Originally Posted by
Cazalet33
Did anyone figure out the Human Factors aspect of the navigational blunder?
From Wadi Natrun to Merseh Matruh should have been a simple trip, navigationally. 289°T for 171nm. You're going along the Western edge of the Delta to the coast. Green then blue to the right of the aircraft, sand to the left.
The crash site is 70° to the left of that track at a range of 231nm from departure.
How could he make such a blunder? There's no mention of a sandstorm.
Sure, he might have forgotten to set the DI to the compass, or perhaps stowed a pistol on the compass, but the sight picture should have been as wrong to him as it was to his wingman.
Was he perhaps burned out from battle fatigue?
He wasn't alone and the wingman tried in vain to get him to correct course until having to break off or join him.. when landing they joked he would turn up on foot which he never did.. the aircraft was being ferried for repair I seem to remember.