37 or 38.
08.02.50	DH Vampire F.3	73	VV197	In flight mechanical problems. Pilot abandoned aircraft, which crashed in the sea, 6 miles south of Delimara Point, and was picked by HMS Cheviot. According to the Air Britain publication Aeromilitaria, control was lost in a high speed stall. The squadron ORB states that the pilot recovered from a barrel roll at 20,000 ft, and finished into a spin at 12,000 ft, from which he was unable to regain control.
10.02.50	DH Mosquito TT.39	728	PF576	Pilot unable to retract port undercarriage.
21.02.50	Av. Lancaster GR.III	37	RF306	Aircraft departed for El Adam, but experienced severe vibrations in No.4 engine, which was feathered, captain returning to Luqa.
25.02.50	Av. Lancaster		RE173	Crew engaged on a navigational exercise to El Aounina, Tunis. Aircraft needed a magneto unit which was delivered on the 26th by RE185. The crew returned to Luqa on 01.03.50.
13.03.50	Av. Lincoln Mk. II	7	_____/J	Starboard door came off during the landing run. This was one of six Lincoln Mk. II aircraft that had arrived from their UK base at RAF Upwood on 12.03.50 for exercise Nimble Bird, departing on the 17th.
17.03.50	Av. Lincoln Mk. II	7	RE348/E	Aircraft departed for the UK at the end of the detachment, but was forced to return due to complete R/T failure. Left for the UK on the 18th.
__.03.50	Av. Lincoln Mk. II	7	RE361	Like the above aircraft, the crew were departing for the UK at the end of the detachment but were forced to return due to fluctuating boost and revs with the No. 2 engine, as well as unserviceable W/T and radar. Departed for the UK on the 18th.
05.05.50	DH Vampire F.3	73	VV189	In flight mechanical problems. Pilot abandoned aircraft, landing in a field close to the village of Siggiewi. Slight injuries.
18.05.50	F. Firefly NF.1		MB690	Aircraft made a heavy landing at night on HMS Glory, undercarriage collapsing.
24.05.50	H. Sea Fury FB.11	804	VW589	Aircraft was landing on HMS Glory, catching number three and nine wires, but failed to stop the aircraft, which went over the port side, killing the pilot. The fuselage, aft of the cockpit to the tail, but minus fin, was dragged up by Maltese fishermen off the island of Filfla on 3 May 1989. Despite lying in the sea for a period probably approaching three decades, the serial, code, and ‘Royal Navy’ could be read quite clearly. The tail hook also could be moved without any difficulty. Also missing was the tail wheel, although tail wheel doors were in place.
26.05.50	V. Valetta C.1	OFU	VX497	Swung on take-off avoiding man on runway and undercarriage collapsed. Broken down to spares by September/October 1950.
30.05.50	Av. Lancaster		TX270	Aircraft was flown to Fayid, Egypt, on a photo reconnaissance flight, but No.2 engine became u/s after landing. Aircraft remained at Fayid for an engine change, the crew returning to Luqa on a Transport Command aircraft. Return of aircraft to Luqa unknown.
19.06.50	F. Firefly		VT441	A very nasty acci¬dent befell the ship (HMS Glory) when, on 19 June, only a day or so into the cruise, a Firefly jumped both barriers when landing and crashed into the deck park. Two ratings were seriously injured, thus emphasising the dangers to flight deck crews, and two other Fireflies (WB305 & WB250) were badly damaged. The ship immediately broke off from the exercise and steamed back to Malta to transfer the two men to the Royal Naval Hospital at Bighi and take on replacement aircraft at Kalafrana. From the article “The 14th Carrier Air Group Malta & the Mediterranean 1948-1950”, by Peter Cook, Malta Flypast magazine, issue 8.
19.06.50	F. Firefly		WB250	See above.
19.06.50	F. Firefly		WB305	See above.
21-23.06.50	B. Expeditor	728	HD760	This was the first communications flight (outside Malta, to Beirut) since the aircraft was taken on charge. Departing Beirut at 08:00 after difficulties with passport officials they landed at Iraklion, Crete. After a 2-hour delay, only 50 gallons of fuel was available. To crew then flew to Benina to re-fuel, landing at Hal-Far at 19:00. Quote from squadron’s ORB “Iraklion is ‘out’ for further Communications Flight by 728 Squadron.”
29.06.50	Gl. Meteor T.7	73	WA631	Undershot runway, damaged beyond repair.
05.07.50	DH Mosquito TT.39	728	MM144	Pilot was making his first familiarisation flight. During the take-off run swung to port. Almost airborne, he saw the YG beacon building ahead. Keeping MM144 on the ground, he forced her to starboard and by heavy braking managed to bring it to a halt in the range ground on the overshoot of the 13 runway. The undercarriage was badly buckled - nearly as much as his knees. MM144 out of action for several weeks.
05.07.50	DH Mosquito TT.39	728	PF576	Crewman collapsed at 20,000ft, the result of not having eaten breakfast, pilot immediately returning to base.
27.07.50	DC-3	MC-TTS	KN279	Unknown incident.
11.08.50	DH Mosquito TT.39	728	MM144	Aircraft airborne on a target-towing sortie. A tire must have burst on take-off without the crew noticing, for on landing, the aircraft swung violently to port, ran off the runway, the undercarriage collapsing. Aircraft a total write off.
17.08.50	Sunderland		ML745	Departed on the 19th for Farana, Egypt, but returned with engine trouble. A 30-minute air test was conducted on the 20th, the crew departing on the 21st.
19.08.50	DH Mosquito PR.16	728	RF974	Aircraft was based in Libya for the purposes of “attacking” Malta during an ADEX exercise. On returning to Libya, the port engine became exceedingly hot and blowing steam when 40 miles from Castel Benito, necessitating and engine change, returning to Malta on 1 September.
22.08.50	H. Sea Fury FB.11	804	VX628/100-R	Aircraft’s throttle “came adrift” during test flight, Pilot made a wheels-up landing, no injuries. The Operations Record Book (ORB) for the Malta Communications flight mentions this accident, also stating that a Spitfire on a test flight spent a total of two hours in the air, waiting for the runway to be cleared. It also mentions a Sea Fury test flight on 9th September, but, as no serial number was given, cannot be sure it is the same aircraft.
30.08.50	H. Sea Fury	804	XV623	Crashed at Hal-Far.
20.09.50	Av. Lancaster GR.III	37	RE167	Sortie abandoned due to engine failure, making a three-engine landing.
23.09.50	DH Mosquito PR.16	728	RF974	Trip to Castel Benito, Libya, cancelled after the undercarriage twice failed to retract. Aircraft air tested on the 27th, but experienced radio trouble.
__.09.50	P. Proctor 3		HM456	s.o.c. broken down to spares

DATE	AIRCRAFT	SQUADRON	SERIAL	NOTES
__.10.50	Av. Lancaster		SW375	Breakdown of aircraft completed.
__.10.50	Av. Lancaster		TX263	Aircraft was being broken down.
04.10.50	DH Mosquito TT.39	728	PF569	Pilot aborted exercise, due to throttle linkage problems.
06.10.50	F. Firefly AS.5	814	WB418	c/n F8615. Aircraft departed from Hal-Far to land on HMS Ocean. Mid-air collision with Firefly VT423, causing 418 to crash in the sea off Gozo, Malta’s neighboring island. As the crew weren’t seen to eject, it is presumed they both drowned with the aircraft.
06.10.50	F. Firefly AS.5	812	VT423	Crash landed at Hal-Far following mid-air collision with Firefly WB418. As the aircraft was written off in a different accident on 17.03.52, it is presumed that the aircraft was repairable. (Credit for these two accidents, Aviation Safety Network.)
06.10.50	DH Mosquito PR.16	728	MM273	Aircraft forced to return with radio trouble.
09.10.50	DH Mosquito TT.39	728	PF512	Forced to return to base as undercarriage didn’t retract.
11.10.50	DH Mosquito TT.39	728	PF512	Same aircraft was again forced to return to base after 10 minutes as the port undercarriage didn’t retract, with inadequate boost on port engine and throttles out of adjustment.
18.10.50	Firefly I	728		Aircraft crashed on the runway. Cause unknown.
31.10.50	DH Mosquito PR.16	728	MM273	The crew had been conducting radar calibration work with HMS Phoebe and Euryalus, and was returning to Hal-Far. At approx 11:07, pilot asked ATC for a single-engined landing. The aircraft was seen going downwind with undercarriage down. It turned across wind and then onto final at a height of about 2,000 feet, but due to high wind the aircraft was some distance from the end of the runway. The approach seemed steady enough until just short of the cliffs. The aircraft was then observed turning away from the approach to runway 31, until it was flying almost parallel to r/w 27, when the port wing dropped and the plane crashed into the sea near the cliffs, killing both crew members. HMS Euryalus and an RAF Safety launch picked up the bodies, handing them over at Kalafrana.
05.11.50	S. Sunderland			Aircraft arrived en route to the Far East, was held up at Malta by a fractured fuel pipe. Eventually departed on the 10th.
07.11.50	DH Mosquito	728		Aircraft suffered hydraulic trouble, the undercarriage being lowered by the emergency system. Pilot made a flapless approach, the tail wheel collapsing on touchdown on r/w 13, coming to a stop at end of runway with little damage sustained.
18.11.50	H. Sea Fury FB.11	804	VX625	Unknown accident at Hal Far.
30.11.50	DH Mosquito	728	PF605	Aircraft returned with oil leak on s/board engine.
__.12.50	NA Harvard IIB		KF932	Breaking down of aircraft to components completed this month.
__.12.50	NA Harvard IIB		KF946	Breaking down of aircraft to components completed this month.
16.02.51	S. Sunderland			Aircraft overdue on a Gibraltar-Malta flight. Searched for by Maritime Reconnaissance Lancasters from Malta, and a Goose amphibian aircraft from Wheelus AFB in Libya. Also used in the SAR were the mine-sweepers HMS Chameleon and Rifleman en route to Gibraltar. A message from Air HQ in the morning of the 17th stated that the aircraft had been found, but no further details were forthcoming.
01.03.51	NA F-84			Fuel feed problems.
03.03.51	F-84	US AF		Pilot force to bail out of the aircraft, 35 miles south of Malta, on a Wheelus AFB to Luqa flight. Involved in the rescue operation were three Lancasters and two Sea Otters from Malta, and two FA-16 * and twelve Corsair fighters from Wheelus AFB in Libya. Pilot spotted by a Corsair pilot, and picked up by one of the FA-16’s, and flown back to Libya. * This is how the RAF Luqa ORB referred to these amphibians. More likely to have been HU-16 Albatrosses.
01.04.51	V. Valletta	Malta Communications Flight	VW823	Unknown incident.
02.04.51		US Navy		Unknown aircraft type, possibly Panther, ditched at position 35.49 N, 16.20 E. One survivor picked up by vessel City of Sydney.
__.04.51	NA Harvard IIB		FT155	Breaking down of aircraft to components completed this month.
17.05.51	H. Sea Fury			Aircraft developed engine trouble. Pilot crash-landed the aircraft at RAF Ta’ Qali, which continued down the runway, through the perimeter fence and a rubble wall, ending up in a field, the aircraft being destroyed by fire. The engine separated from the fuselage during the incident. No fatalities/injuries.
24.05.51	DH Mosquito TT.39	728	PF482	Crashed off Castel Benito. Crew survived, reported severe rudder flutter before the crash, a defect reported by other Mosquito crews. This led to the aircraft being avoided as much as possible by crews. The following year, a Mosquito was stripped down, leading to the discovery that some of the wooden structure had turned “soft and spongy”, possibly as a result of the aircraft’s close proximity to the sea.
03.08.51	Proctor C.4	Malta CF	NP365	Tyre burst on landing and jammed spat; tipped up and not repaired.
08.08.51	S. Sea Otter			Contact with this aircraft was lost shortly after its departure from Hal-Far. No trace was ever found.
14.08.51	DH Vampire	73	VZ334	Undershot landing, forcing the undercarriage to collapse.
13.08.51	McD Banshee x2			Collided during combat maneuvers during exercise D.X.M 1951, instantly exploding. Date now confirmed from Luqa ORB.
13.08.51	DH Vampire	73	VZ230	Aircraft, based at Ta’ Qali, ingested debris from the collision of two US Navy Banshees. Pilot ejected 30 miles SE of Delimara Point, rescued from the water two hours later. A sea Otter landed to pick the US and RAF pilots, but was unable to take-off again due to the sea state. Medical advice was passed on to the Sea Otter pilot by means of the R/T, until the RAF rescue launch arrived. US pilot suffered from unknown injuries.
15.08.51	Av. Lancaster	37	RF306	Aircraft engaged in low-level sortie during Exercise D.M.X. 1951 (12-16.08.51). Tail hit water, leading to the aircraft crashing in the sea. One fatality. Aeromiltaria gives the location of the crash as “off Tripoli, Libya”.
21.08.51	Grumman SA-16A	'C' Flight, 7th Air Rescue Squadron	49-0072	c/s USA9072. Aircraft based at Wheelus AFB, Libya. Departed (Mellaha) Tripolitana at 03:00 with 8 crew. Landed at Luqa at 11:20 with injured seaman. Departed Malta at 14:00. This was the same aircraft that was involved in the rescue of passengers of a DC-3 that crashed in the Mediterranean. See 1950’s accident page. Report by Major on board: Received instruction from HQ to proceed near Lampedusa to pick up an injured seaman from an Italian fishing schooner “ Nuova Maria” of Trapani. Vessel was sighted approximately 20 miles south of Lampedusa, approached her picked up the man. Proceeded to Malta. Man was conveyed to King George V * hospital Malta for treatment. Don Kenneth, Maj USAF (MC) 19228A * since renamed Sir Paul Boffa hospital.

