Saint Margaret's at Cliffe | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The airplane departed RAF Lindholme at 2013LT on September 2 on an operation to Frankfurt. While outbound, over Oudenaarde, Belgium, it was hit by the German Flak which causedc a fire in the starboard engine. The pilot turned about, but the port engine subsequently failed and the bomber was ditched 7 miles off the South Foreland near ST Margaret's at Cliff. All six crew members were rescued by HSL147.
Crew:
Sgt Molata,
F/O Drzechowski,
F/O Jarkewski,
Sgt Kratowchil,
Sgt Reng,
Sgt Czech.

Probable cause:

Damaged by the German Flak.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Saint Margaret's at Cliffe

Date & Time: May 27, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

R3703

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Lympne - Lympne

Location:

Saint Margaret's at Cliffe

Kent

Country:

United Kingdom

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While returning to its base following a reconnaissance mission over Belgium, the airplane was attacked by enemy fire. The crew was able to evacuate the area and to return to England but was eventually forced to bail out and to abandon the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed in St. Margaret's at Cliffe. All three crew members were uninjured.
Crew:
P/O Kenneth Arthur Aldridge, pilot,
Sgt H. J. McRae, observer,
AC1 R. H. Trafford, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.