Watton AFB | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The airplane departed RAF Watton at 1504LT on a bombing mission over the Forêt de Gault. It was shot down by a Me.109 and crashed in Courgivaux. All three crew members bailed out. Two became PoW and a third was killed.
Crew:
F/Lt J. C. Breese, pilot,
Sgt H. H. Williams, observer,
Sgt Kenneth Henry Harris, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

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

Date & Time: Jun 13, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L8829

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Watton - Watton

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The airplane departed RAF Watton at 1504LT to attack German columns in the Forêt de Gault. It crashed in unknown circumstances into the North Sea. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Albert Edward Merritt, pilot,
Sgt Neville William Carlile, observer,
Sgt Leslie D. Nineham, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Lamotte-Buleux: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 8, 1940 at 1905 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

R3709

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Watton - Watton

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The airplane departed RAF Watton at 1705LT to attack petrol dumps located northeast of Abbeville. It was shot down by enemy fire and crashed near Lamotte-Buleux. A crew was killed and two others became PoW.
Crew:
P/O G. P. Robertson, pilot,
Sgt J. Houston, observer,
Sgt Brian William Burt, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV near Poix-de-Picardie: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 8, 1940 at 1130 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

R3618

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Watton - Watton

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Crashed in unknown circumstances near Poix-de-Picardie while on a bombing mission over enemy positions. A crewman was killed and two others became PoW.
Crew:
P/O R. C. D. McKenzie, pilot,
Sgt Joseph Herbert Cooper, observer, †
Sgt Crozier, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Abbeville: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 8, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

R3754

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Schedule:

Watton - Watton

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Crashed in unknown circumstances in Abbeville while on a bombing mission over fuel dumbs. A crew was killed and to others were uninjured.
Crew:
P/O J. Percival, pilot,
Sgt K. S. Dodrill, observer,
Sgt John Byatt, air gunner.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV near Saint-Omer: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 28, 1940 at 1400 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L8744

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Schedule:

Watton - Watton

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The airplane departed RAF Watton at 1230LT on a bombing mission over Clairmarais. It was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in the Clairmarais Forest located about four km east of Saint-Omer. A crew was killed and two others were injured.
Crew:
Sgt R. G. Bailes, pilot,
Sgt Arnold Edward Desmond Twamley, observer,
AC1 S. C. Thompson, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

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

Date & Time: May 25, 1940 at 2035 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

R3598

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Watton - Watton

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Crashed near Abbeville after being shot down by enemy fire. Two crewmen were killed and a third bailed out and survived.
Crew:
P/O Douglas Stewart Dickins, pilot,
Sgt Frank Miller, observer, †
Cpl Benjamin Morgan Harding, wireless operator and air gunner. †

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

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

Date & Time: May 25, 1940 at 1630 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L8734

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Watton - Watton

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The airplane departed RAF Watton at 1530LT on a bombing mission over Lys. En route, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in Kezelberg. Two crew members were killed and a third was injured.
Crew:
Sgt Harold Rowson, pilot,
Sgt Arthur Knightley Roland Keates, observer,
LAC Donald Vincent Cleaver, Wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Neufchâtel-Hardelot: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 22, 1940 at 2045 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

P4828

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Watton - Watton

MSN:

9343

YOM:

1939

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The airplane departed RAF Watton at 1845LT to attack German positions in Hesdin. It was shot down by Flak and crashed in Neufchâtel-Hardelot. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt John W. Hartfield, pilot,
Sgt Frederick Phillipson, observer,
AC2 Angus W. Elliot, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by Flak.

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

Date & Time: May 21, 1940 at 1500 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L9325

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Watton - Watton

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The airplane departed RAF Watton at 1200LT on a reconnaissance mission over Douai. It is believed that it was shot downy by friendly fire and crashed near Combles. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Cyril Light, pilot,
Sgt Arthur Ernest Craig, observer,
Sgt George Hawkins, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down.