DATE	AIRCRAFT	SQUADRON	SERIAL	NOTES
10.09.51	H. Sea Fury FB.11	807	WF614	Aircraft was operating from HMS Ocean off Malta. Stalled, torque-rolled, and landed heavily on the flight deck of HMS Ocean, collapsing the starboard u/c leg and skidding over the side of the carrier into the sea. The pilot could not be saved. (Information courtesy of the Aviation Safety Network.)
17.09.51	Av. Lancaster	37	RE173	Aircraft was on an air test, when no.3 engine developed a runaway propeller. The engine was feather with some difficulty. A fire in the same engine also developed but which was successfully extinguished, and making a three engine landing at Luqa.
25.10.51	F. Firefly			Aircraft crashed ½ mile from approach to Hal Far due to engine failure. One fatality. Newspaper reported dated 26th.
03.12.51	HP Hastings		TG536	Port main wheel didn’t lower. Newspaper photograph shows the outer port propeller blades bent. Aircraft was carrying troops from the UK to the Canal Zone.
__.01.52	V. Wellington	No. 5 A.N.S. *	NB117	Unspecified accident, inquiry started on the 25th. * Air Navigational School.
09.01.52	DH Vampire FB.5	185	WA437	Stalled and crashed in the sea, 15 miles north of Gozo, after entering a spin during a tail chase. One fatality.
23.01.52	Av. Lancaster GR.3	210	RF210	Ditched in sea during Exercise ‘Oversticks 2’. One fatality. Air Britain’s magazine Aeromilitaria described this as “Wing tip failed during dummy attack on submarine, lost height and ditched.”
24.01.52	Av. Lancaster			All aircraft grounded for wing tip check after a Lancaster suffered a wing tip collapse in flight.
31.01.52	DH Vampire FB.5	185	WG794	Engine shut off due to fire warning; undercarriage folded on landing and aircraft broke up.
08.02.52	V. Wellington T.10	1 ANS *	RP383	Aircraft was on a training flight from RAF Hullavington to Malta, with a refuelling stop at Istres, c/s M-GYUO. During its descent, the aircraft crashed into Mount Aigoual, just 50 feet below the mountain top during its descent. There was no fire, but all seven crew on board perished with the aircraft. What remained of the aircraft weren’t discovered until 21:00hrs of the 24th. According to Aviation Safety Network, the aircraft was slightly off course, but that the poor visibility caused by low clouds was considered a contributory factor. * Air Navigational School.
20.02.52				Runway 24/06 closed at 11:00Z for repairs and tests. Re-opened on 1st March.
14.04.52				Runway 24/06 closed again at 06:30Z for repairs. Re-opened on 6th June.
25.04.52	DH Vampire FB.5	185	VX869	Engine belly landed at Hal-Far after losing engine power on the approach.
28.04.52	DH Mosquito TT.39	728	PF512	Aircraft was taking off from Hal-Far on a test flight, prior to delivery back to the UK. Just after getting airborne from runway 13, black smoke was seen coming out of the port engine. After passing the cliff edge and with the undercarriage still down, the aircraft banked to port and dove into the sea in a left-hand turn. Nothing was seen to fall or drop from the aircraft. Accident was the result of the port engine failing just after the aircraft was airborne, but before a safe single-engine speed had been reached. As a result, with only one engine, and the wheels still down, the pilot was unable to control the aircraft, leading to the Mosquito crashing into the sea.
01.04.52	HP Hastings		TG609	Undershot runway 24, starboard undercarriage collapsing in the process. Aircraft, c/s MOGAY, ended up 75-80 yards from runway intersection. (approx. 68.58-73.15 meters.)
29.04.52	Gl. Meteor NF.11	Central Fighter Establishment	WD626	Overshot runway, but damage repairable. c/s Dynamite 2.
12-24.05.52				Luqa closed for runway repairs. No. 37 squadron grounded.
09.06.52	DH Vampire	604 RAuxAF		Squadron was on its annual “Summer Camp”. Aircraft forced to return to Ta’ Qali with undercarriage problems.
13.06.52	DH Vampire	604 RAuxAF		Squadron departed for its base in the UK at the end of its “Summer Camp” detachment. One pilot suffered total radio failure, unable to receive or transit. He remained in formation with the rest of the aircraft.
16.06.52	HP Hastings	99	TG603	Landing accident at RAF Luqa. c/s MOGAY. RAF Luqa ORB gives the date as the 17th at 00:10Z. Control column yoke bought by Malta Aviation Museum during an auction sale.
16.07.52	DH Vampire	612 RAuxAF	WA402	Squadron was on its annual “Summer Camp”. Aircraft struck the cable of the banner target, damaging the port wing tip.
29.07.52	DH Vampire			Aircraft belly-landed following night flying exercises from RAF Luqa. The incident presumably happened at Luqa. No fatalities.
15.08.52				Luqa airport closed for all traffic. Runway 32/14 was re-opened on the 23rd, runway 24/06 remaining closed until 16th October.
25.08.52	Av. Lancaster		SW325	Suffered from a fire on board the aircraft. (RAF Luqa ORB didn’t state whether aircraft was in the air or on the ground.)
08.09.52	DH Vampire FB.5	608	VX982	Caught in jetstream and bounced off runway during take-off; undercarriage jammed, bellylanded at Ta’ Qali.
27.09.52	DH Vampire FB.9	78 Wing, RAAF	WR110	Pilot of Vampire WR110 collided with WR174 during taxing, causing slight damage to both.
08.10.52	L. P-2 Neptune	US Navy	127724	Undercarriage collapsed after landing at RAF Luqa, destroyed by fire. (See accident report below.)

Accident Report - Up in smoke

The following report was written by Major Mark A. Said, AFM, and first appeared in Malta Flypast, issue no. 8

On 30 July 1952, the coveted Atlantic Fleet Battle Efficiency "E" Pennant for land plane patrol squadrons was awarded for the second consecutive year to Patrol Squadron 5 at an impressive ceremony at Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, Florida. The award was presented to Commander Houghton, Commanding Officer, VP-5 by Captain WB Mechling, Chief of Staff for Rear Admiral GBH Hall, Commander Fleet Air Wings, Atlantic.

The squadron was equipped with Lockheed Neptunes, mainstay of US Navy land-based patrol squadrons for fifteen years, from 1947 to 1962. The P2V-5 version carried a crew of seven, a range of electronic equipment and a weapons-bay large enough for two torpedoes or twelve depth charges.

VP-5 commenced a nine plane deployment to Royal Air Force Station Luqa, on August 9, 1952 and three days later relieved VP-741. Deployment to Malta was completed on 19 August and in September the squadron conducted daylight mining missions in conjunction with a 6th Fleet Exercise. On October 8, VP-5 lost its first aircraft.

Lieutenant Commander Harold E Belew, USN, commander of Neptune Bureau number 127724 (tail number 8) in 1998 recalled, "On routine flights we carried a normal crew, however for training purposes three co-pilots were aboard. This training flight was to familiarise the crew with certain airfields in Europe. During the last leg of the flight, Nice to Malta, for training purposes I had one of the co-pilots, Lieutenant (Junior Grade) James Parker, take the pilot's seat (left side) and I took the co-pilot's seat (right side).

A night time arrival over Malta was routine and the aircraft landing check-off procedure was completed by Parker and self-according to Squadron doctrine. Lt Parker's approach to landing was normal however the aircraft was slightly high for touch-down and the aircraft bounced and then settled on to the runway for roll out.

I did not consider this a hard landing however after several moments the landing gear started to give way. We proceeded down the runway and slowly veered off the right side onto the dirt apron. As I recall the aircraft caught fire as it rolled off the runway. As 127724 came to a stop all personnel evacuated the plane without injury, except myself as I sustained a fractured heel bone."

Ground crew personnel from No 38 Squadron had followed with growing interest the aircraft's final approach and dramatic ending into the parking apron on the other side of runway 14/32. When the aircraft came to a rather interesting full stop, the men rushed towards the aircraft to assist their American counterparts, not knowing what was in store, for as soon as they arrived and got very close to the plane, all hell was let loose and number 8 went up in spectacular fashion. The 'rescuers', finding themselves under a barrage of exploding ammunition and the targets for awe inspiring fire balls, turned turtle and disappeared in double quick time in the direction from which they had just came from. Luckily and unbeknown to the tommies, the yanks had managed to escape towards the other side of the blazing Neptune. By next morning the aircraft was completely gutted.

VP-5 received P2V-5 Bureau Number 127723 as a replacement for aircraft number 8. Patrol Squadron 5 suffered its second loss shortly afterwards, when 124909 (tail number 2) crashed at night in France. On 23 December, another VP-5 Neptune was touring airbases in Southern Europe. En-route from Germany to France, one of the engines developed trouble. The aircraft commander and pilot, Lieutenant W Warlick, shut it down and five minutes later, lost all electrical services. This in turn resulted in the loss of most of the instruments aggravating the situation and making it extremely difficult for Warlick to control the aircraft in darkness. Furthermore, the loss of the electrical supply isolated him from the rest of the crew and he had no means of communicating with them. Making use of a hand held torch and notwithstanding the bad weather prevailing at the time, the pilot managed to make a 180 turn and fly the aircraft for another two and a half hours towards Paris.

When close to Paris, Warlick identified his exact location with great difficulty and decided to head in a northerly direction over isolated farmland. He was lucky in a way as he had over flown the area several times previously during the Berlin airlift. After making sure that there were no lights on the ground underneath and ahead, he ordered the crew to abandon the Neptune. One by one they jumped out of the plane and when it came to Warlick, he directed the crippled aircraft towards the uninhabited area and bailed out. They landed near the small town of Persan, surviving unscathed and then headed towards the now blazing aircraft, to regroup.

The Neptune had spiralled uncontrollably to its destruction onto fields below and by sheer misfortune, one of its wings clipped an isolated farmhouse, injuring two children and killing instantly their baby brother.

The United States Navy crash investigating team, in their final report, commended highly Lt. Warlick for his airmanship and act of bravery. The high level of crew training and efficiency is indicated by the fact that there were no injuries to the crew, although the abandonment was effected under adverse conditions.

Lt "Rip" Warlick, from Lincolnston, North Carolina was no amateur for he had been in the United States Navy for almost fourteen years. He had seen active service in the Pacific flying Catalinas amphibians and participated in the Berlin airlift, piloting Skymaster transports into the city for seven months until the Reds gave the whole thing up as a bad idea.

The Atlantic Fleet Battle Efficiency Pennant went to another squadron the following year!

 

DATE	AIRCRAFT	SQUADRON	SERIAL	NOTES
05.11.52	HP Hastings		__491	Three-ton Bedford truck involved in accident with this aircraft. Nature of accident not known.
11.11.52	V. Valletta	70	VW834	c/s MOKVH. Aircraft crashed on landing r/w 32.
24.11.52	DH Vampire FB.9	78 Wing, RAAF	WR174	Crashed on take-off from Nicosia. Aircraft was part of two flights of six aircraft each that had departed Malta on the 20th on a cross-country flying exercise, to obtain experience in flying main air routes in the Command. The route was via El Adem, Cyrenica, Nicosia, overflying Syria to Habbaniya, returning via Nicosia and El-Adem. The aircraft was presumably returning to Malta. Aircraft damaged, but no injuries. Struck off charge on 31.12.52, Cat 5(c) damage.
27.11.52	V. Wellington	No. 2 A.N.S.	MF626	c/s MOBDA. Departed from Malta after its use in the filming of Malta Story. Reported engine trouble, but landed safely at Elmas, Sardinia. Wellington for Malta Story had a damaged propeller on arrival.
__.12.52	DH Tiger Moth		K28	Crashed at Hal-Far, Struck off Charge, Malta. History: c/n 82596, Ex VP-KCT; KAAU K28 [c/n & pi likely but not confirmed] Probably to RN at Dekheila .42 [with N9121 - both ex 30 EFTS, Nairobi which was disbanded 13.03.41]. Toc 775 Squadron/HMS Grebe, Dekheila, Egypt 19.4.44. To Hal Far, Malta [.49]; named "New Life".
01.12.52				Reports of an aircraft crashing into the sea off Valletta caused a combined RN and RAF rescue effort. The rescue efforts were called off after all military and civil aircraft had been accounted for. The false alarm may have been caused after HMS Ricasoli had fired rocket projectiles into the sea. Additional details in the 50 Years Ago page.
18.12.52	Bristol 170		G-804	Aircraft was on delivery to the Pakistan AF. Note in Custom files: Military cargo in transit w/o manifest.
30.12.52	Av. Lancaster GR.3	37	SW344	Crashed on Luqa village after take-off from runway 06 due to engine failure. Lancaster hit a house, continued to plough through three others, and damaged another 14. Three crew and one civilian died, and two suffered injuries. See e-mail below, added on 29.10.05.

Thank you for compiling the list of a/c accidents reported in the Malta Times. A painstaking task but highly appreciated, as it is the only record I have found on the web that refers to the above incident.

I would like to take you up on your offer for any further information that and also offer you some additional information which you might like to publish.

My wife's father was the pilot of the aircraft reported. Any further information that you have post-accident reporting would be appreciated. However, if this is not available then the family would like it to be recorded, perhaps as a post-script, that the pilot was officially exonerated of all blame for the incident.

Being the sole survivor, he never forgave himself for losing his crew and the lady who lost her life. However, the support given to him and his wife by the Maltese community as he recovered was greatly appreciated.

For completeness, he died prematurely at 47 and is survived by his wife, daughter and a grandson he never knew.

Many thanks in anticipation.

Kind regards

Phil Catling

 

DATE	AIRCRAFT	SQUADRON	SERIAL	NOTES
14.01.53	V. Valletta			Aircraft, carrying Commander A.H.P. Noble, Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the Admiralty, was struck by lightning whilst on a transit fight from RAF Luqa, to Ellenikon Airport, Greece. Slightly damaged, the aircraft returned to Malta, the commander departing on a different Valletta. Additional info in the 50 years ago page.
15.01.53	Av. Lancaster GR.3	38	TX270	Lanaster was engaged in an anti-submarine exercise, when it collided with a V. Valletta C.1 of the Malta CS, at a height of 1,500 feet. The weather was thundery with heavy rain and hail, with the accident taking place in the pre-dawn darkness with generally very poor visibility. Valletta was on a Malta-UK flight, the collision occurring some 150 miles NW of Malta, 28 miles SW of Agrigento Sicily. A combined 26 casualties.
15.01.53	V. Valetta C.1	204 *	VX562	Mid-air collision with Lancaster TX270. See above. * Aircraft was attached to the Malta Communications Flight.
27.01.53	H. Sea Fury	801	WE692	Tail oleo collapsed after heavy landing on HMS Glory, aircraft running into the barrier.
24.02.53	DH Vampire FB.9	73	WL515/B	Aircraft was landing as number 4 of a four-aircraft stream after conducting exercises with 41 squadron Meteor F.8s that were on a four-day detachment. Brakes failed on landing, aircraft skidded off runway and into a wall. From the squadron’s ORB: “The incident was remarkable in that the Control Tower and Crash Tender took no interest at all in the fate of the pilot. The aircraft was virtually a complete write-off but Stg. McLeod was unhurt.”
11.03.53	H. Sea Fury FB.11	807	WF618	Aircraft took off from Hal-Far, but experienced engine problems. Pilot tried returned to Hal-Far, but ended up landing in the water, 2 miles from Kalafrana Pilot rescued by means of a Drangfly helicopter from the Helicopter Flight, based at Hal-Far. This is thought to be the first air-sea rescue operation using a helicopter within the Maltese Islands.
03.05.53				Runway 24/06 closed for intersection inspection between 06:00-17:00Z.
10.05.53				Runway 32/14 closed at 08:00Z for repairs, reopened on 15.10.53.
17.05.53	V. Valetta C.1	70	VW810	c/s MORKK. Ailerons jammed; force landed on grass, hit caravan and caught fire; 2 fatalities. See accident report below.

 

Accident Report – Double Valletta Tragedies

The following article first appeared in Malta Flypast Issue 8, by Major Mark Said, AFM, and is being reproduced by kind permission of the author.

Events in the Middle East and Mediterranean underwent rapid changes as a consequence of the announcement on July 26, 1952 that King Farouk of Egypt signed the instrument of his abdication. The question, as always, was whether power seized by dramatic military means was, in the event, to be used for the good ends as proclaimed. There was no reason to decry the high motives of the reformers, but the dangers of dictatorship lurks behind every "coup d'etat".

Following a number of killings of British servicemen and a clear demonstration of anti-British sentiments, an air bridge from Egypt was set with Malta as a hub. Royal Air Force Hastings and Valetta aircraft took the brunt of the colossal effort. Service personnel and their families were evacuated by air and sea and were replaced by battle hardened soldiers.

One of the aircraft involved in the operation was Valetta C.1, VW81 0 of 70 Squadron, based at Fayid, Egypt. The aircraft (callsign MORKK) was carrying Commandos to the Canal Zone when it crashed on the outskirts of Luqa airfield on 17 May 1953.

During the take-off run along runway 06, one of the ailerons jammed and the pilot, 582015 Flight Lieutenant WF Knapper, was unable to maintain directional control. He closed both throttles, put the nose down and touched down on the grass to the right hand side of the runway. After bumping once on the ground the pilot retracted the undercarriage in an attempt to stop the runaway aircraft and avoid hitting the runway control caravan. In the event, his actions were unsuccessful and the port wing sliced through the caravan, injuring Sgt. Ricketts of Jamaica, a runway controller.

After colliding with the caravan, VW810 struck and damaged the starboard wing of another Valletta aircraft parked near the runway threshold. The latter was VX575 'la Valette' the personal aircraft of the Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet and the Air Officer Commanding Malta.

The runaway Valetta then smashed through a rubble wall before coming to a full stop in a field on the outskirts of Luqa village (near the present day Take Off Bar) where it caught fire a few yards from a fuel pipe. Prompt and efficient firefighting and rescue work were the determining factors which kept down the number of casualties to a minimum and which averted a major disaster.

