Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Norwich

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1940 at 2150 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
R3744
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Norwich - Norwich
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Norwich Airport on an operation to Mannheim. Soon after takeoff, the crew encountered difficulties and jettisoned the bomb load that fell into Bond Street in Norwich. At 2150LT, the airplane crashed near the white House at Sprowston in the northeastern suburbs of the city. Two crews were injured and the third was unhurt.
Crew:
Sgt T. E. Barnes,
Sgt H. S. Seward,
Sgt L. B. Walsh.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV near Plympton

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1940 at 0515 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
Z5801
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
West Raynham - West Raynham
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF West Raynham at 2108LT on December 16 on an operation to Mannheim. While returning to base the following morning, it ran out of fuel and was abandoned by the crew while approaching Plymouth. The airplane dove into the ground and crashed in the Newnham Deer Park located north of Plympton and was destroyed. All three crew members were uninjured.
Crew:
P/O C. E. Hill,
P/O R. E. Glover,
F/O J. V. Baker.
Probable cause:
Fuel exhaustion.

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

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
T2039
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
West Raynham - West Raynham
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF West Raynham at 2051LT on December 16 on an operation to Mannheim. Presumed lost over the North Sea. All three crew members were killed.
Crew.
Sgt Henry James Clarke,
Sgt George Matheson Wilcox,
Sgt Michael Joseph Oliver Heaney.

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

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
P6953
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
West Raynham - West Raynham
MSN:
9463
YOM:
1940
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF West Raynham at 2108LT on December 16 on an operation to Mannheim. The following night, while returning to base, it crashed in unknown circumstances in Fairlight. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt William Skipworth, pilot,
Sgt Walter Edward Need, observer,
Sgt Donald Stephenson, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IF near RAF Catterick

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1940 at 1510 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L8723
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Drem - Catterick
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Drem on a transfer flight to RAF Catterick. While descending to the destination airfield, the crew encountered very bad weather conditions and made an emergency landing near RAF Catterick. All occupants escaped with minor injuries and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV on Titterstone Clee Hill: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 14, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L4835
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
8850
YOM:
1939
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a cross-country exercise when weather conditions worsened. Flying at an altitude of 1,200 feet in clouds, the airplane impacted the slope of the Titterstone Clee Hill located five miles northeast of Ludlow. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Ian Munro Curror, pilot,
Sgt Alfred James Victot Secker, observer,
Sgt John Pinchard, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I in El Salloum: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 12, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L8465
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The bomber was shot down by the pilot of an Italian fighter and crashed near El Salloum. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Patrick Cullimore Traill-Smith, pilot,
P/O Vincent Dennis Fry, observer,
Sgt Tom Osborn Liggins, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by an Italian fighter.

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

Date & Time: Dec 11, 1940 at 1100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
R3672
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Oulton - Oulton
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at RAF Oulton. On final approach, the airplane crashed short of runway. A crew was killed and a second was injured.
Crew:
Sgt M. G. Jackson,
Sgt Eric George Fisher. †

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

Date & Time: Dec 11, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
T1897
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Swanton Morley - Swanton Morley
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Swanton Morley at 1902LT to attack aerodromes. In the evening, it crashed in unknown circumstances in Zedelgem, killing all three crew members.
Crew:
F/Sgt Patrick Ranby Richardson, pilot,
Sgt James Frederick Donlon, observer,
Sgt Vivian Charles Gifford, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Cologne

Date & Time: Dec 11, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
Z5794
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Wattisham - Wattisham
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Wattisham on an operation to Cologne. Approaching the target area, the pilot was forced to make an emergency landing. All three crew members became PoW.
Crew:
P/O Wilfred Hnry Culling,
Sgt Arnold Brown,
Sgt Edwin Thomas Perry.