Bristol 142 Blenheim | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The airplane departed Rosière-en-Santerre on a reconnaissance mission. Cruising over the Netherlands, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a Me.109 and crashed in Babberich. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O H. G. Graham Hogg, pilot,
Sgt J. R. Proctor, observer,
AC1 J. Suttleworth, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I at RAF Upwood

Date & Time: Apr 14, 1940 at 1420 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L1264

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Upwood - Upwood

MSN:

8547

YOM:

1938

Location:

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Captain / Total flying hours:

3070

Captain / Total hours on type:

235.00

Circumstances:

The pilot was completing a local solo training flight at RAF Upwood. After landing, the pilot mistakenly retracted the landing gear instead of raising the flaps. This caused the aircraft to slid on its belly and to be damaged beyond repair. The pilot was uninjured.
Crew:
S/L Hurll Fontayne Chester, pilot.

Probable cause:

Pilot error.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV into the Thames: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 14, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L9207

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Illegal (smuggling)

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Location:

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Circumstances:

The airman was supposed to be guarding the aircraft when he decided to take it for a flight without permission as he failed his pilot's course. After takeoff, he lost control of the airplane that crashed in the Thames estuary. The pilot James Frederick Byng Lewis was killed.

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

Date & Time: Apr 11, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L9181

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

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Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances in Lihons, bursting into flames. Two occupants were rescued at 0430LT while the third crewman was killed.
Crew:
F/O Archibald Cathcart Stewart, pilot,
Sgt Clifford Edward Simpson, observer,
AC1 George Lindsay, wireless operator. †

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I on Mt Craig yr Ysfa: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 8, 1940 at 1120 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L9039

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Bicester - Bicester

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Circumstances:

The crew departed RAF Bicester on a training mission. While cruising in limited visibility due to clouds, the airplane impacted the slope of Mt Craig yr Ysfa (650 metres high) located some 10 km south-southeast of Bethesda. The wreckage was found the following day. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Alfred Ernest Hall, pilot,
Sgt Anthony Charles Catton, observer,
Sgt Fred Graham, observer,
LAC Geoffrey Halstead James, wireless operator.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

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

Date & Time: Apr 8, 1940 at 1045 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

P4855

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

9370

YOM:

1939

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Circumstances:

While cruising in clouds, the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent during which the pilot was able to bail out before the airplane crashed in a field. All three other crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Bennett, pilot,
Sgt Ian Nairne Murdoch, observer,
Sgt George Chapman, observer,
AC2 John William Kempton, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I in Sabang

Date & Time: Apr 8, 1940 at 0900 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L1101

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Tengah - Tengah

MSN:

8384

YOM:

1938

Location:

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Circumstances:

While on a patrol mission from Tengah, the airplane suffered an engine failure. The crew diverted to Sabang Airfield when the airplane crashed on final approach. All three crew members were injured.
Crew:
LAC E. A. Jones,
Sgt P. H. Brown,
Sgt S. H. Stafford.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

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

Date & Time: Apr 6, 1940 at 0405 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L8740

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Watton - Watton

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Watton at 0400LT on an anti-submarine patrol mission. Five minutes after takeoff, while climbing at night, the airplane went out of control and crashed in Attleborough, about 10 km southeast of the airbase. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Ian Stapledon, pilot,
Sgt Walter Jonathan Wetton, observer,
LAC John Brayfield Ball, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF Upwood: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 6, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

P6918

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Upwood - Upwood

MSN:

9443

YOM:

1939

Location:

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Circumstances:

The airplane crashed upon takeoff from RAF Upwood for unknown reasons. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Crew:
Sgt J. D. Stein, pilot.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IF in Kippen

Date & Time: Apr 6, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L1500

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Grangemouth - Grangemouth

MSN:

8783

YOM:

1939

Location:

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Circumstances:

The crew was completing a training sortie out from RAF Grangemouth. While cruising in poor visibility due to bad weather conditions, the airplane impacted the slope of a hill located in Kippen, near Stirling. The aircraft was destroyed and all three crew members were injured.
Crew:
P/O Russell Ernest Orchard, pilot,
AC1 M. J. Fahey,
AC1 F. A. Smith.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.