Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Stavanger - Stavanger

MSN:

5640

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The aircraft departed Stavanger-Sola on a reconnaissance mission. While cruising in poor visibility due to fog, the aircraft impacted the slope of a mountain located on Venøya Island. All four crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

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

Date & Time: May 12, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

L8861

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Schedule:

Méharicourt - Méharicourt

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The airplane departed Méharicourt on a reconnaissance mission over Belgium when it crashed in unknown circumstances in Kanne. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Charlie Bellis, pilot,
Sgt Horace David Welch, observer,
LAC Kenneth Parry, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Borlez

Date & Time: May 11, 1940 at 1655 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

L9459

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Schedule:

Poix-Croixrault - Poix-Croixrault

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The bomber departed Poix-Croixrault AFB on a reconnaissance mission over Belgium. En route, it was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter and crashed in a field located in Borlez. All three crew members were injured.
Crew:
F/O Alistair D. Panton, pilot,
Sgt W. A. Christie, observer,
AC2 R. W. Bence, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

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

Date & Time: May 11, 1940 at 1020 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

L1405

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Méharicourt - Méharicourt

MSN:

8688

YOM:

1939

Location:

Breyell

North Rhine-Westphalia

Country:

Germany

Region:

Europe

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The airplane departed Méharicourt on a reconnaissance mission over the Maas River to Venlo. En route, it was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter and crashed. A crewman was injured and became PoW while both other occupants were killed.
Crew:
P/O Geoffrey Fawconer Harding, pilot, †
LAC Roland Brainerd Herbert Townsend-Coles, observer,
Sg Kenneth Norman Shrosbree, wireless operator and air gunner. †

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF Watton: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 11, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

P6886

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Site:

Schedule:

Watton - Watton

MSN:

9411

YOM:

1939

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While overflying Belgium at an altitude of 15,000 on a reconnaissance mission, the airplane was hit by Flak. The crew decided to return to RAF Watton when the airplane crashed on approach. A crewman was killed and two other occupants were injured.
Crew:
P/O P. MacDonald's, pilot +1,
AC1 Robert Charleton, wireless operator and air gunner. †

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Vaucogne

Date & Time: May 11, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

R3590

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Méharicourt - Méharicourt

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The aircraft departed Méharicourt at 0400LT on a reconnaissance mission. For unknown reasons, the pilot was forced to make an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in a field in Vaucogne and was damaged beyond repair. All three crew members were rescued, among them one was injured.
Crew:
P/O M. P. C. Holmes,
Sgt F. Miller,
LAC B. M. Harding.

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

Date & Time: May 11, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

L9255

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Méharicourt - Méharicourt

Location:

Kempen

North Rhine-Westphalia

Country:

Germany

Region:

Europe

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The aircraft departed Méharicourt on a reconnaissance mission. It crashed in unknown circumstances in Kempen. A crewman was killed and two others became PoW.
Crew:
Sgt E. E. B. Le Voi, pilot,
Sgt J. C. Sands, pilot,
LAC Ronald D. Davies, wireless operator and air gunner. †

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

Date & Time: May 10, 1940 at 1700 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

L8860

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Méharicourt - Méharicourt

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The crew departed Méharicourt on a low level reconnaissance mission over the Netherlands. En route, the aircraft was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in Kessel. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Leonard Thomas Dixon, pilot,
Sgt Thomas Arthur Peach, observer,
AC1 John Townsley, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Heinkel He.111H-2 at Chambley-Bussières AFB: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 10, 1940 at 0630 LT

Type of aircraft:

Heinkel He.111

Operator:

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