Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L1410

Flight Phase:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Metz - Metz

MSN:

8693

YOM:

1939

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Metz on a reconnaissance mission over Germany. While cruising at an altitude of 7,000 metres, the airplane was attacked by the pilot of a German fighter. The pilot was able to evacuate the area and to fly to Belgium. Eventually, he was forced to attempt an emergency landing. At low height, the air gunner bailed out but the altitude was insufficient and he was killed. The airplane then collided with a power line and crashed in a meadows. The two crewmen who remained on board were seriously injured.
Crew:
F/O Charles Mervyn Patrick Kempster, pilot,
Sgt Frederick Leece Smith, navigator,
AC1 Peter Bothamley Harris, wireless operator and air gunner. †

Probable cause:

Attacked by a German fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I in Méharicourt: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 27, 1939

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

L8598

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Méharicourt - Méharicourt

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances in Méharicourt. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Leonard James Sabin, pilot,
AC1 W. S. Martin, wireless operator,
LAC Jasen Job,
Sgt Victor Harvey, observer.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Wangerooge: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 27, 1939

Type of aircraft:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Operator:

Registration:

L8779

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Wattisham - Wattisham

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The crew departed RAF Wattisham on a reconnaissance mission over Wilhelmshaven. While approaching the German coast, the airplane was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter and crashed into the sea some 10 km off Wangerooge Island. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Keith Laxton, pilot,
LAC Truscott Victor Lewis,
Sgt William Anderson.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF Wyton

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1939

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

L8835

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Wyton - Wyton

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The crew was returning to RAF Wyton following a test flight. For unknown reasons, the airplane belly landed and was damaged beyond repair. Both crew members escaped uninjured.
Crew:
S/L W. S. Steadman +1.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I at RAF Drem

Date & Time: Dec 19, 1939

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

L6756

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

East Lothian (Haddingtonshire)

Schedule:

Evanton – Drem

Location:

Drem AFB

Country:

United Kingdom

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane crashed upon landing for unknown reasons. Three crewmen were unhurt while a fourth was injured.
Crew:
Sgt E. G. Gilbert,
Cpl F. Malekin,
AC1 W. C. Dodge,
Sgt H. R. Crowley.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I in Goonhilly Downs

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1939

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

P6899

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Old Sarum - Old Sarum

MSN:

9424

YOM:

1939

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in Goonhilly Downs. Both crew members were injured.
Crew:
P/O C. R. Wylie, pilot,
P/O J. R. Krohn.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IF at RAF Northolt

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1939

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

L1426

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Northolt - Northolt

MSN:

8709

YOM:

1939

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

Shortly after liftoff, one of the engine failed. The pilot made a belly landing and the aircraft was written off. All three crew members evacuated safely.
Crew:
Sgt E. Monk +2.

Probable cause:

Engine failure after takeoff.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I at RAF Leconfield

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1939

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

L1206

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Leconfield AFB (Beverley)

Schedule:

Leconfield - Leconfield

MSN:

8489

YOM:

1938

Location:

Yorkshire

Country:

United Kingdom

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

During the takeoff roll from RAF Leconfield, the undercarriage were damaged for unknown reasons and jammed. When the exercice was finished and the crew was returning to his base, he was unable to lower the gear and completed a belly landing. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Belly landing because the undercarriage was jammed.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IF in Saffron Walden: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 11, 1939

Type of aircraft: