Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Montaigu: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 11, 1940 at 1730 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L9175
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Wattisham - Wattisham
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Wattisham to attack bridges on the Albert Canal near Maastricht. En route, the airplane was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter and crashed in Montaigu. Two crew members were killed and a third became PoW.
Crew:
F/O Gordon Reginald Grattan, pilot, †
Sgt T. Patterson, observer,
LAC Frederick John Allam, air gunner. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Fouquières-lès-Béthune: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 11, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N6208
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Wattisham - Wattisham
MSN:
9307
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Wattisham to bomb bridges over the Albert Canal near Maastricht. In unknown circumstances, the aircraft crashed in Fouquières-lès-Béthune, southwest of Béthune, bursting into flames. A crewman was killed and two others were injured.
Crew:
Sgt G. C. Bennett, pilot,
Sgt Arthur Colling, observer,
AC1 E. Hannah, wireless operator and air gunner.

Ground accident of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF Wattisham

Date & Time: May 10, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L8778
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Wattisham - Wattisham
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
In the absence of qualified pilot, LAC J. E. Humphreys attempted to taxi the Blenheim to its dispersal, but he ran off the perimeter track and collided with a tree. The pilot escaped uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Crew error.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I off Heligoland Island: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 15, 1940 at 1037 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L8752
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Wattisham - Wattisham
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Wattisham to reconnoitre the Heligoland area. During the course of the operation, the crew attacked an enemy patrol boat, but were shot down by return fire. The airplane crashed into the sea and all three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Lt Mervyn Lascelles Morris, pilot,
Sgt Leslie Bancroft, observer,
LAC Richard Henry Mercer, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Blåvands Huk: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 27, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L8747
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Wattisham - Wattisham
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Wattisham in order to obtain photographs from the recent bombing of Hörnum on the island of Sylt. In unclear circumstances, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter and crashed into the sea off Blåvands Huk. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt David William Gibb Nichols, pilot,
Sgt George Herbert Stiles, observer,
LAC Jack Brian Roberts, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Oakley

Date & Time: Mar 23, 1940 at 2025 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N6200
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Wattisham - Wattisham
MSN:
9299
YOM:
1939
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following a reconnaissance mission over Heligoland, the crew was returning to his base at RAF Wattisham. En route, the pilot was forced to attempt an emergency landing for unknown reasons. The airplane landed in an open field located in Oakley and came to rest upside down. All three crew members were uninjured.
Crew:
F/O J. K. Buchanan,
Sgt Patterson,
AC2 Greenwood.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Heligoland Island: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 17, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N6211
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Wattisham - Wattisham
MSN:
9310
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While approaching the German coast on a reconnaissance mission, the airplane was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter and crashed into the sea north of Heligoland Island. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt William Barnard Woods,
AC1 Jack Orchard,
Sgt Frederick John Raymond Bigg.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF Manby

Date & Time: Jan 10, 1940 at 1425 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N6203
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Wattisham - Wattisham
MSN:
9302
YOM:
1939
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed RAF Wattisham on a reconnaissance mission over Germany. En route, it was attacked by German fighters. The pilot was able to evacuate the area and to return to England. But the airplane crashed on approach to RAF Manby. All three crew members were uninjured.
Crew:
P/O G. H. Pemberton,
Sgt Quarrington,
AC1 Roberts.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

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

Date & Time: Jan 10, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
P4859
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Wattisham - Wattisham
MSN:
9374
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed RAF Wattisham on a reconnaissance mission over Germany. En route, it was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter and crashed into the North Sea. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt J. H. Hanne,
Sgt G. L. Williams,
AC1 E. Vick.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF Wattisham

Date & Time: Jan 10, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N6213
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Wattisham - Wattisham
MSN:
9312
YOM:
1939
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The left main gear collapsed on landing at RAF Wattisham. All three crew members evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
P/O P. V. Ardenne,
Sgt Evans,
LAC J. Tippett.
Probable cause:
The left main gear collapsed on landing.