Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF Cranfield

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
V5932
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Cranfield - Cranfield
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot was completing a local training exercise at RAF Cranfield. After landing, the airplane ran into a second RAF Blenheim registered V5798 that just crashed earlier. There were no injuries.
Crew:
Sgt K. R. McCorick, pilot.

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

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
Z7700
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 2140LT on an operation to Soesterberg. It failed to return to base and is believed to have crashed somewhere in the North Sea. Lost without trace.
Crew:
F/Lt Ernest Martin Bury, pilot,
Sgt John Samuel Beauchamp, observer,
Sgt Thomas Crilly, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I at RAF Catfoss

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
K7087
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Catfoss - Catfoss
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
For unknown reasons, the airplane ground looped after landing, lost its undercarriage and was damaged beyond repair. There were no injuries.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Boston Spa: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 13, 1942 at 0927 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N3538
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Upwood - Upwood
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Upwood on a cross country exercise. While cruising at night, the airplane collided with high tension cables and crashed in Boston Spa, bursting into flames. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt William Curlet, pilot,
P/O John Douglas Lamb McColl, observer,
Sgt Eric Johnson, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF Worthy Down: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 8, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
Z6342
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Leuchars - Worthy Down - Thorney Island
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Leuchars on a flight to RAF Thorney Island with an intermediate stop at RAF Worthy Down. After takeoff, while climbing to a height of 100 feet, the airplane suffered an engine failure and crashed, bursting into flames. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Francis Henry Wilkinson, pilot,
F/Sgt Jack Adrian Colin London, observer,
P/O Cedric Hubert Owen Priest, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Engine failure upon takeoff.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I in Colston Bassett

Date & Time: Mar 4, 1942 at 1125 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L6804
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Upwood - Upwood
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot departed RAF Upwood on a solo training exercise. While cruising in very bad weather conditions at an altitude of 1,000 feet, an engine failed. The pilot climbed to 3,200 feet then abandoned the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed in Colston Bassett, bursting into flames. The pilot was uninjured.
Crew:
Sgt Geoffrey David Jessup, pilot.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I Off Cox's Bazar

Date & Time: Mar 4, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L8448
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
For unknown reasons, the airplane crashed into the sea off Cox's Bazar, south of Chittagong. Both crew members were injured and rescued.
Crew:
W/Cdr John Ker, pilot,
F/Lt Hem Chaudhury, pilot.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IVF at RAF Church Fenton

Date & Time: Mar 2, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L8684
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Church Fenton - Church Fenton
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot was engaged in a local solo training exercise at RAF Church Fenton. Upon landing, the undercarriage collapsed and the airplane came to rest and was damaged beyond repair. The pilot escaped unhurt.
Crew:
S/L Roger de Winton Kelsall Winlaw, pilot.
Probable cause:
The undercarriage collapsed upon landing.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I at RAF East Fortune

Date & Time: Mar 1, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L1324
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
East Fortune - East Fortune
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot departed RAF East Fortune on a local solo training exercise. Shortly after liftoff, the airplane suffered an engine failure and crashed. The pilot was injured.
Crew:
Sgt R. Tidy, pilot.
Probable cause:
Engine failure upon takeoff.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I in Nakuru

Date & Time: Feb 27, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L6659
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Nakuru - Nakuru
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training flight at Nakuru Airstrip on behalf of the 70 OTU. During the takeoff roll, a tyre burst. The airplane swung and the undercarriage collapsed. Both crew members escaped uninjured while the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
P/O King, instructor,
Sgt McDonald, student pilot.
Probable cause:
A tyre burst during takeoff.