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

Date & Time: Aug 31, 1940 at 2110 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
T1940
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Detling - Detling
Location:
Pernis
South Holland
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Detling at 1940LT on a bombing mission over Rotterdam. Approaching the target, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in Pernis. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
W/Cdr Edward Cecil Theodore Edwards, pilot,
Sgt Lionel Louis Benjamin, observer,
Sgt John Thomas Beesley, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Pernis: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 11, 1940 at 2320 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
N5220
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Detling - Detling
Location:
Pernis
South Holland
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While on a maritime patrol flight over the North Sea, the twin engine aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a He.111 and crashed in Pernis, in the suburb of Rotterdam. Three crewmen were killed while the fourth occupant was injured and became PoW.
Crew (500th Squadron):
P/O Arthur Wilfred Alexander Whitehead, †
P/O Anthony Ronald Mathias, †
Sgt H. W. J. Smith,
AC1 William Charles Hubbard. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IF in Pernis: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 10, 1940 at 1400 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L6616
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
City
Schedule:
Manston - Manston
Location:
Pernis
South Holland
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Manston on a bombing mission over Waalhaven. Approaching Rotterdam, the bomber was shot down by a Me.110 and crashed in Pernis, in the suburb of Rotterdam. Two crew members were killed and a third was injured.
Crew:
S/L James Michael Wells, pilot, †
Sgt John Davis, observer,
Cpl Basil Arthur Kidd, air gunner. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V in Pernis: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 28, 1940 at 0530 LT
Type of aircraft:
Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley
Operator:
Registration:
N1357
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Driffield - Driffield
Location:
Pernis
South Holland
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The aircraft left RAF Driffield at 2305LT on March 27 on a reconnaissance mission over Germany. During the back trip to UK, the bomber strayed into the Dutch airspace and was shot down by the pilot of a Dutch fighter before crashing in flames in Pernis, southwest of Rotterdam. A crew member was killed while all four other occupants were rescued. It is possible the that Sgt Miller have fallen from the airplane just seconds prior to the final impact.
Crew (77th Squadron):
F/O T. J. Geach,
F/O W. P. Copinger,
Sgt J. E. Miller, †
LAC S. H. E. Caplin,
AC2 R. B. Barrie.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Dutch fighter.
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