Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Lappion: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 17, 1940 at 0630 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
P4904
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Watton - Watton
MSN:
9386
YOM:
1939
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed RAF Watton to bomb troops based in Gembloux, Belgium. It was shot down by the pilot of a Me.109 and crash landed near Laon. All three crew members survived, one was injured.
Crew:
Sgt L. H. Watkins, pilot,
Sgt David John Lees, observer,
LAC Kenneth Gordon Reed, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV near Laon

Date & Time: May 17, 1940 at 0630 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
P4903
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Watton - Watton
MSN:
9385
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed RAF Watton to bomb troops based in Gembloux, Belgium. It was shot down by the pilot of a Me.109 and crash landed near Laon. All three crew members survived, one was injured.
Crew:
Sgt Stanley J. Beaumont, pilot,
Sgt L. H. Wrightson, observer,
AC1 K. A.Thomas, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Gembloux: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 17, 1940 at 0630 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
P4898
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Watton - Watton
MSN:
9380
YOM:
1939
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed RAF Watton to bomb troops based in Gembloux, Belgium. It was lost without trace and it is believed it crashed in the target area.
Crew:
P/O Severin Christensen, pilot,
Sgt Alfred Norman Phillips, observer,
LAC Peter Raymond Victor Ettershank, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Sévigny-la-Forêt: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 17, 1940 at 0630 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
P4854
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Watton - Watton
MSN:
9369
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed RAF Watton to bomb troops based in Gembloux, Belgium. It was shot down by the pilot of a Me.109 and crashed in Sévigny-la-Forêt, France. Two crew members were killed and a third became PoW.
Crew:
P/O Toft, pilot,
Sgt Arthur George Bernard Crouch, observer, †
LAC Raymonde Morris, wireless operator and air gunner. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Pancy-Courtecon: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 17, 1940 at 0630 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
P4852
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Watton - Watton
MSN:
9367
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed RAF Watton to bomb troops based in Gembloux, Belgium. It was shot down by the pilot of a Me.109 and crashed in Pancy-Courtecon, France. A crewman was killed and two others survived.
Crew:
S/L Miles Villiers Delap, pilot,
Sgt R. F. Wyness, observer,
P/O Francis Stanley Jackson, wireless operator and air gunner. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Le Quesnel

Date & Time: May 17, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
R3595
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Rosières-en-Santerre - Rosières-en-Santerre
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Rosières-en-Santerre on a reconnaissance mission. It was shot down by the pilot of a Me.109 and crash landed in a field in Le Quesnel. All three crew members evaded, one of them was injured. The aircraft was written off.
Crew:
P/O G. W. S. Ritchie, pilot,
LAC R. N. Wells, observer,
Sgt G. C. P. Haines, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Gembloux: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 17, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
P4851
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Watton - Watton
MSN:
9366
YOM:
1939
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Watton at 0450LT to bomb German troops based in Gembloux, Belgium. It was shot down by the pilot of a German Me.109 and crashed near the target area. A crewman survived and two others were killed.
Crew:
F/O D. A. Fordham, pilot,
Sgt Frank Fearnley, observer,
Cpl Allen Glyndwr Richards, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Laon: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 17, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
P4838
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Watton - Watton
MSN:
9353
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Watton at 0450LT on a bombing mission over Gemboulx, Belgium. It was shot down by a German Me.109 and crashed near Laon. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Alexander Moresby Gofton, pilot,
Cpl Thomas Henry Cummins, observer,
Sgt Frederick Stanley Miller, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in La Capelle

Date & Time: May 17, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L8830
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Watton - Watton
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Witton at 0450LT on a bombing mission over troops based in Gembloux, Belgium. En route, it was shot down by the German Flak. All three crew members bailed out and survived.
Crew:
F/O R. J. McConnell, pilot,
Sgt S. J. Fulbrook, observer,
LAC H. Humphreys, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by German Flak.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Gembloux: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 17, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
P4853
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Watton - Watton
MSN:
9368
YOM:
1939
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances while on a bombing mission over Gembloux. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt R. E. Newbatt,
Sgt J. K. Crawley,
Sgt A. V. Knowles.