Bristol 142 Blenheim | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The airplane departed RAF Horsham at 1835LT on an operation to Ostend. It crashed at 1959LT at Manor Farm, Little Plumstead. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Nigel Clifford Ashley, pilot,
Sgt Alfred Robert Clarke, observer,
Sgt Alfred Edward Harrison, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Eye witnesses reported that just prior to the crash, the crew released a flare and as the Blenheim circled, so it collided with the tops of some trees.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I at RAF Upwood

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1940 at 1130 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L8683

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Upwood - Upwood

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The pilot was completing a local solo training flight at RAF Upwood. On final approach, the airplane suffered a loss of engine power, stalled and crashed. The pilot was uninjured.
Crew:
Sgt Charles Sydney Herbert Bayford, pilot.

Probable cause:

Loss of engine power on approach.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IF near Ventnor: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L6686

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Ford - Ford

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The airplane departed RAF Ford on a maritime patrol flight. While returning to base, it ran out of fuel. Two crew members bailed out over the sea off Ventnor but drowned in the rough swell. The pilot continued and the airplane crash landed near Ventnor. The pilot was rescued.
Crew:
Sgt R. S. Loveridge, pilote,
F/Sgt Alexander Newman, observer,
F/Sgt George Southall, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I in Kuçovë: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L8471

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

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Shot down by enemy fire and crashed in Kuçovë, killing all three crew members.
Crew:
F/O Peter Fenton Miles, pilot,
Sgt Francis Gartly Moir, observer,
Sgt Bertram Alfred Charles Brooker, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I in Koritsa

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L8374

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The bomber was shot down by enemy fire and crash landed near Koritsa. Both crew members evacuated with minor injuries.
Crew:
F/O John Frederick Evans, pilot,
Sgt Harold Bertie Offord.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

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

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1940 at 1704 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

R3878

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Saint Eval -Saint Eval

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The airplane departed RAF Saint Eval at 1455LT on an operation to Brest. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter and crashed in Plouguin, some 18 km northwest of Brest. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
S/L George Wroughton Montagu, pilot,
Sgt Dennis Rushworth Briggs, observer,
P/O George Henry Hannan, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IVC off Lenankeel

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L9415

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Belfast - Belfast

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The bomber crash landed in the Loch Swilly off Lenankeel and was lost. All three crew members swam to the shore and were later interned.
Crew:
Sgt S. J. Hobbs,
Sgt H. W. Ricketts,
Sgt D. B. Newport.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV on Belle-Île-en-Mer

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

T1860

Flight Phase:

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Survivors:

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Schedule:

Wattisham - Wattisham

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The airplane departed RAF Wattisham to attack Lannion Airport. It crash landed on Belle-Île-en-Mer. All three crew members became PoW.
Crew:
F/Lt Edgar Spottiswoode Humphreys,
Sgt Geoffrey Royson Griggs,
Sgt Leonard Frederick Brand.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IF in Hurst: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L1467

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Catterick - Catterick

MSN:

8750

YOM:

1939

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The crew departed RAF Catterick on a training sortie. While descending through clouds, the airplane impacted the slope of a hill located near Hurst. The pilot was killed and the air gunner was seriously injured. Six days after the accident, he died from injuries sustained.
Crew:
Sgt Thomas Norman Wilson, pilot,
P/O George Henry Holmes, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I in Saranda: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L8462

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

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Circumstances:

The bomber was shot down by enemy fire and crashed near Saranda. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Steven Paget, pilot,
Sgt George Sigsworth, observer,
Sgt William Tubberdy, wireless operator.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.