Unfortunately there were two fatali¬ties. Marine Derek Edward Burtenshaw, Royal Marines, aged 24, died instantly and Lance Corporal Ronald Don of'S' Troop 40 Commando Royal Marines, died two days later of multiple burns. Three others, including Sgt Ricketts, were seriously injured, and seventeen were slightly injured. These were con¬veyed to Luqa Sick Quarters for treat¬ment and later transferred to Bighi Naval Hospital.

Friar Samuel of Marsa, who was travelling by bus to Qrendi at the time of the air crash, hurried to the scene and administered the last rites to the victims. The two dead commandos were buried with full Military Honours at Mtarfa Military Cemetery.

Colour Sergeant Oswald Bernard Falconar, Ply.X.1 048, Royal Marines was awarded the George Medal for his brav¬ery in rescuing a survivor from the air¬craft and the citation for his award as published in The London Gazette on Tuesday, 6 October, 1953 states:

"An aircraft, carrying part of 40 Commando, Royal Marines crashed in taking off at Luqa, Malta, on 17 May, 1953. The moment the aircraft came to rest, flames swept through the open door and in a moment the aircraft was full of fire and smoke. Colour Sergeant FALCONAR was battling his way out when he heard a man cry out that he could not undo his safety belt. In this moment of terror, when seconds stood between life and death, Colour Sergeant Falconar went back and released the man's safety belt, thus undoubtedly sav¬ing his life. When both were clear of the aircraft, Colour Sergeant Falconar, in spite of his burnt hands, helped the man to tear off his burning clothing".

The Malta Communications Flight Valetta C.2, VX575, which was also damaged in the crash on 17 May, had replaced the Dakota previously used jointly by Admiral Sir John Edelsten, Commander-in-Chief Mediterranean, and Air Vice-Marshal N.H. D'Aeth, Fortress Commander. The aircraft was christened 'La Valette' at Safi by Lady Creasy, wife of His Excellency, Sir Gerald Creasy, the Governor of Malta, at the then still operational Safi strip in the morning of July 20, 1953.

The starboard wing and aileron of 'La Vallette' had been severely damaged by VW810. Following repairs, the air¬craft was prepared for a test flight prior to returning to operational flying.

On 16 December 1953, 59357 Flight Lieutenant H Ogilvie took VX575 on the test flight from Luqa. Immediately after departure and whilst still at a very low height, the starboard propeller over¬sped. Ogilvie could not reduce the RPM so attempted to feather the propeller. Notwithstanding determined efforts on his behalf, the propeller failed to feather and the drag caused by it further pre¬vented the pilot from maintaining height and the required single engine flying speed. In desperation, he then attempt¬ed to return to the airfield for an emer-gency landing. On turning onto finals for runway 14 and with the aircraft under¬carriage lowered, he realised he could not reach the runway and retracted it in an effort to reduce drag. The Valetta continued to lose height, crashed and caught fire in a field at Mriehel, roughly half a mile behind the Simonds-Farsons-Cisk factory, in line with the vil¬lage of Qormi. Ogilivie, 1585101 Flight Sergeant H. Holloway (Signaller), 534185 Senior Technician R. Evans and 4003282 Corporal A. Ponton managed to escape. Despite the efforts of the Malta Police Fire Fighting section, civil¬ians and members of the three com-bined Services which were on the spot within minutes, 4037260 Sergeant Peter Bryant (Navigator) was killed.

On 11 May 1954, Her Majesty the Queen graciously approved the award of the British Empire Medal to No 534185 Senior Technician R Evans of Royal Air Force, Luqa, consequent to the crash.

The citation reads:

"After the crash the Captain checked his crew on leaving the aircraft and was unable to account for the Air Signaller. Evans forced his way back into the now burning aircraft and remained there looking for the missing crew member until he was ordered to leave by the Captain who just got him clear before the tanks exploded and the aircraft blew up.

On re-entering the burning aircraft to look for the missing crew member, Evans showed complete disregard for his own safety and, had it not been that the Captain ordered him out, it seems likely that he would have remained there to the end.

Unknown to the Captain and Senior Technician Evans, the Signaller, who was severely burned, had left the aircraft before the other members of the crew and had been removed for attention by some Maltese labourers'.

 

DATE	AIRCRAFT	SQUADRON	SERIAL	NOTES
20.06.53				Luqa airfield closed for runway intersection repairs from 06:00z until 09:00Z on the 21st.
21.06.53	H. Sea Fury T.20	1834	WG653/728	The aircraft was the last of a formation of four aircraft taking off from RNAS Hal Far, Malta, while participating in Exercise “Retex”. During the take-off run, before the undercarriage was fully retracted, the starboard wing dropped, and the underwing fuel tank scraped along the ground, began to leak, then caught fire and exploded. The aircraft crashed through a wall at high speed, killing the pilot. The wreckage of WG653 was recovered to RNAS Donibristle, Fife, for accident investigations. After completion of these, it was struck off charge as Cat.ZZ on 07.07.55. (Information courtesy of the Aviation Safety Network.)
03.07.53	Gl. Meteor F.8	616	WE862	Dived into sea, probably because dinghy inflated accidentally.
12.07.53	V. Valletta		VX580	Sustained of damage in unknown accident.
20.07.53	Gl. Meteor F.8	RAF Northern Sector	WK724/HH	Overshot runway after brake failure at RAF Ta’ Qali. Cat 5C damage, SoC on 01.09.53.
22.07.53	HP Hastings			Aircraft ditched in the sea.
29.07.53				Luqa Tower intercepted inter communication patter between aircraft on distress frequency at 10:00Z whilst the RCC * was opened at 10:05 and Hal-Far was requested to bring SAR helicopter to immediate readiness, which was scrambled at 10:10 whilst Lancaster ‘Z’, which was already airborne, was diverted to the area. At 10:21, the SAR helicopter crew witnessed the distress aircraft exploding on impact with the sea, reporting little wreckage and no survivors. Lancaster ‘Z’, joined by Lancaster ‘Y’, reported two US SA-16 in the area at 10:30. High Speed Launch dispatched to the scene at 10:45 as the Lancasters dropped marine markers. SAR helicopter landed at Hal-Far at 10:50. * Rescue Co-ordination Centre.
09.08.53	C-119			Aircraft crashed “off Tripoli” (Libya). Malta-based aircraft joined in search and rescue mission.
22.08.53	AS. Firefly	1832 NAS	VH138	Enroute to Malta for annual training camp ground. Looped to starboard on landing at Nice, France, with main undercarriage being sheared off. Returned to UK for repairs.
29.08.53	F-84G-RE-1 Thunderjet	20th Fighter Bomber Group	51-988	Aircraft crashed 10 miles South East of Delimara Point, Malta. One fatality. Crash witnessed by the crew of a 38 squadron Lancaster. See report below which was first published in Malta Flypast - Issue 6 by Major Mark A. Said, AFM, for a more detailed explanation.

Accident Report

On Monday 31 August 1953, the local daily The Times of Malta reported "Sabre Pilot dies in Malta Crash". The events leading to that report follow. In the early 1950's several flights of American military aircraft passed through Malta's airspace whilst engaged on training flights from Europe to the North African area. Sometimes they staged through Malta for refuelling purposes, on other occasions they just flew by. One such formation of two flights departed Wheelus Air Force Base, Libya in quick succession on Sunday, 29 August 1953. The members of the first four ship flight were Capt R. Baughn, Flight Leader, 1st Lt Foresman, Capt S.G. Houghtby and 1st Lt W Quinn. The second four ship flight was composed of Capt BR Cothern, 1 st Lt J.P. O'Leary, Capt A.C. Edinburgh and Capt A. Torosian.

The eight-ship formation was engaged on a routine navigational flight, from its home station at Wethersfield RAF Station, England, to Athens, Greece by way of Wheelus Field, Libya.

Catastrophic Engine Failure

After taking off from Wheelus, the aircraft climbed to 35,000 feet. No trouble was experienced until about 170 miles out of Wheelus, when less than an hour into the flight, at 1005Z, there was an explosion in the rear of F-84G-RE-1 Thunderjet 51-988. Several of the other pilots noticed a flash extend from the tailpipe momentarily, smoke come out of the dive brake area and also pieces fly off the aircraft. 1st Lt John Patrick O'Leary USAF Reserve, the pilot of 988, stated that he had flamed out and that his fire warning light was on.

Course for Malta

The flight altered course towards Malta, and O'Leary established the best glide speed while his mates called up the Rescue control centre in Malta. Meanwhile a Royal Navy Dragonfly helicopter and a four-engine maritime patrol Lancaster were despatched from Hal Far and Luqa respectively. A USAF SA=16 Albatross amphibian from Wheelus, orbiting nearby for another flight of jets, was also immediately directed towards the area.

29 year-old Capt Richard M. Baughn, the Flight leader, instructed the pilot of 988 to abandon the aircraft at 10,000 feet. The instruction was repeated several times as the aircraft kept coming down but Lt O'Leary expressed a reluctance to bailout by his statements, such as, "I don't like this idea of bailing out" and "I sure hate to lose my camera." While gliding towards Malta and at 12,000 feet, a ship was sighted going in a westerly direction. O'Leary was directed to pass over the ship and eject. As he was passing over the ship, the Air/Sea Rescue Service helicopter was sighted so O'Leary was guided towards it. When O'Leary was at 7,000 feet, though very close to the helicopter and well below the 10,000 foot level, he still did not eject. The cockpit canopy was jettisoned at approximately 2,000 feet. Upon jettisoning the canopy, the pilot's helmet was blown away, and he was unable to receive further radio instructions.

The aircraft continued descent at a heading of approximately 2900 and seventeen minutes after the engine had exploded, made contact with the water about ten miles South East of Delimara Point, Malta.

Search

Lt SA Halduway RN, the pilot of the Royal Navy Westland-Sikorsky S.51 Dragonfly helicopter numbered 494, stated that the fighter-bomber touched down in nose-low attitude on the crest of a swell and exploded on impact. Fuel remaining on the surface of the water burned for approximately five minutes. It is not known why the pilot did not bail out, but it is thought that he was not injured in any way and could have easily done so.

The main portion of the aircraft disintegrated and sank immediately. The rescue launch sent out from Marsaxlokk picked up a portion of one tip tank, one oxygen bottle, the pilot's flight jacket with the name (John P. O'Leary) inscribed and the parachute which had spilled open. The pilot was not recovered.

The helicopter remained in the area for about fifteen minutes and then returned to base, having been relieved by the Lancaster of No 37 Squadron, which marked the area with marine markers. The wind at the time of the accident was gusting to 20 knots and 'white horses' on the sea surface made spotting difficult.

Conclusions

It is thought that O'Leary had attempted to ditch his plane in order to be able to retrieve his hand held camera. There is also the possibility that he may have lost consciousness when his helmet was blown off. The fact that he was already at 2,000 feet when he jettisoned his canopy confirmed he was determined to ditch instead of eject as had been instructed. Had he ejected at 10,000 feet the result may well have been very different. Did his camera really cost him his life?

20th Fighter Bomber Group

The 20th were based at Wethersfield from 31 May 1952 till moving to Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire, in April 1970, originally with F-84G, later F-84F, then F-100D/F Super Sabre, converting to F-111E on moving to Upper Heyford.

 

DATE	AIRCRAFT	SQUADRON	SERIAL	NOTES
01.09.53	L. Neptune	203	WX524	Practice bomb on board the aircraft exploded, injuring a service man.
07.09.53	A. Shackleton MR.2/AEW.2	37	WL754/A	Suffered a Cat.3 flying accident when the pilot made a heavy touch down, short of the Luqa runway, damaged the tailwheels, overshot and made a successful landing on the mainwheels. To 137MU, Safi, on 08.09.53 for repairs. Again involved in accident on 14.11.55
22.09.53	DH Vampire FB.9	78 Wing, RAAF		Two racks of 9 lb. practice bombs were accidentally dropped before reaching Delimara point. Efforts to recover them failed, and it was assumed that they probably fell in the sea.
25.09.53	Av. Shackleton	38		Went u/s in Libya due to faulty brakes. 37sqd Lancaster flew out spares, Shackleton returning on the 26th.
28.09.53	Av. Lancaster GR.3	37	RF308/A	Swung on take-off, undercarriage collapsed, and crashed on starboard side of runway 24. No injuries.
20.10.53	H. Sea Fury	804/HMS Glory	WJ289	Aircraft ditched west of Delimara. Pilot rescued by Hal-Far Dragonfly.
26.10.53	HP Hastings		WJ388	Aircraft hit by Ross fork lifter.
10.12.53	F. Firefly AS.6	826	WB438	c/n F.8635. Damaged in a coolant leak, causing black smoke to emit from engine on a sortie from HMS Glory. Withdrawn from service to RNAS Hal Far shortly afterwards for repairs and storage. Shipped back to the UK aboard HMS Eagle 01.06.54, and delivered to RNARY (Royal Naval Aircraft Repair Yard) Fleetlands, Hampshire.
16.12.53	V. Valletta	MC-TTS	VX575	Aircraft suffered damage to starboard wings & ailerons on 17.05.53 after being hit by Valletta VW810. Took off from RAF Luqa for a test flight. The crew experienced runaway propeller, leading to an overheating engine. Pilot managed to crash land the aircraft in fields, roughly ½ mile behind Farsons brewery in Imriehel. Aircraft totally destroyed by fire. One fatality.
05.01.54	DH Vampire FB.9	78 Wing, RAAF		Vampire engine shut down during air test, pilot made a safe landing.
12.01.54	A. Shackleton		WL755	Involved in unspecified taxying accident.
12.01.54	DH Sea Hornet F.20	728	VR859	Practicing asymmetric approaches. Struck rocky ground, suffering an undercarriage collapse.
18.01.54	Gl. Meteor Mk. VII	75 RAAF	WH220	Aircraft, which had been modified for target-towing, stalled after take-off from RAF Ta’ Qali, fell back to the runway, and continued along the runway. At the end of the runway, aircraft hit a mound of earth, flipped over on its back, bursting into flames. Rear seat occupant, Leading Aircraftman Maxwell James Hennessy, was killed when his head hit a large rock when the aircraft flipped over. Pilot suffered shock, lacerations and a broken wrist. Hennessy was an Australian attached to 78 (Fighter) Wing, RAAF, at the time based in Malta. He had been given permission to go up as a passenger, to see the Malta from the air. Aircraft replaced by Meteor T.7 VW482. Information courtesy of Office of Air Force History, RAAF.
26.01.54	DH Vampire FB.9	78 Wing, RAAF		Atrocious weather limits flying to one test flight.
28.01.54	Av. Shackleton MR.IA	206	WB836	Four aircraft had arrived on 7 January for a three week detachment known as “Fair Isle”. All four aircraft departed between 07:00-07:30, but all had returned to Luqa by 13:00, although the squadron’s Operation Record Book doesn’t give a reason why (Weather? See entry above.). The detachment departed the following day, but landed at Gibraltar, eventually landing at their base at St. Eval on the 31st.
28.01.54	Av. Shackleton MR.IA	206	WG508	As above.
28.01.54	Av. Shackleton MR.IA	206	WG526	As above.
28.01.54	Av. Shackleton MR.IA	206	WG527	As above.
12.02.54	Avro Shackleton Mk.2	38	WL794	Lost during a night time exercise with submarine HMS Tudor. Ten fatalities.
19.02.54				Flying at ta Qali stops due to a hole in the r/w caused by heavy rains.
06.03.54	DH Mosquito PR MK. 34	751	RG294	Swung on take-off from Hal Far, port undercarriage collapsing.
09.03.54	F. Firefly FR.5	825	WB304	Lost engine power, and diverted to Hal-Far, but ditched south of airfield. HMS Warrior-based.
13.03.54	A. Shackleton	240	WL795	Shell refueller tanker reversed into aircraft’s tail cone. Aircraft departed Luqa for RAF Ballykelly on 15.09.54
29.03.54	DH Vampire FB.9	78 Wing, RAAF		Italian AF pilot, on an exchange visit for exercise Shield One was making his first landing in a Vampire. Aircraft comes in low, hits a boundary wall at Ta Qali, the aircraft being destroyed in the subsequent crash. Pilot suffered concussion and minor eye injuries, but a Maltese boy just inside the airfield perimeter was killed by the aircraft.
30.03.54	DH Vampire FB.9	78 Wing, RAAF		Bad weather reduces tempo of exercise as pilots are finding it difficult to brake on the wet runway. One NZ pilot skids and damages the a/c undercarriage.
01.04.54	H. Sea Fury FB.11	Hal-Far Flight	VX288	Ditched in sea following engine failure after take-off from Hal-Far. Crew were rescued by helicopter from Hal-Far airfield (HMS Falcon).
01.04.54	H. Sea Fury FB.II	811	VW652	Aircraft departed from HMS Warrior, for exercises with French military forces off/over Tunisia. Crashed into the sea during maneuvers. One fatality. Aircraft had been on loan to the squadron from Hal-Far the previous March 24th.
02.04.54	S. Attacker FB.2	803	WP300	Aircraft crashed short of the runway at Hal Far following a power failure. s.o.c. 26.04.54.
13.04.54	Avro York			Aircraft had experienced engine trouble the previous night. Crew was to take the aircraft up for a short air test from RAF Luqa, but overshot the runway during taxiing test, dropping ten feet into field. Crew only on board, no injuries.
15.04.54	DH Vampire FB.9	78 Wing, RAAF		Vampire canopy exploded and blew away damaging port wing and tailplane. Pilot was at 26,000 ft, 100 miles from land, made emergency landing at Benine. Temp -30 C. Aircraft was part of the 78 RAAF wing Gunnery Team, and was returning to Malta. Pilot continued to Malta in a RN Expiditor.
07.05.54	A. Shackleton MR.2/AEW.2	37	WL756/G	Cat.3 damage when the pilot stalled the aircraft on final approach and the tail wheel assembly collapsed on touchdown in the undershoot. Transferred to 137MU Safi for repairs the same day.

