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Saturday, December 21, 2024 Military Aviation » Deliveries » World War Two » Bristol  
 

F. Albacore

SERIAL VARIANT SQUADRON ARRIVED DEPARTED NOTES
?     24.01.42   Aircraft was being ferried from North Africa to Malta, but never arrived, presumed to have crashed in the sea. Two fatalities.

        
 

Bristol aircraft
        
 

Beaufighter

SERIAL VARIANT SQUADRON ARRIVED DEPARTED NOTES
15.11.42 The aircraft was being flown to Malta to re-enforce 227 sqd, but never reached the island.
? x4 10.08.42
_____/W VI 03.08.42 This aircraft would be assigned to 248 squadron, and lost on a mission on the 13th.
T4651/C IC 252 15.02.42 Took off from Luqa with other aircraft for RAF Idku/LG229 at the end of their convoy escort duties detachment to Malta. The detachment was recalled almost immediately as an incoming air raid was identified. Some of the formation returned safely but some failed to receive the message and flew on, as insufficient time had been available in Malta to have their sets adjusted for the correct frequency. Fifteen to 20 enemy fighters soon intercepted them and shot this aircraft down into the sea a few miles east of the island.
T4658 OADU 06.10.41   Crew had to make a forced landing near Beja, Tunisia. Crew uninjured, interned as pow’s.
T4830 Ic 252 15.02.42 As above.
T4834 Ic 252 15.02.42 As above.
T4872 252 15.11.42 The aircraft was being flown to Malta to re-enforce 227 sqd, but never reached the island.
T4879 248 11.02.42 Aircraft departed on delivery to the Middle East but failed to reach its destination. Two missing believed dead.
T4887 89 06.01.42 Aircraft on delivery to Malta. According to reports by Italian Media, aircraft was damaged by AA fire and forced to land in Syracuse. Aircraft had been plotted by RAF radar to be over south east Sicily, and despite being called repeatedly and given new bearings for Malta, no response was received from the crew.
T4889 Ic OADU 12.02.42 Departed for Egypt on delivery but never arrived. Last seen off Filfla islet being attacked by two Me-109s.
T4894 2 OTU 27.02.42 Aircraft crashed in the sea during a transit flight between Gibraltar and Malta. Two crew missing presumed dead.
T4896 236 11.02.42 Departed Malta for the Middle East but failed to arrive. Two crew missing believed dead.
T4915 236 11.02.42 Aircraft departed on delivery to the Middle East but failed to reach its destination. Two missing believed dead.
T4982 252 15.11.42 The aircraft was being flown to Malta to re-enforce 227 sqd, but never reached the island.
T4990 236 04.06.42 When flying between Tunisia and Sicily, the crew were intercepted by an Me-109. In the ensuing evasive actions, the crew lost their bearing and true course, used more fuel than had been planned for and suffered damage in their left-hand engine.

Seeking a solution to their predicament, they approached a convoy, and seeing the ships scatter in different directions, leading them to think it was Italian. Seeking land some 30 kilometres on, he flew on, where after crashing landing on the beach7 kms south of Mahdia, Tunisia, burnt the aircraft and papers. The crew were later transferred to, and interned in, Algeria.
T5101 VI 01.08.42 This aircraft would be assigned to 248 squadron, and lost on a mission on the 13th.
T5261 272 15.11.42 The aircraft was being flown to Malta to re-enforce 227 sqd, but never reached the island.
X7639 604 24.11.41 Missing between Gibraltar and Malta. Crew later found to be safe.

        
 
Beaufort
        
 

 

SERIAL VARIANT SQUADRON ARRIVED DEPARTED NOTES
L9893 I 217 10.06.42 Aircraft was arriving from Gibraltar. Sixty miles south south-west of Cape Bon, the crew were attacked by an Me-109, who made three attacks. Each time the British crew fired, and were able to repel the German aircraft. One of the air gunners was hit in the chest, and died almost immediately. The aircraft suffered very little damage, and landed safely at Luqa. No other injuries.
N1036 OADU 20.12.41 Aircraft on a delivery from the UK to Malta. Pilot unable to draw fuel from overload system, leading to engines stopping as a result of fuel starvation. Crew were forced to land in the sea 3 miles from Gibraltar. Cause of fuel starvation appears to have been the result of all cocks and balance cocks being in the open position when the overload system was in use, and likely resulted in an air lock. Pilot claimed that he had been unable to obtain definite information on the fuel system in the UK. One slight injury.
AW298   OADU 06.04.42 In transit to the Middle East. Aircraft crashed when on the approach to Luqa at 23:00hrs, bursting into flames. No distress signal was received from the crew, but there was a slight ground mist. Four fatalities. Air HQ Malta gives the 5th as date of accident, but this may be the result of different time zones being used, GMT and local.
AW339 II 22 19.03.42 Aircraft was part of formation that departed from Gibraltar for Malta with four crew on board. The formation was destined for the Middle East.

