Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

Z7431

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Sfax Governorate (ولاية صفاقس)

Schedule:

Luqa - Luqa

Location:

Kerkennah Islands

Country:

Tunisia

Region:

Africa

Crew on board:

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Other fatalities:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Luqa to attack a German vessel off the Kerkennah Islands. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by the German Marine Flak and crashed into the sea. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Kenneth James Coakley, pilot,
Sgt Donald Ivor Groves, observer,
Sgt Douglas Brian McLaren, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Marine Flak.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Kerkennah Islands: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 14, 1942 at 1320 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

Z7342

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Sfax Governorate (ولاية صفاقس)

Schedule:

Luqa - Luqa

Location:

Kerkennah Islands

Country:

Tunisia

Region:

Africa

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Luqa to attack a German vessel off the Tunisian coast. The crew had just bombed the ship from the sea level when the airplane collided with the mast of the ship and crashed into the sea. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Lt Harold Frederick Dukes-Smith, pilot,
F/Sgt Anthony Hussey, observer,
Sgt Alfred James Wratten, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Scolt Head

Date & Time: Jan 11, 1942 at 1130 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

Z6040

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Upwood - Upwood

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Upwood on a training flight. En route, the crew encountered severe icing conditions, causing the engines to stop. The pilot attempted an emergency landing in the Scolt Head Island National Nature Reserve. Two crew members were injured.
Crew:
P/O Charles Vernon Pereira, pilot,
P/O G. H. Gilbert, navigator,
Sgt P. B. Davies, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I in Great Staughton: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 11, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

L8661

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Wyton - Wyton

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

The pilot departed RAF Wyton on a solo training flight. En route, the port engine failed. The pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed near Great Staughton. The pilot was killed.
Crew:
Sgt Frederick John Blenkinsopp, pilot.

Probable cause:

Failure of the left engine in flight.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at Soesterberg AFB: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 10, 1942 at 2050 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

V6440

Flight Phase:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Bodney - Bodney

Location:

Country:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Bodney to attack the Soesterberg AFB. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed near the airfield. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Lt Kenneth Howell Nash, pilot,
Sgt Harry Chapman Downs, observer,
Sgt Edgar Frederick John Cooper, wireless operator.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I off Scarborough: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 9, 1942 at 1100 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

L8677

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Church Fenton - Church Fenton

Location:

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Circumstances:

The crew departed RAF Church Fenton on a training exercise. While practicing off Scarborough, the airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea, about 2,5 miles offshore. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Bernard Jepson, pilot,
Sgt William Thomas Higgs, wireless operator.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IVF at RAF Church Fenton

Date & Time: Jan 8, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

R3752

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Church Fenton - Church Fenton

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Region:

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Circumstances:

The pilot departed RAF Church Fenton on a local training exercise. While circling in the vicinity of the airfield, the airplane suffered icing conditions and crashed in a field located three miles east of the airbase. The pilot escaped uninjured.
Crew:
P/O Josef Vopálecký, pilot.

Probable cause:

Icing.

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

Date & Time: Jan 4, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

Z7689

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Heliopolis - Luqa

Location:

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Region:

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The airplane departed Cairo on a transit flight to RAF Luqa. Approaching Malta from the south, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed into the sea. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Donald Wood Beirnes, pilot,
Sgt Paul Chaning-Pearce,
Sgt John James Henry Robbins.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV near RAF Shawbury: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 3, 1942 at 1145 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

P6959

Flight Phase:

Flight Type: