Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in De Moer: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1940 at 1420 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
R3897
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Oulton - Oulton
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Oulton to attack the Gilze-Rijen AFB. Approaching the target, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in De Moer. All three crew members were killed.
crew:
Sgt Leslie Alfred Young, pilot,
Sgt John Edward Brown, observer,
Sgt Jack Coates, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

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

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
T2328
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Norwich - Norwich
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Horsham St Faith (Norwich) on an operation to Cologne. It was lost without trace, maybe it crashed somewhere in the North Sea. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
S/L Robert Carleton Beaman,
Sgt Henry Robson,
Sgt Douglas Trigwell.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I near Vlorë: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L1540
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
8823
YOM:
1939
Location:
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 enemy fire and crashed near Vlorë, killing all three crew members.
Crew:
Sgt Sidney Lewis Bennett,
Sgt William Henry Tunstall,
Sgt Leslie Ronald France.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I at Elefsis AFB: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 30, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
B252
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Elefsis - Elefsis
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Crashed upon takeoff for unknown reasons. All three crew members were killed.

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

Date & Time: Dec 29, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Location:
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 in Vlorë. All three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by an Italian fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I off Vlorë: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 29, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
K7104
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Elefsina - Elefsina
MSN:
8057
YOM:
1937
Location:
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 into the sea off Vlorë. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Lt Harry Duncan Card, pilot,
Sgt Frederick Pease, observer,
Sgt Graham Edgar Bygrave, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by an Italian fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV near Gilze-Rijen AFB: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 27, 1940 at 1930 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
T2223
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bodney - Bodney
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Bodney to attack aerodromes. It was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in the vicinity of Gilze-Rijen AFB. Two crew members were killed and a third occupant became PoW.
Crew:
S/L Malcolm Llewellyn McColm, pilot,
Sgt Cecil John Hann, observer, †
Sgt David George Shepherd, wireless operator. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

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

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1940 at 2100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
R2793
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Horsham - Horsham
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Horsham on an operation to Ostend. It crashed at 2100LT for unknown reasons at Radwinter, killing all three crew members.
Crew:
Sgt Leonard Edward Holland, pilot,
Sgt Ronald Mackintosh Rodgers, observer,
Sgt Herbert Edward Saxby, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Little Plumstead: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1940 at 1959 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L9183
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Horsham - Horsham
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
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:
Operator:
Registration:
L8683
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 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.