DATE	AIRCRAFT	SQUADRON	SERIAL	NOTES
__.05.54	A. Shackleton MR.2	37	WL759	Underwent Cat.3 repairs at 137MU Safi 19.5.54 - 14.6.54 when the rear fuselage was strained during a heavy landing. Again involved in a landing accident on 26.11.55.
09-10.05.54				Malta-based Shackletons dropped flares in an area 60 miles north of Messina, to assist the Royal Navy in the recovery of Comet G-ALYY which had crashed near Naples on 8.04.54 on a London to Johannesburg flight. 21 fatalities.
20.05.54	A. Shackleton MR.2/AEW.2	37	WL757/D	To 137MU Safi 20.5.54 for unspecified Cat. 3 damage, repairs completed by 03.06.54.
20.05.54	S. Attacker FB.2	803	WP288	Crashed into sea off Hal-Far with WZ396 during aerobatics.
20.05.54	S. Attacker FB.2	803	WZ396	Crashed into sea off Hal-Far with WP288 during aerobatics.
25.05.54	S. Attacker FB.2	803	WK330	Engine failure during a formation take-off, stalled into the ground, cartwheeled through the wire and hit wall at Hal Far.
03.06.54	S. Attacker FR.2	803	WP279/147/J	Wheels up landing at the former WWII airfield of Qrendi following an engine flame out. To Aircraft Handling Unit at Hal Far on the 15th. Shipped to Airworks Gatwick for Cat.4 repairs.
11.06.54	W. Whirlwind HAS.22	845	WV201	Ditched off Hal-Far. Engine stopped after pilot changed fuel tanks.
14.06.54	Gl. Meteor Mk.8	601	WK722/A	Aircraft lost nose-wheel on take-off, made a belly landing on its return. Aircraft suffered Cat 3R damage, later increased to Cat 5C on 25.06.54. SoC 10.09.54. Squadron was in Malta on a “Summer Camp”.
21.06.54	D. Dakota C.4	Malta CF*	KN647	DC-3 had departed Malta as a support aircraft for three, 37 squadron Shackletons, which had departed Malta for exercise DURBEX II in Durban. KN647 flew into high ground at night, near Nairobi, Kenya.
24.06.54	Gl. Meteor M.8	601	WH364	Crashed at Ta Qali. Cat.3 damage.
02.07.54	Av. Shackleton	37	WR954	Aircraft was one of three participating in exercise Durbux II in South Africa. The aircraft was waiting a replacement propeller, when a Hobart tractor collided with the starboard bomb door at night. The bomb door hydraulic jacks were removed, and the pipe lines blanked off, the door being secured by chains after temporary repairs were made to the rear jack attachment point. The aircraft, which was supposed to return to Luqa by the 8th, finally left on the 13th, landing at Luqa on the 15th.
06.07.54	Gl. Meteor F.8	604 RAuxAF		Fog covered the Maltese Islands, bringing all flying to a stop. The squadron had to sadly abandon all thoughts of flying, and instead spend the day at the beach. (Oh! The poor dears! A day at the beach, instead of sweating it out at high Gs in a fighter jet’s cockpit!)
15.07.54	S. Attacker FB.2	800	WZ284/109/J	Crashed 300 yards (274.32 meters) short of the runway amongst brick walls, soc 29.07.54.
29.07.54	A. Shackleton MR.2	38	WL798/X	Cat.3 damage was repaired by 137MU Safi 01-22.11.54. Additional damage on 11.03.58.
06.08.54	Av. Shackleton		WL757/D	Aircraft lost the tail wheel on take-off at 11:00Z. After five hours of flight, pilot made a safe landing on runway 24 at 16:50Z.
09.08.54	Av. Shackleton		_____/B	Made a heavy landing, damaging the tail wheel.
12.08.54	Av. Shackleton MR.1	206	VP293/A	Aircraft was part of a formation on a tour of New Zealand. This aircraft diverted to Luqa due to total r/t failure. Departed on the 13th.
20.08.54	S. Attacker FB.2	803	WP288	Mid-air collision with WZ296 during unauthorised formation aerobatics in hazy weather conditions, 9 mls (14.48 kms) SW of Filfla island.
20.08.54	S. Attacker FB.2	803	WZ296	Mid-air collision with WP288 during unauthorised formation aerobatics in hazy weather conditions, 9 mls (14.48 kms) SW of Filfla island.
03.09.54	DH Venom	Iraq AF	NI46	Aircraft crashed on take-off 24, bursting into flames. One fatality.
08.09.54	Gl. Meteor Mk.8	500	WF714/K	Aircraft undershot whilst landing, suffering an undercarriage collapse. Squadron was in Malta on a “Summer Camp”. s.o.c. 25/09/154 as CAT 5(C).
__.09.54	S. Attacker			Belly landing at Safi strip. Aircraft repaired, but no further info available.
10.09.54	DH Vampire FB.9		WR148	Cause of accident unknown, s.o.c. 09.12.54 as CAT.5(c) in Malta.
16.09.54	A. Shackleton MR.2/AEW.2	37	WL785/E	Received unspecified Cat. 3 damage and transferred to 137MU Safi on 21.9.54 for repairs. Returned to 37 Sqn on 09.02.55
28.09.54	H. Sea Hawk			Swung off runway 24 after landing.
05.10.54				“Naval” aircraft landed at Safi strip due to an oil leak. Aircraft undamaged, so presumably no injuries. No further details available. A search at the National Library confirms that these were two different aircraft.
05.10.54				”Naval” aircraft landed at Hal-Far, reason unknown. Hal-Far station was closed at the time for repairs. Aircraft undamaged, so presumably no injuries. No further details available.
20.10.54	B. Beaufighter TT.10		RD802	c/s MKVPB. Arrived from UK for use with the Malta Communications and Target Towing Flight. Aircraft swung on landing, causing the undercarriage to collapse. Struck of charge. Pilot only occupant, no injuries.
20.10.54	W. Wyvern S.4	813	VZ783	Shore-based at Hal-Far from parent ship HMS Albion. Crashed in sea after take-off from Hal-Far, pilot missing, presumed dead.
23.11.54	H. Sea Hawk FB.3	898	WM967	Rode over safety chocks on HMS Albion and continued down the flight deck into the sea.
30.11.54	Av. Shackleton		WL787	Petrol refueller caught fire when refuelling a/c.
05.01.55	Gr. Avenger ECM.6		XB328	Swung off the runway and nosed up in soft ground at Hal Far.
06.02.55	Av. Shackleton		WL793/Y	Unknown accident.
09.03.55	DH Sea Hornet	728	WE240	Swung to s/board then port on take-off, raised u/c, but lost power, slid off runway into stone wall and caught fire during take-off from Hal-Far. Maltese rubble walls prevented the rescue Land Rover from approaching the burning aircraft any nearer than 80 feet (24.4m). Two firemen, aware that their protective clothing would not have been enough in close proximity to a such severe fire, climbed on board the fuselage, and attempted the free the pilot, whose clothes were on fire. At one point, the blast from the petrol exploding blew the two firemen off the aircraft, who nevertheless, climbed back on the fuselage, and finally were able to free the pilot and extract him from the cockpit. The two firemen were awarded the British Medal Empire for showing devotion to duty, disregard for their personal safety and prompt action in trying to save the pilots’ life. Sadly, the pilot, a Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve, died later from his injuries. Arrived at Aircraft Handling Unit (AHU) Hal Far 18.11.53 728 sqdn, damaged by flight of birds, to AHU 01.55.
11.03.55	R. F-84G-1RE	US AF	51962/FS-962	One of three aircraft. Failed to clear wall, hitting a BABS hut - description below. Made a wheels up landing at Hal-Far. See article below by Major Mark A. Said, AFM, which first appeared in Malta Flypast issue 6.

Accident Report

On 11 March 1955, three F-84G Thunderjets of the 77th Fighter Bomber Squadron, 20th Fighter Bomber Wing, 3rd United States Air Force, had a very close shave whilst departing Luqa.

Captain Charles W. Ward USAF Reserve (Thunderjet 51-962A), and 1 st Lieutenant James A. Garriott USAF Reserve (Thunderjet 51-913A) were the leader and number two respectively in a flight of three F-84G-1 RE Thunderjet fighters departing Royal Air Force Luqa on a navigational training flight to Wiesbaden, Germany.

The Flight had been briefed by Capt Ward to make individual take-offs at full power, due to the limited runway length (6,000 feet) and the high gross weight at take-off (20,500Ibs with 6,8001bs of fuel). The surface temperature was reported to be 15.50 C. When given take-off clearance, Luqa Tower reported the surface wind to be crosswind from 1800 (southerly), 14 to 18 knots. Runway 24 was in use.

Something Goes Wrong

The flight positioned itself in left echelon (up-wind) along the runway, in order that each aircraft kept out of the preceding aircraft's jet wash. Capt Ward commenced take-off at 1054Z (Greenwich Mean Time), followed at five seconds intervals by Lt Garriott and Capt Theodore J. Baader (in 51-958). Capt Ward later stated that he became airborne about 5,500 feet down the runway and started to climb. After gaining a little altitude, the Thunderjet began to sink back towards the ground. Unable to prevent the aircraft from losing height, he attempted to activate the pylon tank jettison switch and the emergency pylon jettison switch but neither fired.

Seconds later, the aircraft's right main gear and pylon tank struck a rubble wall four hundred and seventy feet past the end of the runway. This wall measured four feet high by one and a half feet thick. Its top was approximately seven feet higher than the end of the runway. The right wheel struck the wall approximately one foot below the top of the wall, separating the gear leg at the base of the inner cylinder strut. Capt Ward reported an instantaneous increase in airspeed immediately after passing the wall and a positive rate of climb. He noticed that the turbine overheat light was on during climb-out and thus throttled back to 84 percent power which was sufficient to climb at 200 mph.

Lt Garriott was following approximately 1,200 feet behind Capt Ward. He later stated that he broke ground approximately 500 feet from the end of the runway. After selecting gear up, he noticed that he also was sinking back towards the ground. At that instant, he noticed in front of him a cloud of dust and fuel spray as Capt Ward's aircraft struck the wall. He was able to prevent his aircraft from settling to the ground, but was unable to avoid hitting a hut housing the approach beacon located approximately 425 feet from the end of the runway. The top of this hut was approximately eleven feet higher than the end of the runway. The pylon tank and aft fuselage underside struck the hut, but the aircraft remained airborne and began gaining airspeed and altitude.

Capt Baader observed the cloud of dust after Capt Ward took off and saw Lt Garriott strike the hut. Capt Baader stated that he pulled the aircraft off at the 5,000 feet runway marker and selected gear up immediately after breaking ground. He passed over the stone wall with about two feet of clearance. Capt Baader then joined the other two aircraft in a starboard turn to aid in assessing the damage.

Damage Assessment

It was discovered that Capt Ward's Thunderjet had lost the lower half of the right gear assembly, and the lower half of the pylon tank. The underside of the tail section had also been damaged in the collision with the wall. Repeated attempts to jettison the tank and pylon failed. Approximately three minutes after actuating the Master Salvo switch, the tip tanks fell off one at a time while the aircraft was being yawed (rudder moved left & right). The pylon tank and rack could not be dropped.

Lt Garriott's aircraft had damage to the underside of the pylon tank and the underside of the tail section. He cycled the undercarriage until he got an indicated down-locked condition. This was supported by a satisfactory visual check from Capt Baader.

Safe landings

In order to avoid disrupting the heavy traffic flow at Luqa, Wing Commander Flying Luqa, decided to divert Capt Ward to RNAS Hal Far (H.M.S. Falcon) and instructed him to attempt a belly landing there. Capt Ward executed a perfect wheels up landing at Hal Far at 1125Z. A small fire resulted from vented fuel but this was quickly extinguished by the fire crew. No further damage to the aircraft resulted.

Capt Baader and Lt Garriott landed on Luqa's runway 24 at 1155Z and 12'10Z respectively without further incident.

Conclusions

The investigation of possible external causes produced the most reasonable explanation to the strange circumstances surrounding the accident. Mr. R Frost, senior Meteorological officer at Luqa, added this note to the copy of the weather report for 1100Z, 11 March 1955:

"About ten seconds after the aircraft began rolling, the Dines Anemometer (wind speed and direction indicator) which had been recording a southerly wind of about 12 knots with normal gustiness, veered to 2700 and instantaneously fell to zero. It then returned to the wind speed and direction obtained previously."

Mr. Frost thought this very unusual and remarked that the recording showed that this phenomenon had occurred three times between 1100Z and 1200Z on 11 March 1955.

The Board of Inquiry concluded that the most plausible cause that resulted in all three aircraft failing to gain a sufficient rate of climb after departure, as being a heavy take off weight, limited runway length, coupled with the sudden and inexplicable change in wind speed and direction at the moment of rotation. The Board also stated that notwithstanding the sudden loss of performance and damage, both pilots managed to return their aircraft safely to make textbook landings. All three pilots were commended for their airmanship.

Beam Approach Beacon System

I got the following brief description of the BABS system from a member of an internet-based aviation group I belong to.

BABS was the Beam Approach Beacon System. It was rather like ILS in that it involved a beacon (mobile, I think) located near the touchdown point. In the aircraft, the derived information was interpreted by the navigator via his Rebecca oscilloscope and consisted of range and displacement from the centre line - whether the blip was equally spread across the time base or 'lop-sided'. The navigator directed the driver to change heading so as to 'balance' the signal while counting down the distance to run related to the associated height required in order to achieve a (three degree? - I forget) glide path.