When 5 miles west of Linosa Island, the aircraft’s starboard engine cut due to a faulty petrol feed. Falling behind, and struggling to catch up, the crew were attacked by two Me-110s, resulting in the rear gunner being wounded in the left shoulder. The attack was broken off after 10-15 minutes, the formation continuing to Hal-Far, arriving with practically no petrol.

A green very light, fired from the ground was mistaken for permission to land, and on touchdown, the starboard undercarriage leg collapsed, the aircraft crashing into a wall. No further injuries to the crew.

The other Beauforts are believed to be N1100, X8924, W6543, A291?
AW376 5 OTU 17.05.42 18.05.42 Aircraft, which had arrived the previous day, departed Malta for the Middle East, but, developing engine problems, the pilot decided to return to Malta. Unfortunately, the crew were forced to ditch in the sea, 40 miles SE of Malta. Navigator wasn’t seen again and presumed to have gone down with the sinking aircraft. The remaining three crew members survived, and were picked up by a German float plane, becoming prisoners of war.
AW338 II OADU 05.04.42 Aircraft was on a transit flight from the UK to the Middle East, but crashed near Djerba, Tunisia The four crew,who survived the crash, were interned.
DD953 I 217 10.06.42 Crew had departed RAF Portreath for Gibraltar on the same day as L9893 (see further up), but was forced to land in Portugal due to engine problems.
DW823 I 92 29.09.42 30.09.42 Aircraft had landed at Luqa, destined for the Far East. Departing after a night stop, the crew crashed in the sea for unknown reasons, 200 miles east-south-east of Malta. A search for the crew proved fruitless.
DW824 09.10.42 Aircraft was in transit from the UK to the Middle East. Crew failed to arrive in Malta from Gibraltar. Crew initially listed as missing but were discovered to have been interned in French West Africa.
DW833 29.09.42 Lost during flight from Gibraltar to Malta four crew members missing.
DD990 I 03.07.42 04.07.42 Arrived from Gibraltar, departing Luqa for the Middle East, but crashed in the sea for unknown reasons. Four fatalities.
        
 

Blenheim
        
 

 

SERIAL VARIANT SQUADRON ARRIVED DEPARTED NOTES
OADU 15.11.41   Crew were inbound to Malta, but intercepted by CR.42s, damaging the aircraft, which crash landed at Luqa.
L9263 4 Ferry Pilots Pool One of twelve Blenheims being ferried to the Middle East via France, Tunisia, and Malta. Pilot suffered engine failure during take-off from Marigrane, France on 18.06.40, the aircraft being abandoned there.
L9314 IV 4 Ferry Pilots Pool Crashed near Prunieres, France on 18.06.40, during delivery to the Middle East via France, Tunisia and Malta.
L9315 IV 4 Ferry Pilots Pool Crashed near Prunieres, France on 18.06.40, during delivery to the Middle East via France, Tunisia and Malta.
L9317 IV Crashed near Prunieres, France on 18.06.40 during delivery to the Middle East via France, Tunisia and Malta. Three casualties.
L9318 Aircraft was one of twelve being ferried to the Middle East as above. Crashed in France on 18.06.40. Three casualties.
L9351 4 Ferry Pilots Pool Aircraft crashed in France on 18.06.40.
L9934 4 Ferry Pilots Pool One of twelve Blenheims being ferried to the Middle East via France, Tunisia and Malta on 18.06.40. Crew tried landing in the sea, but the aircraft flipped over, taking the crew down with.
N3589 IV 40 Aircraft departed Gibraltar on 13.09.40. Forced landed on Pantalleria short of petrol.

Aviation Safety Network has the following on this incident. ”Landed in error on Italian island of Pantelleria. Aircraft was evaluated at Guidonia airfield near Rome.

