Bristol 142 Blenheim | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The airplane departed RAF Northolt on an escort mission. While flying over Rotterdam, the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed on a beach near Wassenaar. Both crew members were uninjured.
Crew:
P/O R. C. Haine,
P/O M. Kramer.

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

Date & Time: May 10, 1940 at 1700 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L8860

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Méharicourt - Méharicourt

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The crew departed Méharicourt on a low level reconnaissance mission over the Netherlands. En route, the aircraft was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in Kessel. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Leonard Thomas Dixon, pilot,
Sgt Thomas Arthur Peach, observer,
AC1 John Townsley, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

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

Date & Time: May 10, 1940 at 1700 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

P6901

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Wyton - Wyton

MSN:

9426

YOM:

1939

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En route from RAF Wyton to Ypenburg, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in Voorburg, east of The Hague. A crewman survived while two others were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Alfred J. Roberton, pilot, †
Sgt Francis Checkley, observer, †
AC1 J. A. Webster, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off 's-Gravenzande: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 10, 1940 at 1700 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L8828

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Wyton - Wyton

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The airplane departed RAF Wyton to bomb Ypenburg Airfield. Approaching the Dutch coast, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances off 's-Gravenzande. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Percival John Hamilton Rowan, pilot,
Sgt George Beardwood, observer,
Cpl Temple Frederick Sinclair Clark, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IF in Hoogvliet: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 10, 1940 at 1400 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L1515

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Manston - Manston

MSN:

8798

YOM:

1939

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The airplane departed Manston on a bombing mission over Waalhaven. Approaching Rotterdam, the bomber was shot down by a Me.110 and crashed in Hoogvliet. Both crew members were killed. Crew:
P/O Michael Herbert Anderson, pilot,
LAC Herbert Charles William Hawkins, navigator.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IF in Waalhaven: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 10, 1940 at 1400 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L1335

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Manston - Manston

MSN:

8618

YOM:

1938

Location:

Waalhaven (Rotterdam)

South Holland

Country:

Netherlands

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed Manston on a bombing mission over Waalhaven. Approaching the target, the bomber was shot down by a Me.110 and crashed near the airfield. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Charles Roger Moore, pilot,
Cpl Laurence David Isaacs, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IF in Herkingen

Date & Time: May 10, 1940 at 1400 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L1514

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Manston - Manston

MSN:

8797

YOM:

1939

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The airplane departed Manston on a bombing mission over Waalhaven. After passing Rotterdam, the bomber was shot down by a Me.110. The pilot was able to make an emergency landing in an open field located in Herkingen. Both crew members were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
P/O Richard Cummings Haine, pilot,
P/O Marcus Kramer, observer.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IF in Piershil: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 10, 1940 at 1400 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L1401

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Manston - Manston

MSN:

8684

YOM:

1939

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The airplane departed Manston on a bombing mission over Waalhaven. Approaching Rotterdam, the bomber was shot down by a Me.110 and crashed in Piershil, south of Rotterdam. A crewman was killed and a second was injured.
Crew:
F/O John Hugh Chitty Rowe, pilot,
P/O Robert Wyatt Hamilton Echlin, wireless operator and air gunner. †

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IF in Pernis: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 10, 1940 at 1400 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L6616

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Manston - Manston

Location:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed Manston on a bombing mission over Waalhaven. Approaching Rotterdam, the bomber was shot down by a Me.110 and crashed in Pernis, in the suburb of Rotterdam. Two crew members were killed and a third was injured.
Crew:
S/L James Michael Wells, pilot, †
Sgt John Davis, observer,
Cpl Basil Arthur Kidd, air gunner. †

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Ground accident of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF Wattisham

Date & Time: May 10, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L8778

Flight Phase:

Taxiing

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Wattisham - Wattisham

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Circumstances:

In the absence of qualified pilot, LAC J. E. Humphreys attempted to taxi the Blenheim to its dispersal, but he ran off the perimeter track and collided with a tree. The pilot escaped uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Crew error.