Not to be confused with SBA (Standard Beam Approach) which was another ILS-like affair, involving a fixed beacon transmitting overlapping Lorenz beams, but interpreted, in this case, by the pilot - aurally. He heard Morse 'A's if he was off the centre line to one side, and 'N's the other side. When on the centerline, the 'dit dahs' and 'dah dits' overlapped, to produce a steady tone. Range was indicated by a couple of marker beacons that chirped up as you flew over them telling you how far you had to go and, therefore, what height you ought to be at.

The RAF introduced SBA early in the war, BABS was later, but it would be available by 1945. Both systems had more or less faded away by the end of the 1950s.

 

DATE	AIRCRAFT	SQUADRON	SERIAL	NOTES
13.03.55	H. Sea Hawk FGA4	806	WV866/165	During CAP (Combat Air Patrol) duties from HMS Centaur off Malta the aircraft rolled out of control and crashed into the sea. Pilot ejected and was rescued by a Whirlwind helicopter.
13.04.55	Gl. Meteor FR.9	208	VZ604/V	c/s Critic 27. Crash landed at RAF Luqa, on starboard side of runway 06. Damage repaired. According to Air-Britain’s Aeromilitaria magazine, this was caused by a jammed undercarriage leg, and had to land on two wheels.
18.04.55	DH Vampire FB.9		WR140	Cause of accident unknown, s.o.c. 09.06.55 as CAT 5(c).
06.05.55	P. Pembroke C.1		WV733	Made a wheels up landing on grass area on starboard side of r/w 24.
10.05.55	A. Shackleton MR.2	37	WL793	Rear propeller spinner of No.3 engine came off, causing substantial damage to the fuselage. Repaired between 18.5.55 - 10.6.55.
19.05.55				Unknown RN helicopter made an emergency landing at Marsaxlokk village.
28.05.55	B. Expeditor	728	FT995	Ditched in the sea 80 miles NE of Malta due to engine failure, inbound from Istanbul. SAR conducted by 2 Neptune (203 squadron, on detachment) and one 38 sqdn Shackleton. One Neptune, EX523, located the Expeditor 10 minutes prior to the Beech ditching. Shackleton dropped Lindholme gear to the crew, who were rescued by an 845 squadron Whirlwind.
02.07.55	A. Shackleton MR.2	WL788	37	Cat.3 damage sustained in a heavy landing was reassessed Cat.4, but the repair work was completed by 137MU Safi between 15.7.55 and 26.4.56. Aircraft suffered an another incident on 10.08.60.
05.07.55	Gr. SA-16			US AF. Emergency landing at sea, towed to Kalafrana by HMS Wakeful. Aircraft stayed a week undergoing repairs.
11.07.55	W. Wyvern S.4	827	WL882	Crashed on landing on HMS Eagle. Transferred to Aircraft Handling Unit, Hal-Far the same day. Deemed DBR and SOC on 15.07.55.
25.07.55	Gl. Meteor T.7		WS114	w/o on this date, cause unknown, s.o.c. 04.08.55 at Hal Far.
14.08.55	W. Wyvern S.4	813/HMS Eagle	VZ778	Aircraft crashed in sea after missing arrestor wires. Pilot ejected and rescued by Dragonfly 959 which had embarked on HMS Eagle for pilot guard duties.
15.08.55	H. Sea Hawk FGA.5	806	WV800/187/J	Arrestor hook broke off on landing on HMS Eagle, failing to stop and going over the end of the flight deck of the carrier into the sea just off the port bow. Pilot recovered safely from the crash. At the time, Eagle was in the Mediterranean conducting joint exercises with HMS Albion, the USS Coral Sea and the USS Intrepid. All four carriers had sailed from Naples on the 12th.
23.09.55	W. Whirlwind HAS.22	845	WV225	Crashed after taking off from Hal Far. No injuries. Struck off charge 7 October 1955. This helicopter started life as a Sikorsky S-55, c/n 55-500, first flight in June 1953. Delivered to the US Navy as serial number 133753 on 22.07.53. Transferred under MAP (Military Assistance Program) to the Royal Navy on 26.09.53.
24.10.55	A. Shackleton	120	VP260	Aircraft was based at Luqa but diverted to Ta’ Qali for a crash landing after suffering hydraulic failure. Remained there until flown out on 06.02.57.
01.11.55	Av. Shackleton MR.2	37	WL791	Aircraft lost oil pressure on three engines shortly after take-off, and made a safe landing.
14.11.55	A. Shackleton MR.2/AEW.2	37	WL754/A	Suffered a Cat.3 flying accident when the pilot made a heavy landing and detached the tailwheels. WL754 was transferred to Safi on 21.11.55 for repairs.
21.11.55	A. Shackleton MR.2	38	WL797	Lost the tail wheel in a heavy landing at Luqa. An emergency landing was carried out at Ta’ Qali. Eventually flew out on 28.06.57 after repairs were carried out.
22.11.55	H. Sea Hawk			Appears to have mistakenly made a wheels up landing on r/w 24. RAF Luqa ORB mentions “RN102”, so this may have been the aircraft’s c/s.
23.11.55	Gl. Meteor T.7	728	WA600/573/HF	c/s RN308. Landed on r/w 24 on starboard wheel only, remaining straight until nose and port wheel touched the runway, then swung to the left on the grass area of r/w 24. According to Air-Britain’s Aeromilitaria, the aircraft was delivered to the Aircraft Handling Unit, Hal-Far on 13.02.55, to 728 squadron on 06.03.55.
25-28.11.55	A. Lincoln			Students of No. 6 course carried out eight navigational training flights from Strubby to Idris, Libya (two each day). The first flights were diverted to Luqa because of bad visibility at Idris, the result of a sand storm. Which aircraft actually landed at Luqa, and on which date, unknown. Aircraft arrived from RAF Manby.
26.11.55	A. Shackleton MR.2	37	WL759/J	Aircraft was on an exercise based at El Adem. Mission aborted due to radar unserviceability, and making a heavy landing. Further damage resulted from the salvage party.
08.12.55	Av. Shackleton MR.2	228	WR956	Crew had flown in on the 5th on a squadron exchange. No. 2 and 3 engines suffered from external coolant leaks, necessitating a double engine change. Aircraft eventually departed on the 17th.
21.12.55	Av. Shackleton MR.2	37	WL755	Severe vibration in the inner starboard engine led to its shutdown and feathering, but only five of the six blades feathered. A safe landing at Luqa was made, the fault being a sheared rack bolt.
22.12.55	A. Shackleton MR.2		WL799	Aircraft, allotted to 38 squadron, was destroyed in a hangar fire at Langar, UK, while being prepared for return to Malta.
__.01.56	HP Hastings			Aircraft was bringing 208 Squadron ground crew from RAF Fayid, Egyptian Canal Zone to RNAS Hal Far. Touchdown, at the third attempt in extremely poor weather and visibility, was about half-way down runway 31, overshooting the runway. See Accident report below.

Accident Report

This is how John Quin described the above landing in Memories of RNAS Hal-Far (January-March 1956), Malta Flypast issue 8.

”Upon reaching Malta, we circled for a considerable period awaiting some lessening of the heavy, dark grey cloud that blanketed the whole island. There was absolutely no sign of land, let alone the Hal Far airfield. With no alleviation in the weather conditions, finally we· were briefed for a rough landing and the aircraft commenced a blind let down. Rain lashed the windows and dense cloud enveloped the whole air-craft on the approach. We never saw the runway. Suddenly the engines surged, flaps and undercarriage were raised as we went round again. I think there were two more abortive attempts. On the fourth try, the runway suddenly appeared beneath us just as the wheels hit the tarmac. Some kind of an alarm was sounded - a shout, a warning from the flight deck - and the brakes came on heavily thrusting everyone back into their standard RAF Transport Command rearward-facing seats. In drenching rain and cloud near to the ground we came to rest well into the overshoot at the western end of the main north-west south-east runway, not far short of a rock wall and what seemed, in the poor visibility, an embankment. In clear daylight, this turned out to be just an incline of a low hill, but criss-crossed by the typical Malta stone walls of the fields, that would have greatly hindered any rescue, as they did during WW2 operations, and made a nasty mess of the 'plane, not to speak of us! Touchdown had been about half-way down the runway we discovered. There was a delay until "special disembarkation arrangements" were made, which turned out to be some jury-rigged stairs and duckboards. As we emerged into the rain and gloom the Hastings wheels could be seen or not seen, depending on one's perspective! - sunk well into the mud, over which we trudged en route to transportation waiting at a nearby hangar. Welcome to Malta!”

 

DATE	AIRCRAFT	SQUADRON	SERIAL	NOTES
13.01.56	L. Neptune MR.1	36	WX547	Undercarriage collapsed on landing. Aircraft never flew again, and sold in May 1957 for “filming purposes”. (See Planes on Film page.)
23.01.56	Gl. Meteor T.7	728	WS112	Ran out of fuel in low cloud and crashed into sea 1½m SE of Hal Far. One fatality.
24.01.56				Low clouds, at 100 feet, disrupted air operations at Luqa.
27.01.56	H. Sea Hawk FGA.4	800	WV849/113/0	Pilot, Lt. A. R. Campbell, whilst conducting ACM from HMS Ark Royal, ejected from 20,000 ft, five miles off Hal-Far. Wingman radioed location to rescue helicopter dispatched from Hal-Far airfield.
06.02.56	F. Gannet			Aircraft, based on board HMS Albion, lost. Only the pilot was believed to be on board.
17.02.56	Shackleton	37	WL788	Aircraft went u/s, with an air test following repairs on this date, but still u/s. Another air test, and return to Luqa, on the 27th.
25.02.56	A. York 1	Scottish Aviation Company	G-ANSY/XG929	Crashed and burnt out on take-off from Luqa, Malta. The aircraft had been issued with a temporary military serial for use on trooping flights.
29.02.56	EE Canberra			c/s Mullet F. Burst a tyre on landing 24, swinging to starboard and ended on the taxi-way. This was probably one of four 69 squadron a/c, which were on detachment from Laarbruch, West Germany.
05.03.56	DH Venom		WR291	Crashed at Ta Qali, one fatality. .
05.04.56	DH Venom FB.1	32	WR320	Flame out whilst landing at RAF Ta' Qali. Aircraft destroyed by fire. One fatality.
30.04.56	S. Sunderland		ML817	Aircraft had arrived on the 27th. Departed for the UK at 06:25, returning at 10:50 due to no wireless communication on aircraft. Slipped on 01.05.55 for engine change, launched on 9th, with two air tests on the 10th, another on the 14th. Finally left the UK on the 15th.
03.05.56	EE Canberra	101	WJ762	Overshot runway at Ta’ Qali after suffering a hydraulic failure. No injuries.
07.05.56	Valletta	M.C.F.	VX577	Aircraft was ferrying VIPs, going u/s at Istanbul. Spare parts flown from Malta on board Valletta VX574. VX577 eventually returned to Malta on the 14th.
17.05.56	W. Wyvern S.4	830	WP336	Pilot rescued by Dragonfly, six miles from Delimara, after ejecting from aircraft. Air Britain’s magazine Aeromilitaria gives the cause as “ . . . unable to lower undercarriage on approach to Hal Far.”
22.05.56	W. Wyvern S4	830	WP339	Ditched in the Mediterranean off Malta after running out of fuel. One fatality. Aircraft was based on HMS Eagle. Scource: http://www.planetrace.co.uk/1940-1949_28.html
23.05.56	Av. Shackleton MR.2	37	WL757	Aircraft departed for a sortie on Operation Marso, consisting of anti-weapon-smuggling patrols west of Cyprus. Over speeding on No.1 engine propellor occurred, and the engine was feathered. This was followed by overheating on the other three engines. Reducing power resulting in loss of height. The over-load tank was jettisoned, and a safe landing made at Luqa.
31.05.56	Gl. Meteor T7	728 NAS	WA649	Crashed into the Mediterranean Sea off Delimara Point, Malta killing the pilot during a radar calibration exercise with HMS Jamaica. Possibly caused by anoxia after the pilot turned off his oxygen. The wreck was recovered by HMS Jamaica.
31.05.56	DH Sea Venom FAW.21	890	WW224/355/O	Whilst conducting deck landing trails on HMS Bulwark in the vicinity of Malta, the aircraft climbed steeply after launch as a result of a catapult launch failure, the aircraft dropping a wing, turning to starboard, and diving into the sea inverted, killing both crew members.
04.06.56	DH Sea Venom FAW.21	890	WW262/350/O	Another accident for HMS Bulwark Aircraft crashed in the sea after a wing hit the stern of the ship, killing both crew members.
12.06.56	DC-3	M.C.F.	KK129	Crew flew to the UK on a routine training flight, but the aircraft went u/s on this day. Returned to Malta on the 20th.
18.06.56	Gl. Meteor Mk.8	600	WF713/R	Aircraft undershot whilst landing, suffering an undercarriage collapse. Squadron was in Malta on a “Summer Camp”.
18.06.56	Gl. Meteor T.7	728	WA600/573/HF	Canopy blew off in flight. Further info about this aircraft in the 1960s accidents page. To RNAY Belfast for modifications on 12.05.59.
02.07.56	H. Sea Hawk FGA.6	899	XE450	Based on HMS Eagle. Aircraft catapulted from ship for night-time practice landings at Hal-Far. After four circuits, aircraft crashed in undershoot area of runway. Pilot ejected horizontally along runway, but survived with some injuries. Further details in the report below.

Accident Report – How Lucky Can One Get

Major Mark A. Said, AFM, gives further details to the above accident in this article which appeared in Malta Flypast issue 7.

On July 2 1956, Lieutenant Philip Cardew miraculously survived a crash landing at Hal Far and lived to tell the story.

"On the date of the crash, I was a young Lieutenant on 899 Squadron embarked in HMS Eagle flying Sea Hawk FGA6 aircraft. I note from my log-book that I was catapulted in XE450 at night from the carrier at 2130 local time to carry out six Mirror assisted dummy deck landings at HMS Falcon (Royal Naval Air Station Hal Far).

"I flew to Hal Far, entered the airfield circuit and carried out, as far as I remember, four touch and go landings. On the fifth circuit my aircraft crashed into the undershoot of the main runway (13-31) and bounced along through several stonewalls. It came to rest at the other end of the runway with the whole front section of the aircraft including cockpit under the port (left) wing. The cockpit was a mess but fortunately, as the nose folded backwards, the locking mechanism of my ejector seat failed and the seat rose up the rails firing the second cartridge of the system to eject me clear, albeit horizontally along the ground. I fractured my left collarbone and suffered some scarring and concussion.

"My only memory of the crash is of a forty-five degree line (horizon) across my vision and of pushing the throttle fully open without effect and then being patted on my injured shoulder by a rescue fireman who had found me, still tightly strapped in the seat. Probably just as well that the memory erases incidents, which would have probably lived with me to this day.

The inquiry of the crash was I believe inconclusive although most believed I had flown into the ground by mistake. Since I carried out some actual night deck carrier landings and had carried out four successful circuits prior to the crash I am not so sure as to what exactly happened. In any event I was not blamed, thank goodness, but congratulated on a particular fortunate and well nigh miraculous escape."

Lieutenant Cardew was flying again in ten days and subsequently embarked in Eagle for the Suez campaign. His rapid recovery was due, he believes, being able to swim daily in Kalafrana bay and lengthy walks around the island. He was reminded of his lucky escape every time he went for a dip at the beach since he passed by the remains of his aircraft, taken there for disposal. Someone must have been looking after his best interests. A day after re-embarking on Eagle, whilst the carrier was off Malta sailing steadily towards the eastern Mediterranean, the catapult failed as WM916 was being launched and the jet plunged into the sea ahead of the ship. The pilot, Lieutenant Lynn Middleton (later Rear Admiral) managed to exit his aircraft and swim to the surface. He was later rescued by Hal-Far's Dragonfly helicopter. Cardew was strapped in another Sea Hawk and was next in line to be catapulted!

Cardew had first served in Malta as a young Naval Telegraphist in 1949-51, then again visited the Island in 1956 and later in 1962 when he was flying Scimitars in HMS Hermes, when once again he disembarked at Hal Far. Between 1959 and 1960 he was Command Instrument Rating Examiner and used to fly himself down to Hal Far in Hunters and Sea Devons to carry out flying checks at Hal Far as a 'Trapper'. He retired from the Fleet Air Arm in 1969, joined British European Airways and flew Viscounts into Luqa subsequently. At the time of writing, he is still instructing and examining in executive jets, turboprops and light aircraft, with more than 15,000 hours in his log book.

 

DATE	AIRCRAFT	SQUADRON	SERIAL	NOTES
04.07.56	S. Sunderland		BJ153/R	Aircraft was one of six aircraft on detachment at Marsaxlokk between 02-22 July. On this day, this aircraft had to abort its mission due to a u/s starboard outer engine. On the 5th, it was JM718/Y that returned with a u/s engine, in service on 12th. On the 18th, it was DP200/Z that returned with a u/s engine. The other three aircraft on this detachment were DP198/A, PP117/W and RN284/F.
05.07.56	S. Sunderland	203	JM718/Y	Aircraft was part of a 3-aircraft detachment on exercises. Engine became unserviceable, the aircraft being taken aloft on an air test on the 13th.
11.07.56	DH Venom FB.1	32	WK425	The pilot carried out an unauthorised flapless landing in difficult weather conditions at Ta’ Qali. He was unable to stop and ran through the perimeter fence and across some rough ground. Aircraft judged as not repairable.
13.07.56	H. Sea Hawk FB5	897	WM916/460	Engine flamed out after being catapulted from HMS Eagle off Malta. Aviation Safety Network gives the catapult failing during the launch of the aircraft as cause of the accident. The pilot, Lieutenant Lynn Middleton (who later become Rear Admiral) managed to exit his aircraft and swim to the surface, being rescued by a Dragonfly helicopter from Hal-Far. The carrier was off Malta at the time, sailing steadily towards the eastern Mediterranean.
17.07.56	Gl. Meteor	504	WH310/J	Swung off runway and hit caravan at RAF Ta’ Qali, Cat 3R damage, repaired.
18.07.56	DH Vampire			Italian Air force. Broke undercarriage during a heavy landing, suffering extensive damage. The RAF Ta Qali ORB gives the date of this accident as the 16th.
20.07.56				A loud bang heard over Malta is later confirmed as being a sonic boom caused by an aircraft.
20.07.56	S. Sunderland	203	DP200/Z	Aircraft was part of a 3-aircraft detachment on exercises. Departure for the UK on this day were delayed to heavy swells at Kalafrana sea base at Malta. All three aircraft eventually departed on the 22nd.
20.07.56	S. Sunderland	203	EJ153/R	As above.
20.07.56	S. Sunderland	203	JM718/Y	As above.
26.07.56	Gl. Meteor	611	WF741	Overran runway at Ta’ Qali, Cat 2 damage, repaired.
26.07.56	Gl. Meteor F.8	611	WH421/M	Overshot landing at RAF Ta' Qali and hit wall. Cat 5C damage.
30.07.56	Valletta			Aircraft approached from Libya on one engine. Safe landing at Luqa.
13.08.56	F. Gannet AS1	812 NAS	WN567/264	The pilot was unable to lower the main undercarriage while operating off HMS Eagle. He diverted to Hal far, Malta but was unable to lower the undercarriage with the emergency hand pump due to a leak in the hydraulic system. It landed with only the nose wheel down and this collapsed causing the aircraft to slew off the runway.
14.08.56	Beaufighter	Target-Towing Squadron	RD850	Aircraft (based in Malta) went u/s in Libya, with spares being flown from Malta, eventually returning to Malta on 28.09.56.
16.08.56	H. Sea Hawk FB Mk.3	897	WM919	Dived into the Mediterranean after losing control after breaking away from a formation that was joining the landing circuit for HMS Eagle.
18.08.56	Gl. Meteor FR.9	208	WR125	Throttle jammed during take-off from RAF Ta' Qali, overshot and was destroyed by fire.
__.09.56	Sturgeon	728	TS496/582	Landing accident at Hal-Far.
18.08.56	Gl. Meteor FR.9	208	WB125/ M	I was sent the following info about this incident by J. Quin who served with 208 sqdn 55-57: “Incident was in Sept/Oct '56; pictures show ground crew still in summer kit. Take-off was aborted when throttles jammed at less than full power. Pilot (F/O Brian Cross) was not badly injured as recorded. He exited the aircraft unaided and retired to the roadway to await transportation where, with squadron ground crew reaching the scene, he watched the ejector seat fire!” According to Air-Britain’s Aeromilitaria, the aircraft’s throttle jammed on take-off, Cat 5c damage.
04.09.56	Westland Whirlwind HAR21	845	WV200	Crashed after taking off from Hal Far. No injuries. Reduced to spares by Westlands and Struck off charge 20.11.56. This helicopter started life as a Sikorsky S-55, c/n 55-456, first flight in 18.05.53. Delivered to the US Navy as serial number 133740 on 07.07.53. Transferred under MAP (Military Assistance Program) to the Royal Navy on 16.09.53.
05.09.56	Hawker Sea Hawk FB Mk 5	897	WM966/457	Ditched into the Mediterranean after it caught fire when being launched from HMS Eagle off Malta.
04.10.56	H. Sea Hawk	810	XE405	Based on HMS Bulwark. Aircraft engaged in exercises for the forthcoming Operation Musketeer, the re-taking of the Suez Canal. 19-year-old pilot ejected from approx. 10,000-12,000 feet. Ejector seat failed to separate, and parachute didn’t deploy properly. Pilot killed on crashing through the roof of a house in Mellieha.
05.10.56	H. Sea Hawk FB.5	802 NAS	WM971/133	Crashed into Mellieha Bay, Malta while operating off HMS Albion after the pilot ejected due to a spurious fire warning.
12.10.56	Shackleton		WL791	During the course of a training exercise at RAF Idris, the aircraft experienced engine problems resulting in one engine not being able to start. The aircraft returned to Malta on the 13th on three engines.
19.10.56	P. Pembroke	M.C.F.	WV736	Aircraft was en route from Idris (Libya) to Tunis. Engine trouble forced a landing at Gabes, where an engine change was undertaken. Returned to Malta on 14.11.56.
24.10.56	H. Sea Hawk FB.5	802 NAS	WM922/132	Caught fire on the catapult on HMS Albion and ditched into the Mediterranean Sea ahead of the ship while operating off Hal Far, Malta. The pilot was rescued.
29.10.56	H. Sea Hawk FGA.6	897 NAS	XE441/198	Ditched into the Mediterranean Sea over the side of HMS Eagle after catapult failure on launch while operating off Malta.
__.11.56	EE Canberra B.6	12	WH964	Landing accident at Hal-Far.
02.11.56	Hawker Sea Hawk FB.5	895	WM993/463	Aircraft ran off the ship and into the sea after the arrestor wire parted on landing on HMS Bulwark. One fatality. Carrier was participating in Operation Musketeer, its location being “off Malta”.
18.11.56	W. Wyvern S.4	830	WP340	Aircraft had landed at Hal-Far to join the squadron on HMS Eagle on the 4th. Damaged in a hangar fire on the 18th on board the carrier, after the 20mm cannon of a Sea Venom was accidentally fired and hit the drop tank of WN336, which was completely destroyed. WP340 was transferred to AHU Hal Fire for shipment to the UK.
20.11.56	Gl. Meteor	208		A somewhat unfortunate accident saw a pilot hit the Station Education Officer with his Meteor’s wing tip, leaving said officer unconscious for a fortnight. The aircraft’s wing tip was declared Cat.2 damaged.
21.11.56	A. Shackleton	38	WL797	Diverted to Ta’ Qali after tail wheel collapsed when landing at RAF Luqa. Remained at Ta’ Qali until 28.06.57.
__.11.56	EE Canberra B.2		WH918	Arrived from Cyprus and departed for Tangmere UK after re-fueling, but forced to return to Luqa due to a substantial oxygen leak. Exact date unknown, but between 24-27.11.56 exact date unknown.
24.11.56	Douglas Skyraider AEW.1	849	WT984	Whilst in the circuit for HMS Eagle aircraft climbed steeply as if about to loop, but dove into the sea, killing all three crew men. Previously 126866 with the USN, it was transferred to the Fleet Air Arm on 24.04.56.
30.11.56				Large hole discovered in runway 24/06. Runway closed for repairs.

DATE	AIRCRAFT	SQUADRON	SERIAL	NOTES
13.12.56	Valletta		WJ504	Borrowed from Transport Command for use by the M.C.F., the aircraft went u/s in El Adem with a double engine change. Attempts to ferry aircraft back on 01.01.57 failed when heavy vibrations were felt in both engines, forcing a return to Libya after 30 minutes. After a double engine and propeller change, the aircraft was flown to Malta on 13.01.57.
14.12.56	Av. Shackleton MR.2	37	WL755	Aircraft experienced loss of oil pressure on No.1 engine and increasing temperatures n No. 4 engine, forcing the captain to abandon the sortie and return to Luqa on three engines.
17.12.56	EE Canberra B.2	44	WD993	Aircraft made a wheels-up landing at Ta’ Qali, the accident having been caused by the splitting of the nose wheel jack, leading to hydraulic failure. The crew was uninjured, with the aircraft suffering Cat.3 (Provisional) damage. The entire squadron was flying to RAF Luqa for navigational and bombing exercises, and 993 had, in fact, been the first aircraft to take-off.
17.12.56	Gl. Meteor	208		Because of the above incident, six of 208 squadron’s Meteors were forced to divert to Hal-Far. Eight pilots descended on Hal-Far to fly the Meteors back to Ta Qali. They took off in pairs at 3-second intervals, 1 & 2 becoming safely airborne, but No.3 suffered a blown tyre during its take-off run. Immediately following were No. 5 & 6, the pilots of these aircraft swerving to the right. No.6 managed to get airborne from the grass, but No. 5 ended up in the overshoot area of the runway. No. 3 & 5 aircraft were made serviceable as quickly as possible and flown to Ta Qali that same afternoon.
27.12.56	H. Hunter F.6	222	WW651	Based at Ta’Qali, aircraft suffered hydraulic failure during a test flight. Diverted to Luqa, where emergency brake pressure was exhausted after landing. Overshot runway and hit wall.
10.01.57	W. Whirlwind HAS.22	845	WV199/T	Ditched into the Mediterranean Sea off Malta on entering a hover after either loss of power or mishandling of the controls by the pilot. A definite cause could not be established. Sikorsky-built HO4S-3, c/n 55-455 and first flown 19.05.53, being delivered to the US Navy on 07.07.53 as 133739. Redelivered to UK under the Military Assistance Program on 16.09.53.
28.01.57	H. Sea Hawk FB.3	898 NAS	WV853	Spun into the ground in Malta after control was lost during an unauthorised dog fight at low level during an Army Co-operation Exercise. The pilot did not eject and was killed.
12.02.57	Gl. Meteor	728	VZ648	Coded 576/HF. Brakes failed on landing, aircraft hitting a stone wall. According to Air-Britain’s Aeromilitaria, this aircraft was transferred to the Aircraft Handling Unit, Hal-Far on 14.09.55, to 728 squadron on 04.01.56. To RNAY Belfast on 03.07.58.
15.02.57	EE Canberra		WJ721	Crew diverted to Ta’ Qali for an emergency flap-less landing. Landing successful, no damage or injuries.
18.02.57				RN helicopters practice airlifting victims to Bighi naval hospital in conjunction with RNAS Hal-Far.
19.02.57	H. Hunter	222	XE679	Pilot experienced brake failure after landing and raised undercarriage to avoid over running the runway. Aircraft swung off the runway, causing Cat.II damage.
23.02.57	Av. Shackleton MR.2	37	WL757	Aborted sortie after take-off, after experiencing engine problems.
25.02.57	Gl. Meteor	208	WB138	This aircraft, together with WK736 and WZ577, was forced to land at Habbanija and Diya Bakir on their return from detachment to Aden. Cause/s unknown, but no injuries to pilots. Squadron was Malta-based at the time.
28.02.57	Av. Shackleton MR.2	37	WL757	Aborted sortie after take-off due to a petrol leakage.
07.03.57	EE Canberra B.6	12	WH951	Brakes failed on landing at RAF Luqa and overshot through wall.
24.03.57	Gl. Meteor	208	VW370	Malta-based aircraft was on detachment to Aden where it crashed at Thumier.
05.04.57	Gl. Meteor T.7	208	VW432	Aircraft was returning from towing duties for 249 squadron aircraft. Lost power in the circuit at RAF Ta' Qali and dived into the ground. One fatality.
30.04.57	Gl. Meteor	208	WB121	Pilot “bunted” his aircraft during a dogfight. The excessive negative G temporarily affected his vision, requiring hospitalisation after landing. He was reported as having a bloated face and bruised face, with brilliant crimson eyes. He spent at least three weeks on sick leave. s.o.c. 31.03.58 at CAT 5(c) at Malta.
25.06.57	Hunter Mk. 5	56	WN990/U	Pilot experienced severe engine vibrations, necessitating an engine change. Air tested the following afternoon. Squadron was on a two-week detachment to Ta Qali.
26.06.57	Hunter Mk. 5	56	WN976/P	Port elevator damaged after a petrol bowser hit the aircraft.
09.07.57	A. Shackleton	38	WR965	Inquiry into why “serious gulping of oil” (excessive oil consumption) occurred in nos. 2, 3 and 4 engines during take-of.
10.08.57				An aircraft lost a banner a mile short Of the runway. Squadron personnel were sent to locate and retrieve it, without success. A farmer was however, observed waking away with it, and the local police were called in to investigate. The banner was located in a cave on the 13th, minus the spreader bar.
20.08.57	Gl. Meteor F.8	208	WK953/K	Aborted take-off at Ta' Qali, after canopy opened during take-off run, overshoot the runway. Suffered Cat 5C damage, to Safi on 04.09.57, SoC on the 11th. From the squadron’s ORB. “He (the pilot) was unhurt but the aircraft finished up Cat.5 – proof of the solidity of the surrounding field boundaries.”
__.09.57	Anson C.19		VM317	This aircraft had been flown from RAF Hendon to Idris, Libya on unknown date to replace VL306. Ditched in the sea whilst flying to Malta for Cat.3 repairs.
11.09.57	Gl. Meteor FR.9	208	VZ599/R	According to Air-Britain’s Aeromilitaria, this aircraft went to 208 squadron on 08.08.55, at Ta’ Qali on 16.07.57, to Safi on 04.09.57, SOC on the 11th as Cat 5C.
24.09.57	Gl. Meteor	208	WH544	Aircraft lost its cockpit hood on a flight from Malta to Libya, landing with a very cold pilot.
27.09.57	Gl. Meteor	208	WL261	Malta-based aircraft crashed during a detachment to RAF Idris, Libya, after starboard undercarriage wheel didn’t lower. No injuries, but aircraft received Cat. 5 damage. s.o.c. 15.10.57.
30.09.57				Luqa closed at 07:00 for resurfacing of runway intersection. Runway 32/14 opened on 05.10.57 at 23:59Z. 24/06 opened at 16:14Z on 05.11.57. 32/14 again closed on 06.11.57 at 06:00, until 31.12.57 at 21:00Z.
29.10.57	Gl. Meteor	39		Aircraft, c/s Blue 2, burst both main tyres on landing on runway 32/14.

DATE	AIRCRAFT	SQUADRON	SERIAL	NOTES
02.11.57	Gl. Meteor FR.9	208	WH541	Damaged beyond repair in Malta, and s.o.c. 05.11.57 as CAT.5(c)
02.11.57	Gl. Meteor FR.9	208	WH544	As above, collision with each? s.o.c. 04.11.57 as CAT 5(C).
__.11.57	Gl. Meteor	208		Aircraft was u/s at Catania. Valetta VW831 flew over with a repair party on the 8th. On the 11th. the same aircraft flew to Catania with fuel drums on board to refuel the Meteor, to allow to fly to Malta.
15.11.57	B. Beaufighter	MC&MTT		Aircraft took off for a mission but had to return within twenty minutes as the oil filler cap had become loose in flight, with the engine losing oil rapidly. Aircraft not properly identified, probably RD850.
12.12.57	V. Valetta	MC&MTT	VW831	Not all incidents are the result of mechanical failure, as the following will show It is recognised that pilots of the RAF are required to fly in poor weather conditions but they are given aid by meteorological experts in their routing of the aircraft. We are not really expected then, to combat bad weather and meteorological forecasters at one and the same time, it was always hoped they would be a friendly sort of person. Plt. Off. W.J.M. Wilson of the Communications Flight flew from the U.K. to Nice in conditions not expected on the forecast chart and in conditions completely the reverse from Nice to Luqa. His passenger, Air Marshal C. E. Chilton, C.B., C.B.E. thought that he had adequately coped with the situation and informed the squadron of this.
12.12.57	EE Canberra B.6	12	WJ758	Aircraft made a belly landing at Ta’ Qali as undercarriage jammed in the closed position due to a hydraulic leak. Aircraft written off, s.o.c. 02.01.58 as CAT 5(C) at Safi.
31.12.57	Gl Meteor FR.9	208	VW367	According to Air-Britain’s Aeromilitaria magazine, this aircraft was Struck Off Charge in Malta.
__.__.58?	W. Wyvern S.4	813	VZ760/275	Coded both ‘J’ & ‘E’. Suffered starboard mainplane damage in the vicinity of the tailplane during towing on 13.10.57. Presumably repaired as last flown on 07.02.58. Transferred to Aircraft Handling Unit, Hal-Far on 18.02.58. W/o on unknown date and used for fire practice.
__.02.58				RAF aircraft vandalised by having internal electrical wiring cut. Newspaper reported dated 02.02.58.
__.02.58	H. Sea Hawk		XE454/101	This aircraft, with five others, diverted to RAF Ta’ Qali as their carrier was enveloped in fog. RN carriers which were in the vicinity, and entered Grand Harbour on the 7th, were the Ark Royal and Eagle.
07.02.58	W. Wyvern S.4	813	VZ761/274	Coded both ‘J’ & ‘E’. Tail oleo collapsed on landing on HMS Eagle. Transferred to Aircraft Handling Unit, Hal-Far on 08.02.58, repaired and returned to squadron.
10.02.58	Pembroke		WV734	Returned to base ten minutes after take-off with unknown technical problems.
25.02.58	H. Sea Hawk FGA.6	803 NAS	XE331/J/146	Exploded during a test flight from HMS Eagle and crashed into the Mediterranean off Malta. The pilot and wreckage were not found.
25.02.58	Gl. Meteor FR.9	208	WB141	Damaged beyond repair in Malta. s.o.c. 31.03.58 as CAT 5(c) at Malta.
11.03.58	A. Shackleton MR.2	38	WL798/X	Again suffered Cat.3 damage, repaired by 137MU Safi 01-22.11.54. Additional damage on 29.07.54.
17.03.58	Meteor VII	MC&TTF	WG964	Tyre burst during take-off. Pilot managed to keep the Meteor on the grass, aircraft sustaining Cat. II damage.
20.03.58	P. Pembroke	MC&TTF	WV734	Crew noticed low oil pressure on the starboard engine when returning from Catania. Engine shutdown and feathered, making a safe landing at Ta Qali.
20.03.58	P. Pembroke	MC&TTF	WV734	Aircraft was returning from Libya, when the pilot noticed oil leaking out of the starboard engine. At 8,500 ft (2590.8 mtr), a loud bang forced the shutdown of that engine when 70 miles from Malta. A successful landing at Luqa, no injuries.
07.04.58	B. Beverly		XL152	Inquiry into why loading and lashing equipment went missing from the aircraft.
16.04.58	DH Sea Venom FAW 21	893 NAS	XG671/R/465	Crashed into the Mediterranean Sea at night off Malta while operating off HMS Ark Royal due to jammed ailerons. Crew ejected.
21.04.58	EE Canberra B.6	139	WJ772	Aircraft departed Malta for El Adem, but contact lost after it reached the top of its climb. Search & rescue attempts by aircraft of 38, 139 and 269 squadrons yielded no results, the search mission ending at last light of the 25th. The following year, on 24.02.59, French authorities contacted the British forces that a Canberra was discovered in the Sahara Desert. A rescue mission from RAF Idris located the aircraft, which still had the remains of the three crew members. Additional details about this accident below.
24.04.58	B. Beverly C.1		XB291	After take-off from Luqa, No.2 engine had to be feathered, the captain returning to Luqa.
25.04.58	Pembroke C.1	Malta Communication Flight	WV734	Suffered an engine failure in flight, safe landing at Ta Qali.
26.04.58				Runway 24/06 closed at 06:30Z until 06:30Z on the 27th. Also on the 26th Luqa airport was closed to all traffic between 09:30Z to 13:00Z as the runway intersection was re-surfaced.
02.05.58	EE Canberra B.6	139	WT304	4.5 inch flare lodged and exploded in bomb bay damaging rear bulkhead. Repaired at Safi within 24-hours. Air H.Q. ORB gives date of incident as the 3rd.
03.05.58	DC C-47	US AF	0476412	Wheels up landing at RAF Qrendi. One light injury. Additional details in e-mail and newspaper report below.

Discovery of Canberra WJ772

The aircraft had come down 180 km north of Ghadames, at a position 32°00'00.0"N 9°00'00.0"E this being in the northern part of the Grand Erg Oriental (350 miles by 150 miles). This position meant that the crew had flown from Malta in a south westerly direction. To fly to El Adem, near Tobruk, they should have flown in a south easterly direction. www.ukserials.com has them being as much as 360 miles off course.

The crash.

The crash occurred in a difficult area of sandy desert close to the Algerian/Tunisia border. Wreckage could be reached by helicopter from Touggourt, and arrangements for recovery of bodies, and as much of the aircraft wreckage as possible, had to be co-ordinated through Paris.

The cause of this accident is thought to have been electrical failure, which caused the pilot to lose his bearing. The French reported that the aircraft had struck the eastern slope of a sandhill with great force, destroying it completely, scattering debris over a 600-metre area.

The compressor blades of one engine being almost intact would appear to suggest that that engine had been shut down in flight. The remains of the pilot were found still strapped in the ejector seat, probably having been thorn clear of the aircraft.

An inquiry into the crash of a separate Canberra crash had led to the failure of the air brake jack may have been the cause of that accident. The investigating party were requested to make every endeavour to retrieve this item from WJ772.

The tribesman who had found the wreckage was rewarded with 20,000 Francs.

Following the end of operations in recovering as much of the aircraft as possible, and the funerals of the three crew members, French Embassy officials did inform the British party that there had been instances of RAF aircraft violating Algerian airspace. The previous November, two or three flight had drifted into Algerian airspace on a Malta-Gibraltar flight.

Although the French accepted that these were genuine mistakes by British crews, it was suggested that the RAF headquarters in the region should better instruct pilots to avoid the Algerian airspace.


Accident/Witness Report - USAF C-47

I received the following e-mail from Brian Grindley Royal Navy Lieutenant,(Retired).

I was serving at RNAS Hal Far on 728 Squadron as an LRO (Air) - Leading Radio Operator (Aircrew), during the period April 1958 to October 1959, flying in Sturgeons, TT20s as a winch operator and in the squadron's other aircraft as general crew. Previously I had been trained as a helicopter SAR winch operator.

It is as the latter operator that I looked in my flying log for 3-5-1958 when I flew in Dragonfly 959 at 0935 with Lt Commander Lyons as my pilot to go as SAR Escort to a USAF C47 which was in difficulties, losing height and power whilst approaching Malta. We flew with them whilst they were approaching the coast and they were jettisoning all personal and other items as they thought that they would have insufficient height to cross the coast. However they did manage it with only a few feet to spare and they crash landed at Qrendi.

I do have other connections with Malta, having been there on many occasions with ships and with the Fleet Air Arm and always enjoyed my stays and visits.

In passing, I once landed at RNAS Hal Far in an Avenger aircraft which had a depth charge hung up, refusing to drop, in its bomb bay.

Mr. Grinley was also kind enough to send me a copy of his log book for this particular day. C-47 serial is not listed. A search through The Times of Malta at the National Library confirms Mr. Grindley’s account.

The Times of Malta carried the following report in its issue of 6th May 1958.

An American Air Force C-47 transport plane crash landed at Qrendi emergency strip on Sunday, narrowly missing throngs that were relaxing on the runways. None of its crew was seriously injured.

The plane was attempting to reach Hal Far after developing engine trouble about 60 miles south west of Malta. The pilot, Capt William R. Landis, of Niagra Falls, New York, set the aircraft down off the edge of the strip to avoid striking people who were playing on the runways.

Capt. Landis said that with 200 feet of altitude he thought that Qrendi was Hal Far. The two-engine transport was flying on one engine and Capt. Landis tried to pull away the strip when he saw that it was obstructed.

As he pulled away the remaining engine failed and Capt. Landis made a wheels up landing in a nearby field.

The only injury was a bruised back suffered by Staff Sergeant Everett D. Trapp, the plane’s engineer, when a propeller tore loose and stove in the aircraft’s emergency door.

The plane, based at Wethersfield, England, was en route from Wheelus Air Force Base, Tripoli, to Marseille, France. In addition to Capt. Landis, it carried a co-pilot, 1st. Lt. Gary E. Stepp, and a crew of four.

 

DATE	AIRCRAFT	SQUADRON	SERIAL	NOTES
08.05.58	V. Valetta	MC&TTF	VW831	Aircraft taxied in for a pilot change during night flying exercises. Burst tyre, forcing cancellation of the flying programme for the rest of the night.
17.05.58	EE Canberra B.6	9	WH982	Aircraft hit “distance-to-run” boards at side of runway whilst landing. Pilot reported aircraft uncontrollable on approach.
22.05.58	EE Canberra B.2	12	WH649	Burst tyre on landing.
23.05.58	F. Firefly U.9	728B	VT463	c/n F.8347. Damaged in a wheels up landing after damage to starboard undercarriage when being manually test flown by a crew of two. Written off 17.09.58 when Shot down (by missile or anti-aircraft gunnery practice?) and crashed into the Sea, off Hal Far. (Information courtesy of the Aviation Safety Network.)
30.05.58	V. Valiant		XD862	Elevator trim tab fell off in flight and damaged elevator.
02.06.58	EE Canberra B.6	12	WJ762	Hit seagull on departure from Gibraltar. Repairs at Luqa completed by the following day.
11.06.58	Av. Shackleton MR.2	38	WL791	Loss of oil pressure in flight. Aircraft returned to base, engine changed.
24.06.58	Av. Shackleton MR.2	38	WL757	Loss of oil pressure in flight. Aircraft returned to base, engine changed.
27.06.58	DH Sea Venom FAW.21	893	WW190	Overshot landing at Hal-Far.
07.07.58	Gl. Meteor NF.13		WM339	ex-39 sqd. Tread of port tyre stripped during take-off from Rome.
07.07.58	Av. Shackleton MR.2	38	WL788	Loss of oil pressure in no. 2 engine. After flight inspection revealed the presence of metal in the oil filters.
28.07.58	V. Varsity			Four of this type arrived on a long range navigational exercise from RAF Topcliffe in the UK on the 25th. Three departed on the 28th, but a fourth was delayed until the 29th.
30.07.58	F. Firefly AS.5		VX429	Converted to U.9 variant. w/o on this date, cause unknown (shot down by missile or anti-aircraft gunnery practice?), s.o.c. 10.12.58, scr. Hal Far.
04.08.58	F. Firefly U.9	728B	VT497/591/HF	c/n F.8347. Aircraft had been delivered as a drone. Damaged beyond repair after aircraft missed arrestor wire on landing from a guided flight, ground looped and caught fire at RNAS Hal Far. Declared Cat. ZZ and formally Struck Off Charge on 10.12.58. (Information courtesy of the Aviation Safety Network.)
06.08.58	D. Skyraider AEW.1	849	WV184	Suffered damage during a landing on HMS Albion. Diverted to Hal-Far, and suffered further (unspecified) damage. Remains to Hal Far dump, later scrapped.
14.08.58	B. Beaufighter TT.10	MC&TT	RD850/L	While being towed at Ta’ Qali, the ground crew took a short cut across the airfield. The tail section got stuck on the edge of the taxiway, while the rest of the aircraft continued forward.
__.09.58				Four aircraft from the USS Forrestal made a strafing run at the disused range at Qawra Point, instead of the islet of Filfla on the other side of Malta. Fishermen in the area fortunately escaped injury.
__.09.58	Av. Shackleton MR.2	38	WL740	Engine failure in flight.
__.09.58	Av. Shackleton MR.2	38	WL787	Engine failure in flight.
04.09.58	H. Sea Hawk FGA.6	898	XE393	Ran into the undershoot area at Hal Far, and was written off.
04.09.58	F. Firefly U.9		VT403	Swung on takeoff from Yeovilton for a ferry flight to Hal Far, Malta due to the tail wheel being unlocked. It became airborne but the pilot had to apply severe rudder to avoid the ATC and several parked Sea Venoms. This resulted in the aircraft stalling and crashing onto the airfield. The two were slightly injured after the aircraft caught fire.
__.09.58	Hastings		WD494	Burst tyre during taxying, causing Cat.3 damage to undercarriage assembly. At Safi between 10-20.09.58.
09.09.58	H. Hunter Mk.6	74	XE442	Aircraft landed on tail bumper, Cat.3 damage to rear fuselage.
13-14.09.58	EE Canberra	Indian AF	IF973	Inquiry into damage to port engine nose cowling. Aircraft on delivery to India.
16.09.58	F. Firefly U9		WB307	Shot down off the Malta coast.
__.09.58	EE Canberra B.2	35	WJ636	Cartridge starter of port engine exploded, causing Cat.3 damage to engines, cowling and fuselage. Incident on the 16th or 17th.
22.09.58	EE Canberra B.2	139	WJ977	Flap jack burst leading to a flapless landing. Aircraft overshot runway, hitting a wall. Cat.3 damage to wall. No injuries to crew.
29.09.58	V. Varsity			Three of the type arrived from RAF Shawbury on the 26th, with two departing on the 29th, whilst the third was delayed until the 30th.

