Country
France
code

Somme

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at Poix-Croixrault AFB

Date & Time: May 9, 1940 at 0200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L9331
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Poix-Croixrault - Poix-Croixrault
Location:
Poix-Croixrault AFB
Somme
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Poix-Croixrault AFB on a reconnaissance mission over the Ruhr, Germany. While returning at night, the crew failed to locate the airfield due to poor visibility caused by mist. On approach, the airplane crashed in a field located few km from the airbase. All three crew members were injured.
Crew:
P/O A. F. M. Wilson, pilot,
Sgt J. Ryan, observer,
AC1 H. A. G. Ferre, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I in Poix-Croixrault: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 4, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L4857
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Poix-Croixrault - Poix-Croixrault
MSN:
8872
YOM:
1939
Location:
Poix-Croixrault AFB
Somme
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight out from Poix-Croixrault Airfield. While attempting to land, the aircraft overshot and crashed, bursting into flames. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Gordon Owen Arscott,
Sgt George Harrison Barford,
AC2 Peter William Froom.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Lihons: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 11, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L9181
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Lihons
Somme
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in Lihons, bursting into flames. Two occupants were rescued at 0430LT while the third crewman was killed.
Crew:
F/O Archibald Cathcart Stewart, pilot,
Sgt Clifford Edward Simpson, observer,
AC1 George Lindsay, wireless operator. †

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I in Beaussart: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 27, 1940 at 1500 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L8838
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Condé-Vraux - Condé-Vraux
Location:
Beaussart
Somme
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew departed Condé-Vraux Airfield on a local training mission. While cruising in clouds, the pilot became lost. Two crew bailed out and were found uninjured. Nevertheless, the pilot remained on board and was killed when the airplane crashed in an open field.
Crew:
P/O Harold Dodgson, pilot, †
Sgt Hawkins,
AC1 Barrow.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide in Moyenneville

Date & Time: Feb 12, 1940
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide
Operator:
Registration:
G-ACYM
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Hendon - Moyenneville
MSN:
6269
YOM:
1934
Location:
Moyenneville
Somme
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was approaching Moyenneville in a snowstorm. The pilot made a forced landing in a field when the aircraft hit the ground and came to rest. All five occupants were slightly injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. This was a special mission on behalf of the 24th RAF Squadron.

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

Date & Time: Dec 27, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L8598
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Méharicourt - Méharicourt
Location:
Méharicourt
Somme
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
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 I in Rosières-en-Santerre: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 23, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L1129
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Rosières-en-Santerre - Rosières-en-Santerre
MSN:
8412
YOM:
1938
Location:
Rosières-en-Santerre
Somme
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Rosières-en-Santerre on a local training sortie with three crew members on board. It then flew into tented accommodation near the aerodrome on while making a low fly pass. The pilot managed to keep control and climbed so his two crew could bail out, which they did successfully, but he was still at the controls when the Blenheim stalled and crashed near the airfield. The pilot was killed.
Crew:
P/O Oliver Carlisle Hume, pilot, †
Sgt George Frederick Couzens, observer,
LAC Charles French Stevens, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Lioré-et-Olivier LeO H-213 in Poix-de-Picardie

Date & Time: Jan 13, 1933
Type of aircraft:
Lioré-et-Olivier LeO H-213
Operator:
Registration:
F-AJNS
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Paris – Croydon
MSN:
07
YOM:
1930
Location:
Poix-de-Picardie
Somme
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Paris to Croydon, the aircraft caught fire in flight. The pilot reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing in an open field. The aircraft rolled for few dozen metres before coming to rest, bursting into flames. All six occupants evacuated safely and the airplane was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
In-flight fire for unknown reasons.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60G Moth in Arguel

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1930
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Charles R. Parkerson
Registration:
G-AALM
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1160
YOM:
1930
Location:
Arguel
Somme
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot departed Croydon Airport in the morning on a solo flight to Australia. While cruising over the Department of Somme, north of France, he encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions. Too low, the aircraft impacted trees and crashed. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.26 in Abbeville

Date & Time: Feb 15, 1928
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.26
Operator:
Registration:
G-EBBG
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Croydon – Paris
MSN:
W8/2
YOM:
1922
Location:
Abbeville
Somme
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Croydon to Paris, while approaching Abbeville, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. The pilot reduced his altitude and attempted a precautionary landing. Unfortunately, the manoeuvre was eventful and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. All occupants evacuated safely.
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