At the date of the announcement of the Italy’s armistice, 8 September 1943, N3589 proved to be still at Guidonia, likely no more in flight conditions.
T1853 IV OADU 04.11.41 Aircraft was in the circuit to land at North Front Aerodrome, Gibraltar when the port propeller and reduction gear flew out and downwards from the aircraft. Unable to maintain height, the pilot flew into the sea, 120 yards from the airfield.
T2074 17 Operational Training Unit Aircraft was on a delivery flight but got lost in Tunis on 16.09.40.
V5535 OADU 27.02.42 Aircraft crashed 1,000 yards east of North Front airfield, Gibraltar during a transit flight to the Middle East. Aircraft was reported to be making a single engine approach to the airfield at 20 feet, when a wing dropped and hit the sea, causing the aircraft to crash into the sea. Three crew survived with injuries.
V5961 30.10.41 One of five aircraft that departed Gibraltar for Malta. This aircraft would be lost on a mission on a bombing run on 08.11.41.
V6165 82 21.05.41 Aircraft crashed in sea between Gibraltar and Malta. 2 missing, one survivor.
V6394 OADU 19.03.42 Ditched off the coast of Cap Bon, Tunisia. 3 crew missing.
V6492 30.10.41 One of five aircraft on delivery to Malta. This aircraft sent an MSI (Message Signalled Interrupts) to Gibraltar, and is assumed to have returned back to that airfield.
Z7366 IV 82 Crew, on a flight to the Middle East, were forced to land at Faro, Portugal on 17.07.41, after running short of fuel. Aircraft destroyed by crew, who after a short period of internment, reached Gibraltar 05.08.41.

Additional details below.
        
 

Z7366 – Additional details.
Carlos Guerreiro, in his web site www.portugal1939-1945.org/en/blenheim-z7366-landed-because-of-a-fuel-pump-problem has additional details about this incident, and is reproduced below with kind permission.

The report makes references to photographs which appear in the above website, but have not been reproduced here.

The plane left Portreath base at 12:20 am of July 17, 1941, bound for Luqa, in Malta, with three other planes from the same squadron.

As the support of the auxiliary pump broke it was forced to make an emergency landing because they could not transfer fuel from the secondary tanks to the main ones. The landing took place near Cabo de Santa Maria, near Faro, south Portugal, on one of the islands in the Ria Formosa.

The crew was repatriated on July 31, 1941 on the ship Briarwood which left the Tagus river bound for Gibraltar. On 16 August the three men arrived at the base of 105 Squadron at Swanton Morley. In September, two mail bags destined for Malta were returned by the Portuguese to the British Embassy in Lisbon.

On the other hand a strange yearlong began for the Blenheim. On the 18th of July, Captain Carlos da Costa Macedo landed on the island of Santa Maria, in a Tiger Moth biplane from the Portuguese Aeronáutica Militar (Army Aviation), to carry out an inspection of the aircraft, that had some problems. In the final phase of the landing the wheels became buried in the sand and it reared. “As a result, the nose of the fuselage was badly damaged and the two propellers bent, slightly on the right engine and more pronouncedly one blade on the left engine”, explained the officer in his report.

Despite this damage, the pilot considered that it was in excellent condition and that it deserved to be recovered.

In addition to checking the condition of the plane, Costa Macedo was also tasked to study the conditions under which the plane could be removed from the island. One possibility was to take off directly from the beach, but that meant repairing the propellers at the aircraft workshop in Alverca, at the OGMA’s, but he stated also that ground was far from ideal to lift that six-tonne machine.

From the different hypotheses, it was decided to use the Portuguese hydrographic ship Almirante Shultz, with a cargo pole capable of lifting 15 tons, to take it directly to Lisbon across the stern.

In September members from the OGMA arrived at the site to dismantle the Blenheim. The operation lasted about a month and everything that was transportable - including the engines - went by train to Alverca.

At the beginning of October, the fuselage was still on the beach, guarded by Fiscal Guard privates who stayed there for 12 to 24 duty hours, as the nearest post was more than four kilometers away. The local command complained, moreover, not only about the increase in expenses but also about the lack of personnel, asking for the surveillance duties to be suspended.

On thick wooden beams the Blenheim was transported to the pier off the Port Authority, waiting for the arrival of Admiral Shultz, who was finishing a beaconing service in the area that would be completed within two to three weeks.

At this point, the British offered the plane to the Portuguese, asking “only that provisions should be made for it to be destroyed if enemy forces occupied Portugal”.

On November 5th, the General Command of the Military Air Force insisted that for the Ministry of the Navy to carry out the transport as quickly as possible “in order to avoid that the action of time due to excessive delay could damage the equipment”.

In a response note signed by Captain of sea and war Américo Tomaz - future President of the Republic - it is explained that “the fuselage can only be transported crossed over the stern of the ship; it is only 2 meters high over the sea and the plane must exceeds it (…), this extension remaining outside the ship would be subjected, with the balance, to touch the water which would mean immediate useability of it , in whole or in part”. Bearing in mind that it was the end of November, they could not assume responsibility for the success of the transport and suggested getting a large barge that could be towed to Lisbon or storing the plane in one of the hangars at Culatra until the weather allowed the operation to be carried out.

In December the OGMA sent again “competent personnel to deal with the removal of the plane's fuselage (…) by rail”. The fuselage was separated into more components to facilitate transport, but after the work was done it was realized that without a crane or a way to build one on site it would be impossible to move all the parts. Thus, the solution of transport by the Almirante Shultz was reassumed, which now, due to the fact that the volumes were smaller, would become easier.

In the following months correspondence continued to be exchanged in order to assure transportation. Already in July 1942, a new report prepared by another aeronautical officer referred that the “material is generally covered with rust”. It is also clarified that the Almirante Shultz “is still under repair, which leads us to conclude that it will not be able to transport the material in the near future”. With this in view he suggests to prepare a transport by any means possible. This suggestion was taken seriously because on July 15, it is known that the “Blenheim is already at the OGMA’s Workshops, in Alverca”.

The aircraft was recovered and became number AM 262 in the Portuguese Aeronáutica Militar. It would be destroyed during a forced landing on the banks of the Tagus River on 12-08-1944.

Memories of an airplane

As in other parts of the country, the plane became an attraction for the population of the surrounding area and the fact that it remained on the pier during all those months further accentuated its characteristic of a “touristic” hub. After all, it was a way to see the war closely.

The photo at the top of this article was taken during one of these group visits. On the wing and wearing a hat is the now Admiral Luís Roque Martins, who was also the one who kindly offered us the image.

The group had crossed the estuary in a boat owned by their grandfather, the shipowner José Roque, and who was also responsible for organizing the excursion where, in addition to other family members of Luis Roque Martins, such as his father - Aníbal -, there is also doctor Arnaldo Vilhena, a very prestigious medic at the time.

Rosa Neves, who lives in one island called Hangares, was also interested in the planes that crashed in that area and in 2017 she spoke with Jaime Inácio Brito, a retired teacher born in 1929, with a very lucid memory about the Blenheim and others cases.

When he learned that the plane had landed at Cabo de Santa Maria, he and his friends paid 5$00 (escudos) to the owner of the boat "Chora Meninos" who took them there. A second time they went there, they boarded another boat, but then they had to row.

They also took pictures. In one of them, the kids put themselves in a shotgun position in front of the plane, but the elements of the Fiscal Guard did not find it funny and pushed them away “saying that they were like silly cowboys”.

Unfortunately, he couldn't remember where he had the photographs taken that day.

Jaime Brito also remembered seeing the Portuguese start one of the engines, but the plane jumped back and it stopped. He further told that to put the plane on a “black barge” they used ropes, hydraulic jacks and many other equipment because it “was heavy as hell”. In Faro, the plane was placed on a truck that transported it to Lisbon.
        
 

 

SERIAL VARIANT SQUADRON ARRIVED DEPARTED NOTES
Z6283 OADU 01.04.42 Aircraft reported missing during transit flight from Malta but arrived safely at Camp Almaza, Egypt.
Z6422 82 22.06.41 Aircraft was shot down between Pantalleria and Malta by Italian destroyer. 3 pow.
Z7689 IV 82 04.01.42 Aircraft went missing on a ferry flight from Egypt to Malta. Believed shot down by the Luftwaffe.
Z7585 IV 107 Aircraft, part of a formation, left the UK for Gibraltar on 27.08.41, but ran short of petrol, ten miles south of Libson, the aircraft being burnt by the crew.

107 squadron, or a detachment, was based in Malta between 20.08.41 to 12.01.42.
Z7678 107 Aircraft, in formation with above, was forced to land 5 miles North Aveiro, on the west coast of Portugal. The aircraft and 40 lbs of mail were destroyed by crew.