DATE	AIRCRAFT	SQUADRON	SERIAL	NOTES
__.10.58	Av. Shackleton MR.2	38	WR954	Engine failure in flight.
01.10.58	Sturgeon TT.3	728	TS488	Suffered undercarriage collapse during taxying at Hal-Far.
11.10.58	Firefly U.9 drone	728B	WB257	Shot down as part of a programme during the trails of the Seaslug surface-to-air missile, but not necessarily by missile.
14.10.58	HP Victor B.1		XA932	Aircraft had completed a record flight from the UK from overhead Farnborough to overhead Luqa. Aircraft made a heavy landing. See this report by Tony Cunnane who witnessed the event.
11.10.58	F. Firefly U.9	728B	WB257	Shot down during gunnery practice.
22.10.58	Gl. Meteor T.7	MC-TTS *	WG964	Aircraft suffered category 3R damage, repair work completed by the 30th. * Malta Communications and Target Towing Squadron.
23.10.58	W. Whirlwind HAS.7	820 NAS	XL871/W/320	Ditched into the Mediterranean Sea while operating off HMS Albion after water was inducted into the air intake whilst in a hover near to the crest of a swell. The three crew were rescued.
31.10.58	Firefly U.9 drone	728B	VH134	Ditched in the sea shortly after take-off from Hal-Far, cause unknown.
__.11.58	Av. Shackleton MR.2	38	WL791	Engine failure in flight.
__.11.58	Av. Shackleton MR.2	42	WR967	Engine failure in flight.
__.11.58	EE Canberra B.6		WJ961	Arrived from RAF Binbrook. Brake pressure fell to zero in flight. Returned to normal shortly afterwards, and made a safe landing.
03.11.58	Firefly U.9 drone	728B	VT370	Crashed off Malta, cause unknown.
03.11.58	Firefly U.9 drone	728B	WB394	Shot down by radar-controlled gunnery from RN ship.
04.11.58	Firefly U.9 drone	728B	WB373	Shot down by radar-controlled gunnery from RN ship.
06.11.58	W. Whirlwind HAS.7	824	XL838/P/332	Ditched into the Mediterranean Sea off Malta after engine failure while operating five miles from HMS Victorious. The three crew were rescued. Aviation Safety Network described this accident as follows: ”A loud bang was heard from the engine while in a low hover into the Mediterranean Sea off Malta. XL838 headed back to HMS Victorious to make an emergency landing, but lost power and ditched five miles from the ship. The three crew were rescued, and XL838 sank into the Mediterranean Sea.” c/n WA/200. First flown on 29.10.57 and delivered to the Fleet Air Arm on 01.04.58. Formally struck off charge on 11.12.58.
07.11.58	H. Sea Hawk FGA.6	806	WV840/J/179	Crashed into the Mediterranean Sea off Hal Far, after the pilot ejected following an engine fire.
17.11.58	DH Devon	MC&TTF	WB535	As part of continuation training, the pilot had performed an asymmetric controlled descent had been carried out and permission given for an asymmetric overshoot followed by a normal landing. On the overshoot, the undercarriage failed to retract, the flaps were raised and an attempt to unfeather the starboard engine was made. This failed, and full power on the port engine was applied. Complete electrical failure was suspected, circuit breakers were checked and it was noticed the generators were not charging. VHF and the intercom failed, and the undercarriage lights dimmed. An emergency landing was made at Ta Qali.
26.11.58	Firefly U.9 drone	728B	VT441	Shot down by radar-controlled gunnery from HMS Duchess.
03.12.58				Near air miss between Shackleton, c/s MJXYK, and Lincoln, c/s MFDAA.
05.12.58	Gl. Meteor T.7	728	WS106	Aircraft lost power after getting airborne on a test flight from Hal-Far. Aeromilitaria gives the date as 6th Dec. The RAF Luqa ORB confirms the 5th as the correct date.
08.12.58	L. P-2 Neptune	USN Navy		Aircraft landed at RAF Ta’ Qali after working hours, as the crew were not familiar with the Maltese Islands. Delayed from departing until permission had been received from RAF Luqa.
15.12.58	D. A-1 Skyraider	USN Navy		Reasons for landing at Ta’ Qali as Neptune above. Pilot directed by follow-me vehicle to r/w 31, and departed again.
05.01.59				Flying at Ta Qali cancelled due to 30-40knots winds across the runway.
07.01.59	Av. Shackleton MR.2	38	WL791	Failure of No.4 voltage regulator in flight resulted in a small fire which was extinguished.
20.01.59	Av. Shackleton MR.2	38	WR965	No.3 engine failure in flight.
29.01.59	EE Canberra	12	WJ636	Port engine failure in flight.
30.01.59	W. Whirlwind HAS.7	845 NAS	XL837/C/392	Ditched into the Mediterranean Sea off Malta from a ten foot hover while operating off HMS Centaur. A loud bang had occurred followed by the engine overspeeding. The three crew were rescued.
09.02.59	V. Varsity			Four of these aircraft arrived on the 6th on a navigational exercise from RAF Topcliffe. One aircraft had to return due to magneto trouble. Aircraft departed on the 11th. The RAF Ta’ Qali ORB mentions five aircraft, not four.
10.02.59	DH Devon	MC&TTF	VP953	Take-off run was done with the pitot tube cover still in place. As if this wasn’t enough, the front escape hatch detached itself during the take-off run, hitting the tail fin.
11.02.59	EE Canberra B.2		WJ636	Damaged in taxying accident, departed 28.01.60
11.02.59	EE Canberra B.2	35		Loss of power on one engine in flight.
12.02.59	EE Canberra B.2	35		Nose wheel fell off during landing run, due to the failure of an axle nut locking device .
17.02.59	EE Canberra PR.3	39		Starboard engine failure in flight.
25.02.59	W. Whirlwind HAS.7	845 NAS	XK945	Ditched into the Mediterranean Sea off Malta while operating off HMS Centaur after the engine failed while in a 36 foot hover. The three crew were rescued by Whirlwind HAS.7, XK942. c/n WA/172. First flown on 27.09.57 and delivered to the Royal Navy on 07.10.57.

DATE	AIRCRAFT	SQUADRON	SERIAL	NOTES
03.03.59	H. Sea Hawk FGA.6	801 NAS	WV917/C/1	Ditched into the Mediterranean Sea off Malta after the ejector seat drogue streamed during a catapult launch from HMS Centaur.
09.03.59	V. Varsity			Four of these aircraft arrived on the 6th on a navigational exercise from RAF Topcliffe. Departure on this date for one of these aircraft was delayed due to a flap jack change, departing on the 11th. The RAF Ta’ Qali ORB mentions three aircraft.
18.03.59	EE Canberra B.6	9	WJ761	Aircraft overshot after a night landing at RAF Luqa. Pilot raised undercarriage to stop, but ended up colliding into another Canberra (WH973) on the ground. s.o.c. 02.04.59 as CAT 5(C) at Safi. WH973 returned to service after repairs were carried out. It was lost in the vicinity of RAF Cottesmore on 06.10.71 when it rolled out of control, but the three-man crew survived.
06.04.59	V. Valletta	Malta Communications Flight	VX577	Aircraft had been used to fly the A.O.C. to Venice and Trevise on the 3rd. On the return flight, the starboard engine started “gulping” oil in flight and had to be shutdown, with a diversion to Naples. Parts of engine cylinder found in oil filter. Engine changed at Naples.
09.04.59	V. Valletta	Malta Communications Flight	VW831	It took 145 minutes to fly the 246 miles (395.9 km) between Bari, Italy and Catania, Sicily. At one point, the ground speed was down to 70kts. With the Valetta’s cruising speed of 172 mph (277 km/h, 149 knots), the journey should have been 85 minutes, an hour less.
20.04.59	V. Valiant			A bomb was discovered beneath the aircraft at around 23:00 hours. Perpetrator was likely interrupted by RAF MP and his dog. No damage to aircraft, bomb recovered intact.
22.04.59	Av. Shackleton MR.2	38	WL787	Engine failure in flight.
25.05.59	Gl. Meteor	MC-TTS *	WH256	Ventral tank developed a leak, leading to a cancellation of a sortie in exercise Maltex 59. * Malta Communications and Target Towing Squadron.
02.06.59	EE Canberra B.6	139	WT304	Aircraft crashed at El Adem. No survivors. Squadron was in Malta on a “Sunspot” detachment. See report at bottom of page.
10.06.59	G. Meteor MK. IV	Fleet Air Arm		Aircraft crashed “near Safi”, one fatality.
16.06.59	Gl. Meteor F.8	MC-TTS	WH256	Pilot abandoned take-off from RAF Ta’ Qali, undercarriage collapsed. Aircraft careered over a wall, through several stone walls, ending up in a field. Injuries to pilot consisted of a scratch on his right elbow on hurriedly leaving the cockpit. It was declared category 5C and written off. SoC 02.07.59. The RAF Ta’ Qali ORB mentions “excessive loading on the control column”. From the squadrons’ ORB comes the following quote: “At 09.45 hours Flt. Lt. E. Vine started his take-off run in Meteor WH256, one minute later he was parked, still more or less in one piece, in a field off the end of the runway. He had abandoned his take-off run because of excessive load on the starboard wing and his brakes would not hold him to the airfield.”
17.06.59	Gl. Meteor	Royal Navy		Released drogue and landed at Qali due to shortage of fuel.
25.06.59	H. Sea Hawk FGA.6		WV798	The aircraft was damaged when it was hit by Sea Venom XG696 that was involved in a ‘bolter’ aboard HMS Centaur! The aircraft was offloaded at RNAS Hal Far in Malta and shipped back to Fleetlands for repairs and reconstruction. ’Bolter’ is the term used when a naval aircraft fails to catch the arrestor wire, the pilot opening the throttles to take off again.
22.06.59				An Air Ministry order for Shackletons with over 2100 hrs of computed flying hours to be grounded meant only one Shackleton airworthy in Malta. Another Shackleton was obtained after representations to the Air Ministry.
__.07.59	EE Canberra B.6		WH955	Aircraft wasn’t considered safe for further landings. Crack appeared on undercarriage mounting bracket. Bracket removed and sent to English Electric on 09.06.59 for the manufacture of a copy. Following repairs in Malta, the aircraft was flown to the UK on 16.02.60.
21.07.59	F. Firefly U.9		VX427	w/o on this date, cause unknown (shot down by missile or AA guns?), remains perished Hal Far fire dump.
23.07.59	F. Firefly	728	VH130	Lost arrestor hook when landing at Hal-Far.
24.07.59				RN helicopter made an emergency landing at Ta’ Qali with engine problems. Engine changed on site.
23.07.59	V. Valetta		VW831	Port engine fire warning shortly after take-off. Cat.1 damage.
30.07.59	V. Valletta	MC-TTS	VW831	Port engine fire after take-off for Idris, Libya. Pilot made a starboard turn for a downwind approach and a safe landing.
10.08.59	V. Varsity			Four Varsities arrived on the 7th. Departure on the 10th for three aircraft, whilst the fourth was delayed until the 11th.
28.08.59	Gl. Meteor F.8	41	WK672/X	c/s MKKCY. This is what The Times’ of Malta section Half a century ago wrote about this incident. “The pilot of a Meteor jet fighter escaped unhurt when his aircraft overshot the duty runway at Royal Air Force Station, Luqa. The pilot had already begun his take-off run from the Siggiewi end of duty runway, when one of the Meteor's tyres burst. He abandoned the take-off run but overshot the runway, ploughing through the barbed-wire perimeter fence.” The report is dated 29.08.59. Also note the reference to the “barbed-wire perimeter fence”. The current chain-link fence wasn't erected until much later. Aircraft suffered Cat. 3R damage. To Safi on 09.09.59. The date, squadron and serial number confirmed from an article on Meteors in Air Britain Aeromilitaria December 2011.
31.08.59	V. Varsity			Four Varsities arrived on the 28th. Departure was on the 31st, but one pilot reported a small explosion in the port engine and returned to Ta’ Qali. Departed on 1st September.
31.08.59	EE Canberra PR.3	39	WF922	Engine flame out due to low pressure pump failure.
04.09.59	A. Shackleton MR.2	38	WL740	Apparent hydraulic failure in flight, aircraft forced to land at Luqa with radome copola extended. Cat.2 damage From The Times' of Malta section Half a century ago dated 05.09.59 “What was termed ‘nothing short of extreme skills’ on the part of its pilot averted serious damage to a long-range reconnaissance Shackleton aircraft, when its under-belly radome failed to retract. After flying round the Maltese islands for more than three hours to use up surplus fuel, the pilot brought his aircraft in to land at RAF Station, Luqa. Not more than 45 minutes after the unusual landing which had been made with the usual fire trucks and other vehicles in attendance, the duty Luqa runway was clear for normal traffic again.”
05.09.59	EE Canberra			c/s MKGAA. Burst a tyre on landing runway 06.
27.10.59				Near miss between Beverly, c/s MOBXD, and Valletta, c/s MORVB.
Oct-Nov 1959	Av. Shackleton Mk. 2	ASWDU *	WG553	Aircraft was in Malta with VP282 for trails between 23.10.59-08.11.59. Needed a No. 2 port fuel tank change. Unserviceability grounded the aircraft for a total of 11 days during its detachment to Malta. On departure, diverted to RAF St. Mawgan with an engine failure. * Air-Sea Warfare Development Unit. The ASWDU was disbanded on 01.04.70.

Accident report: Canberra WT304

Circumstances

The aircraft crashed whilst marking the El Adem target for a main bombing raid. The exercise took place at night, and the marking team flying from Malta consisting of four aircraft, two of which carried flares only, the other two aircraft carrying flares and target indicators. WT304 was one of the latter and led the marker team. The standard shallow dive technique was to be used for marking and this was to be carried out in two stages because short burning target indicators were being used. The first part of the exercise proceeded normally, and the marker team dropped all of its flares. The flare aircraft then left the area and the two marker aircraft proceeded to mark the target, Marker 1 releasing the first target indicator and Marker 2 the following two. Marker 1 then called in the first bombing wave and about five minutes later was heard to call “cease bombing”. He then proceeded to mark the target and was witnessed by Marker 2 to enter what appeared a normal shallow dive attack. His remaining target indicator was released close to the target and a few seconds later the aircraft struck the ground, exploded, and disintegrated. All three crew members were killed on impact.

Weather conditions at the time and place of the accident were good.

The pilot

The pilot had flown a total of 515 hours in type and had been most recently assessed as ‘above average’.

The aircraft

The aircraft was delivered for service in 1955 and had flown a total of 488 hours up to the time of the incident. No major incidents of major significance had been recorded in the recent servicing records and the aircraft was certified as serviceable at 1700 hrs. on the day of the accident. It carried a full fuel load including wing tip tanks at the time of take-off.

Technical investigation

Examination of the accident site and the wreckage showed that the aircraft first struck he ground at a very shallow angle and at considerable speed. It was not inverted, had only a small degree of bank and since releasing the last target indicator had not deviated from its course to any large degree. All the indications at the point of impact suggested that a pull out manoeuvre was being attempted at the time, and given another 100 feet or so, the aircraft may well have cleared the ground. The aircraft’s configuration at the time of impact was clean except for the bomb doors which were still open and its trim condition consistent with the exercise. It was established that the aircraft was structurally complete when it struck the ground and there was no evidence to suggest that any crew member had attempted to eject. No evidence was found of fire in the air or of faulty release or faulty operation of stores. No abnormality was found during examination of the engines which appeared ed to have been running at a moderate and approximately equal degree of power at the time of impact. The remains of one Mk. 19B altimeter showed that its barometric setting at the time of the crash was 1019 mbs. Its position in the aircraft was not identified.

Throughout the complete examination of the wreckage no evidence of pre-crash mechanical or structural defect was found.

Discussion

The accident occurred during a low-level night attack, a type of exercise in which height determination is critical. In this attack the pilot maintains target aim by adjusting the dive whilst the navigator calls out changes of height. The intended release height foe the target indicator is 2,100 feet above the target and recovery is made on instruments. The loss of height in recovery varies with the amount of ‘g’ pulled and may exceed 1,000 feet. From this it can be seen that accurate knowledge of aircraft altitude and target elevation is vital, and if errors occurring in either of these or in the recovery technique are cumulative, then a dangerous situation can develop.

The following circumstances surrounding this accident appear significant. Before entering the target area, the aircraft passed a QNH of 1015mbs. to the rest of the marker force, who used this setting throughout the marking period. The QNH passed to the aircraft by El Adem was that for El Adem – 1017mbs. The one altimeter recovered was found set at 1019mbs. No meteorological observations were taken at the site of the target. The night was dark and target illumination reported to be poor. The pilot entered the dive and released his remaining target indicator in an attempt to remark the target. He made no distress call, and the successful release suggests that he was undisturbed at the time. The release, however, was considered by witnesses to be lower than normal. He commenced a pull-out manoeuvre and made no significant deviation from heading. Impact with the ground occurred during this pull out.

Conclusion

The accident occurred due to the pilot failing to pull the aircraft out of its dive in the height available. No evidence of technical failure in the aircraft was found.