Bristol 142 Blenheim | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The crew departed RAF Cranfield on a night training exercise. For unknown reasons, the airplane crashed in a pasture located a mile southeast of Wakerley. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Colin Tremaine Martyn-Johns, pilot,
Sgt Benjamin Wright, radio operator.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV near Erkowit: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 25, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

Z9612

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Wadi Gazouza - Wadi Gazouza

Location:

Ar Kaweit (Erkowit)

Red Sea (البحر الأحمر)

Country:

Sudan

Region:

Africa

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The crew departed Wadi Gazouza Airport on a training exercise. The airplane failed to return and its wreckage was found on December 31 near Erkowit. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Clive Colin Dunstone,
Sgt John Skinner,
Sgt James Murray Thomson.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I in Abukir: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 25, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L1534

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Abukir - Abukir

MSN:

8817

YOM:

1939

Location:

Country:

Region:

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The airplane suffered an engine failure and crashed upon takeoff from Abukir Airfield. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Crew:
Sgt Peter Frederick Brook, pilot.

Probable cause:

Engine failure upon takeoff.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Norwich

Date & Time: Nov 22, 1941 at 2104 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

Z7275

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Norwich - Norwich

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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The airplane departed RAF Horsham St Faith at 2104LT on a local training exercise with a crew of three on board. Almost immediately after takeoff, the airplane stalled and crashed. The pilot was killed and both other occupants were seriously injured. The observer died the next day from injuries sustained.
Crew:
P/O Russell Scott-Worthington, pilot, †
P/O David Carl Taylor, observer, †
Sgt J. Koller, wireless operator.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I at RAF Cranfield: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1941 at 2340 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L1353

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Cranfield - Cranfield

MSN:

8636

YOM:

1938

Location:

Country:

Region:

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The crew departed RAF Cranfield on a night training exercise. Shortly after takeoff, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain height, struck a tree and crashed. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Mark Radford Cuke, pilot,
Sgt John James Green, observer.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV near Thorpe Willoughby

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1941 at 0015 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

T1924

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Church Fenton - Church Fenton

Location:

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Region:

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The pilot departed RAF Church Fenton on a solo training exercise. While returning to base shortly past midnight, the airplane suffered a double engine failure. The pilot attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed one mile north of Thorpe Willoughby. The pilot was slightly injured.
Crew:
Sgt Alfred Edward Thomas, pilot.

Probable cause:

Double engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Sedgebrook

Date & Time: Nov 16, 1941 at 1330 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

V5421

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Upwood - Upwood

Location:

Country:

Region:

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The crew departed RAF Upwood on a cross country exercise. Weather conditions deteriorated en route and the crew decided to abandon the airplane and to bail out. All three crew members parachuted to safety and the airplane crashed in an open field located in Sedgebrook.
Crew:
Sgt S. E. Strate, pilot +2.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC off Whitby

Date & Time: Nov 16, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

Z8848

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Marham - Marham

Location:

Country:

Region:

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The airplane departed RAF Marham at 2148LT on November 15 on an operation to Kiel. While returning to base the following night, it was ditched in the sea some 10 miles east of Whitby and sank. All six crew members were rescued by a destroyer crewed by Norwegian sailors.
Crew:
P/O J. F. Stock,
Sgt J. A. Weller,
P/O J. B. Maher,
Sgt V. C. Baker,
Sgt H. L. Suckling,
Sgt J. J. Roche.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Wetherby: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 15, 1941 at 1015 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

T2324

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Church Fenton - Church Fenton

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Church Fenton on a training exercise. While flying over the area of Wetherby, the airplane was mistakenly shot down by two Spitfires belonging to 121 Sq. The Blenheim's port engine caught fire and the pilot ordered his gunner to bail out. Unfortunately, the gunner was unable to get clear of the aircraft and deploy his parachute before the aircraft began to break up in the air and crashed. The gunner was killed and the pilot was rescued.
Crew:
P/O Peter Hunt Cleaver, pilot,
Sgt John Moss Cohen, wireless operator and air gunner. †

Probable cause:

Mistakenly shot down by a British fighter.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC into the North Sea: 6 killed

Date & Time: Nov 15, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

X9888

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Marham - Marham

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

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The airplane departed RAF Marham at 1732LT on an operation to Emden. It failed to return to base and is believed to have crashed somewhere in the North Sea. Lost without trace.
Crew:
Sgt Alan Christopher Homes,
Sgt John Miller Horsley,
Sgt Richard Henry Huckett,
Sgt Ralph William Platten,
Sgt George Reginald Ruscoe,
Sgt Frank Seeley Thomas.