As with the above aircraft, the crew were interned in Caldas da Rainha and repatriated to Gibraltar on 09.09.41.
Z7782 IV OADU 30.10.41 Aircraft was one of five on delivery from Gibraltar to Malta, then onto the ME. Due to bad weather off the Algerian coast, this aircraft became separated from the rest of the formation. The crew also suffered from intercommunication failure. Although the W/Op acknowledged all messages received, he did not – despite being instructed to do so in clear – to get up and pass the messages to the pilot, apparently trusting the other two crew members to find Malta and eventually landing in Sicily. Crew believed PoWs.
Z7843 21.10.41 Aircraft was approaching Gibraltar, for onward flight to Malta. Pilot read reciprocal wind direction from windsock, and landed downwind, narrowly missing a B-17. Pilot failed to open the throttles to go round again, and ended up crashing through a wall, which resulted in the aircraft catching, and being destroyed, by fire. Crew escaped unhurt.
Z7909 30.10.41 One of five aircraft that departed Gibraltar for Malta.
Z7924 IV 21 28.12.41 Aircraft crashed in the sea, 440 yards east of Gibraltar during a ferry flight from the UK to the Middle East. Engine cut shortly after take-off, but picked again, but with a noticeable loss of power. The pilot selected the flaps instead of undercarriage, causing the aircraft to stall. Two injuries, two missing, presumed dead.
Z7958 IV 110 13.12.41 Aircraft was in transit to the Middle East. Fuel starvation caused the starboard engine to fail, causing the aircraft to crash on landing at Luqa. Slight injuries to crew members.
Z7972 OADU 26.12.41 Aircraft on delivery to Malta. Pilot lost an engine 5.5 miles east of Gibraltar. Despite dumping fuel to try to lighten the load, and going into a rich fuel mixture, he was unable to fly the aircraft on one engine, and crashed in the sea. Two slight injuries, one casualty (by drowning).
Z7978 30.10.41 One of five aircraft that departed Gibraltar for Malta.
Z7979 IV OADU 30.10.41 This was one of five aircraft that left Gibraltar for Malta. This aircraft was seen by the rear gunner of another aircraft to dive into the sea. The formation was passing by the island Pantalleria, and it was assumed that the pilot may have accidentally pushed the control column forward whilst leaning forward to reset the compass. As the formation was flying at 50 feet, there would have been no time to take corrective action.
Z9832 30.03.42 Aircraft departed Malta for the Middle East but lost en route due to causes unknown. The three Australian crew reported missing, presumed dead.
BA288 V 13 OTU 21.06.42 Aircraft departed from RAF Portreath in the UK for Gibraltar. The crew had an uneventful flight until about 180 miles from the Spanish coast, when the starboard engine began “cutting”, but started operating again shortly afterwards. On reaching the Spanish coast, the air gunner reported what he thought was a fuel leak in the port petrol tank. The captain decided to cut across Spain to Gibraltar, but with the fuel consumption having increased considerably, he decided at a point 100 miles north-east of Lisbon, that there wasn’t enough petrol to reach Gibraltar, and a diversion to Portugal was advisable.

An attempt to land at Tancos airfield had to be abandoned when they couldn’t locate it, but by following the Tangus river, they managed to reach the then new airport of Portela.

Contrary to normal procedure, the crew had been advised not to destroy the aircraft in Portugal, but all documents were burnt, and the IFF equipment blown up.

The crew were interned at Caldas de Rainha, were they joined other British crews. It would appear that they were later released, and transported to Gibraltar, then the UK.
BA365 V Aircraft in transit from the UK to the Middle East, crashed in the sea off Europa Point, Gibraltar on 21.05.42. Four crew suffered various injuries.
BA442 V 20.06.42 21.06.42 Aircraft arrived from Gibraltar for the Middle East. The crew of this aircraft made the report about the crash of BA446 (below). Presumably they continued to their destination.
BA446 V 20.06.42 21.06.42 Aircraft arrived from Gibraltar for the Middle East. After taking-off from Malta, the crew crashed in the sea for unknown reasons, the aircraft breaking up, 90 miles north of Derna. The three crewmen escaped, spending 12 hours in a dinghy, before being picked up by the Italian hospital ship S.S. Aquila. As one of the crew had died by then, the Italian captain simply ordered that he be thrown overboard in the sea.

Report about crash came from accompanying aircraft BA442.
BA542 V   15.07.42 16.07.42 Aircraft departed from No. 13 O.T.U. Bicester for Gibraltar. It landed at Luqa, taking-off for the Middle East after a night stop, but never reached its destination. It crashed in the sea, either because of mechanical issues, or enemy action. Three fatalities, with the body of one crewman washing ashore at Port Said on 12th August.
BA371 V OADU 24.05.42 Crew departed from RAF Portreath for Gibraltar, but crashed in the sea in west of North Front aerodrome, Gibraltar. Salvaged from the sea were mail bags destined for Malta. Three crew suffered slight injuries.
        
 
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