West Raynham AFB

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

T2430

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Survivors:

Yes

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Schedule:

West Raynham - West Raynham

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The airplane departed RAF West Raynham at 2230LT on April 26 for intruder duties in the vicinity of Eindhoven. It was badly shot about by a Junkers JU.88 and on return was further damaged by anti-aircraft fire near Lowestoft. The crew diverted to RAF Pulham where he made an emergency landing. The aircraft was destroyed and all three crew members were injured.
Crew:
P/O John Robert Nassau Molesworth, pilot,
P/O Edmund Francis Keith Denny, observer,
Sgt W. H. Burberry, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter and British anti-aircraft fire.

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

Date & Time: Apr 24, 1942 at 2332 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

V5458

Flight Phase:

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West Raynham - West Raynham

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The airplane departed RAF West Raynham at 2215LT on an intruder sortie over Leeuwarden Airfield. Approaching the Dutch coast, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed into the sea north of Ameland Island. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Patrick McKenny, pilot,
Sgt James McIntyre, observer,
Sgt Joseph Lewis, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I in Aalsmeer

Date & Time: Apr 17, 1942 at 2322 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

Z7430

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

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West Raynham - West Raynham

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The airplane departed RAF West Raynham at 2136LT on an operation to Amsterdam-Schiphol Airport. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in Aalsmeer, south of the airfield. All three crew members became PoW.
Crew:
W/Cdr G. L. B. Hull, pilot,
F/Lt Thomas Herbert Baker, navigator,
P/O J. F. L. Morton, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

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

Date & Time: Mar 27, 1942 at 2228 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

Z7276

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

West Raynham - West Raynham

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The airplane departed RAF West Raynham at 1915LT on an intruder operation over Soesterberg AFB. It was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in Zeist. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
W/Cdr John Fraser Grant Jenkins, pilot,
F/O Henry Paul Brackner, observer,
Sgt Charles Henry Gray, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Wieringen: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1942 at 2357 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

Z7307

Flight Phase:

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West Raynham - West Raynham

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The airplane departed RAF West Raynham at 2045LT on an operation to Soesterberg. It was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in the Waddenzee off Wieringen. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt William Maurice Popplestone, pilot,
P/O William George Francis Hawkin, observer,
P/O Cyril Edwin White, 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: Mar 26, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

Z7700

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

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Schedule:

West Raynham - West Raynham

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The airplane departed RAF West Raynham at 2140LT on an operation to Soesterberg. It failed to return to base and is believed to have crashed somewhere in the North Sea. Lost without trace.
Crew:
F/Lt Ernest Martin Bury, pilot,
Sgt John Samuel Beauchamp, observer,
Sgt Thomas Crilly, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off The Hague: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 12, 1942 at 1740 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

T1922

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

West Raynham - West Raynham

Location:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF West Raynham at 1410LT on 'Operation Fuller'. Approaching the Dutch coast, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed into the sea off Kijkduin, near The Hague. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Robert Elmer Drsydale, pilot,
Sgt Arthur Stanley Maynard, observer,
Sgt John Standeford Pullen, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF West Raynham

Date & Time: Feb 8, 1942

Type of aircraft: