Pad savezničkog zrakoplova Bristol Beaufightera (nt 997) kod Senja u listopadu 1944. godine
The Crash of the Allied Bristol Beaufighter Aircraft (Nt997) at Senj in October 1944

Summary/Abstract: The key military strategic position and exceptional transport, economic and military significance of Senj harbour were the reasons why during the Second World War Senj suffered air bombardments by the Germans and subsequently by Allied air forces which resulted in human losses and significant material damage. From the beginning of 1944, when Allied air forces gained supremacy in the air, all the way until the end of the war, Senj harbour and the harbour facilities were often targets of Allied tactical aerial bombardments, as well as the scenes of targeted attacks of fighters and fighter-bombers directed at small, specific and specially planned targets. In archive documents a large number of aerial attacks on Senj are noted, and during one mission by Alliedair forces, on 10th October 1994, during antiaircraft defence with the German ship Arpione in Senj harbour a Bristol Beaufighter NT997 fighter-bomber from the 19th squadron of the South African Air Force (SAAF) was hit and crashed into the sea not far from the harbour. Illuminating the circumstances of the crash and fate of the members of the crew by analysing the remains of the plane and collected archive documents are the main aim of this paper which came to be upon the75th anniversary of this event.

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