Wyton AFB | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The airplane departed RAF Wyton at 0815LT on an operation over Saint-Valery-sur-Somme. For unknown reasons, the crew was forced to make an emergency landing in a field. One crew was injured and two others became PoW.
Crew:
P/O Vaughan Gothrik Welsby Engstrom, pilot,
Sgt Michael Richardson Chouler, observer,
Sgt Donald Liddle, wireless operator and air gunner.

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

Date & Time: May 25, 1940 at 1230 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

P4920

Flight Phase:

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Schedule:

Wyton - Wyton

MSN:

9402

YOM:

1939

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The airplane departed RAF Wyton at 1027LT and was shot down over Rety and crashed. Two crew members were killed and a third was injured.
Crew:
Sgt S. I. Tonks, pilot,
Sgt Jack L. Alexander, observer, †
LAC Dennis Goffe, wireless operator and air gunner. †

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Saint-Inglevert: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 25, 1940 at 1230 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

P6913

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Wyton - Wyton

MSN:

9438

YOM:

1939

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Shot down by enemy fire and crashed in Saint-Inglevert. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Douglas S. R. Harriman, pilot,
Sgt Peter Bloomer, observer,
P/O James H. Gordon, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

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

Date & Time: May 23, 1940 at 1500 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L9403

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Wyton - Wyton

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The airplane departed RAF Wyton at 1300LT on an operation over Arras. It crashed in unknown circumstances in Morval, killing all three crew members.
Crew:
P/O James G. Masters, pilot,
F/Sgt Eugene Tucker, observer,
Sgt Clifford W. Thompson, wireless operator and air gunner.

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

Date & Time: May 23, 1940 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

P4909

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

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Schedule:

Wyton - Wyton

MSN:

9391

YOM:

1939

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Shot down by the German Flak and crashed in Beuvry, southeast of Béthune. Two crew members were killed and a third bailed out and was uninjured.
Crew:
W/Cdr John Griffith Llewelyn, pilot,
Sgt J. A. D. Beattie, observer,
P/O William George Edwards, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

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

Date & Time: May 23, 1940 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L8834

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Wyton - Wyton

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The airplane departed RAF Wyton at 1000LT to attack troop columns. It was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in Miraumont. A crewman was injured and two others were killed.
Crew:
F/O R. H. Jacoby, pilot,
Sgt Peter Arthur Merrick Burrell, observer,
LAC Peter Rex Whittle, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Rouen

Date & Time: May 23, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L9243

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Wyton - Wyton

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After being damaged by Flak, the crew diverted to Rouen Airport where the airplane crashed upon landing. Two crew members were injured and a third was unhurt.
Crew:
P/O G. W. S. Ritchie, pilot,
Sgt R. N. Wells, observer,
LAC G. C. P. Haines, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Etaples

Date & Time: May 21, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

R3706

Flight Phase:

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Wyton - Wyton

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Hit by ground fire and crash landed near Etaples. All three crew members were injured.
Crew:
F/Lt P. F. Webster, pilot,
Sgt R. A. M. Stone, observer,
LAC R. E. Hunter; wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Preux-au-Bois: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 18, 1940 at 1605 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L8853

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Schedule:

Wyton – Abbeville

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The airplane departed RAF Wyton on a positioning flight to Abbeville. While cruising northeast of Le Cateau-Cambrésis, it was shot down by the pilot of a Me.109 and crashed. Two crew members were killed and a third was injured.
Crew:
S/L Hector Yeates Lawrence, pilot, †
Sgt Reginald George Hopkins, observer, †
LAC E. L. H. Thomas, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

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

Date & Time: May 18, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L8852

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Wyton - Abbeville

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The airplane departed RAF Wyton on a positioning flight to Abbeville. While cruising northeast of Le Cateau-Cambrésis, it was shot down by the pilot of a Me.109 and crashed. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O F. D. Dawson-Jones, pilot,
Sgt W. Baxter, observer,
LAC C. G. Watts, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.