Bristol 142 Blenheim | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The airplane departed RAF Wattisham on an anti-shipping operation. Approaching the French coast and while leading an attack on a convoy, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed into the sea off Gravelines. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
S/L Martin Walter Waddington, pilot,
F/Sgt Ian Newton Forsyth, observer,
F/Sgt Donald Palmer, wireless operator.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV near King's Lynn

Date & Time: Aug 8, 1941 at 0953 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

R3743

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The pilot was engaged in a bombing practice mission. The airplane crash landed on marshes in North Wootton in the suburb of King's Lynn and was damaged beyond repair. Shortly before the crash, the airplane had hit the sea during the exercise. The pilot escaped uninjured.
Crew:
F/L Patterson.

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

Date & Time: Aug 8, 1941 at 0944 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

N3627

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Schedule:

Oulton - Oulton

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The airplane departed RAF Oulton on a low level bombing exercise. For unknown reasons, it caught fire in flight and two crew bailed out before it crashed near Barningham. Two crew members were killed and a third was injured.
Crew:
Sgt John Adrian Gibbs, pilot, †
Sgt James Pierson Shaw, observer, †
Sgt D. Beale, wireless operator.

Probable cause:

In-flight fire for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in King's Lynn: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 8, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

V6522

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The airplane was engaged in a bombing practice mission and crashed in unknown circumstances near the King's Lynn railway station. The pilot was injured and the wireless operator was killed.
Crew:
P/O S. R. O. Richmond, pilot,
Sgt John douglas Mackay, wireless operator. †

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF Manston: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 7, 1941 at 1755 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

R3816

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Manston - Manston

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The crew was engaged in a local test flight out from RAF Manston on this aircraft that have been repaired. Upon takeoff from a grassy runway, it appears that the airplane became airborne sooner than normal due to a bump in the surface of the airfield. Shortly after liftoff, it entered a right turn then stalled and crashed. Two crew members were killed and a third was injured.
Crew:
P/O Harold Andrew Thomas Lind, pilot,
Sgt Norman William Paples, observer,
Sgt Eric Douglas Kennedy, wireless operator.

Probable cause:

The report, which fails to list details of the crew, carries on to describe the accident which befell the Blenheim. It appears that it became airborne sooner than normal due to a bump in the surface of the airfield ( Manston was, of course, a grass airfield in those days) and, almost immediately, it commenced a right-hand turn at a low speed, and the undercarriage was lowered as if the pilot was attempting to land again. Unfortunately the Blenheim stalled and crashed. Examination of the wreckage at the scene of the accident showed that the main controls were in order, but after removal of the aircraft for more detailed examination it was found that the starboard elevator was jammed 'solid' in the neutral position. Unbroken dope showed that this tab had not moved from the neutral position in which it had been left after the inspection on 26.7.41. The port tab was fully down in the tail heavy position but this was considered to be due to impact. All three hinges on the starboard tab were rusted tightly on the sleeves which form the bearing journals and which are pinned on to the elevator framework tubing. In the centre bearing which is nearest to the tab actuating lever the bearing journal locating rivet had sheared, possibly during an effort to alter the tab settings. There was no sign of lubrication on any of the hinges. The report concludes by running through the likely sequence of events that lead to the accident, beginning with the Blenheim being left outside for so long, which allowed the parts to rust solid, continuing with the suggestion that the pilot had relied on the tab position indicator being in neutral and hadn't tested the circuit, and ending with his decision to land so that the trim problems could be investigated. The ultimate cause of the crash was, of course, the low-speed stall.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV into the North Sea: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 7, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L4899

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

8914

YOM:

1939

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The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in the North Sea off the Dutch coast. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Ronald Louvain Burton,
Sgt William Swann Robinson,
P/O Leslie Ward.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Norwich

Date & Time: Aug 5, 1941 at 1623 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

V6519

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Norwich - Norwich

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Following a training exercise, the airplane crashed upon landing at RAF Horsham St Faith (Norwich). All three crew members escaped uninjured.
Crew:
Sgt R. F. Mills,
P/O T. G. Jefferson,
Sgt M. S. Scotney.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF Great Massingham

Date & Time: Aug 5, 1941 at 1325 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

Z7491

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Great Massingham - Great Massingham

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The airplane departed RAF Great Massingham at 1125LT on an anti-shipping operation. It was damaged by enemy fire and the crew was able to return to base where the airplane crashed upon landing. All three crew members were injured.
Crew:
S/L Eustace Sweeting Barnes, pilot,
Sgt M. Roberts, observer,
F/Sgt Leonard Charles Williams, wireless operator.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Portesham

Date & Time: Aug 3, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

V6384

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Schedule:

Watton - Watton

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While on a training exercise out from RAF Watton, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The airplane crash landed in a field in Portesham and was damaged beyond repair. All three crew members escaped uninjured.
Crew:
Sgt L. Cornish,
Sgt G. Relph,
Sgt J. Robson.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Den Helder: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 2, 1941 at 1416 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

V6026

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Bodney - Bodney

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The airplane departed RAF Bodney on an anti-shipping operation. Approaching the Dutch coast, it was shot down by the German Marine Flak and crashed into the sea some 10 km west-southwest of Den Helder. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
W/Cdr Kenyon Oswald Burt, pilot,
Sgt William Thomas Ellis, observer,
F/Sgt Angus Douglas Willis Curr, wireless operator.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Marine Flak.