Zone

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

Date & Time: Apr 6, 1940 at 0405 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L8740
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Watton - Watton
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Watton at 0400LT on an anti-submarine patrol mission. Five minutes after takeoff, while climbing at night, the airplane went out of control and crashed in Attleborough, about 10 km southeast of the airbase. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Ian Stapledon, pilot,
Sgt Walter Jonathan Wetton, observer,
LAC John Brayfield Ball, wireless operator and air gunner.