Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

T1828

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Schedule:

Norwich - Norwich

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The crew departed RAF Horsham St Faith (Norwich) on a training exercise. While cruising at an altitude of 3,000 feet just below the cloud base, the airplane collided with a RAF Beaufighter registered R2056. Both airplanes dove into the ground and crashed in Thrapston. The observer was killed while the pilot bailed out and was injured. The pilot of the Beaufighter was also injured.
Crew:
Sgt Peter Harrison Swan, pilot,
Sgt George Yorke Larmour, observer. †

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF Warboys

Date & Time: Mar 30, 1942 at 1600 LT

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Operator:

Registration:

R3772

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Survivors:

Yes

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Schedule:

Warboys - Warboys

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The pilot was completing a solo training exercise at RAF Warboys when the airplane crashed upon landing for unknown reasons. The airplane was damaged beyond repair and the pilot escaped uninjured.
Crew:
Sgt Coleman, pilot.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IVF near Sherburn-in-Elmet: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1942 at 2330 LT

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Registration:

N3561

Flight Phase:

Flight

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Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Church Fenton - Church Fenton

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The crew departed RAF Church Fenton on a night training exercise. While cruising at an altitude of 22,000 feet, the airplane entered an uncontrolled and crashed at high speed in a pasture in Sherburn-in-Elmet. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Walter Hibbard Bailey, pilot,
Sgt John Prince, observer.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined. However, the assumption that the loss of control was the consequence of the failure of the oxygen supply or a sudden indisposition of the pilot was not ruled out.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF Sutton Bridge

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1942 at 1835 LT

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Operator:

Registration:

Z5949

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Survivors:

Yes

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Schedule:

Upwood - Upwood

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The crew departed RAF Upwood on a navigation exercise. En route, one of the engine failed due to fuel starvation and the crew diverted to RAF Sutton Bridge. On short final, the undercarriage collided with a raised bank and was torn off. The airplane crash landed and was damaged beyond repair. All three crew members were injured.
Crew:
Sgt Joseph Leslie Harrison Haegerty, pilot,
P/O John Norman Jenkinson, observer,
Sgt Edward Patrick Moakler, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

The pilot had taken off with the fuel cocks in the wrong position, causing an engine to fail in flight due to fuel starvation. Due to a too low approach, the airplane collided with a raised bank on short final, causing the undercarriage to be torn off.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV near Crozon

Date & Time: Mar 28, 1942

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Registration:

Z6103

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For unknown reasons, the airplane crash landed near Crozon, south of Brest. All three crew members became PoW.
Crew:
Sgt Herbert Joseph Mullineaux,
Sgt Anthony George Parnell,
Sgt Arthur Thomas Price.

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

Date & Time: Mar 27, 1942 at 2228 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

Z7276

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

West Raynham - West Raynham

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The airplane departed RAF West Raynham at 1915LT on an intruder operation over Soesterberg AFB. It was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in Zeist. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
W/Cdr John Fraser Grant Jenkins, pilot,
F/O Henry Paul Brackner, observer,
Sgt Charles Henry Gray, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Wieringen: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1942 at 2357 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

Z7307

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

West Raynham - West Raynham

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The airplane departed RAF West Raynham at 2045LT on an operation to Soesterberg. It was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in the Waddenzee off Wieringen. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt William Maurice Popplestone, pilot,
P/O William George Francis Hawkin, observer,
P/O Cyril Edwin White, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

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

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1942

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Registration:

R3808

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Church Fenton - Church Fenton

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The pilot was completing a local night solo training exercise at RAF Church Fenton. On final, the airplane was too low and misaligned with the runway so the pilot initiated a go around procedure. Few minutes later, on a second attempt to land, at a height of about 100 feet, the airplane stalled and crashed near the boundary fence. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot was killed.
Crew:
Sgt Edmund Roy Baggott, pilot.

Probable cause:

It was found that a number of twigs were jammed in the starboard aileron and it was presumed that the airplane had probably struck a tree during the first attempt to land.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF Cranfield

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1942

Type of aircraft:

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Registration:

V5798

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Survivors:

Yes

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