Country
France
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Nord

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.27 Ensign in Merville

Date & Time: May 23, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Armstrong Whitworth AW.27 Ensign
Operator:
Registration:
G-ADSZ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
AW.1164
YOM:
1935
Location:
Merville
Nord
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing an international flight when over France, it was attacked by enemy fire. The crew diverted to Merville-Calonne Airport but on final approach, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a field, bursting into flames. There were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

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
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Wyton – Abbeville
Location:
Preux-au-Bois
Nord
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
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 Fontaine-au-Pire

Date & Time: May 18, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L4861
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Poix-de-Picardie - Poix-de-Picardie
MSN:
8876
YOM:
1939
Location:
Fontaine-au-Pire
Nord
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Poix-de-Picardie on a reconnaissance mission. After being shot down by the pilot of a Me.109, it crash landed in a farmland in Fontaine-au-Pire. Two crew members were injured and a third was unhurt. The following day, all became PoW.
Crew:
P/O Paul Gordon Royle, pilot,
Sgt E. F. Woods, observer,
AC2 A. H. Malkin, 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:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Wyton - Abbeville
Location:
Landrecies
Nord
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
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.

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

Date & Time: May 18, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
P6917
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Wyton – Abbeville
MSN:
9442
YOM:
1939
Location:
Landrecies
Nord
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
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/Lt Paul Geoffrey Chapman, pilot,
Sgt Cecil Ernest Colbourn, observer,
LAC Ernest John Fagg, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Lioré-et-Olivier LeO 451 in Floyon: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 17, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Lioré-et-Olivier LeO 45 (451-459)
Operator:
Registration:
L-597
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Persan-Beaumont - Persan-Beaumont
MSN:
61
YOM:
1939
Location:
Floyon
Nord
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Persan-Beaumont to attack German columns between Trélon and Chimay, Belgium. It was shot down by the pilot of a Me.109 and crashed in Floyon. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
S/Lt Arsène Alfred Marie Rigourd, Chief,
Sgt/C Hervé Jean Bougault, pilot,
Sgt Robert Jacques Jean Halma, radio operator,
Adj/C Paul Louis Marie Eugène Fourneau, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

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

Date & Time: May 16, 1940 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L9254
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Poix-Croixrault - Poix-Croixrault
Location:
Ardissat
Nord
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Crashed in Ardissat after being shot down by the pilot of a Me.109. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Arnold J. Stuart, pilot,
Sgt David Borthwick, observer,
LAC Horace G. James, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV near Valenciennes

Date & Time: May 16, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L4864
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Poix-Croixrault - Poix-Croixrault
MSN:
8879
YOM:
1939
Location:
Valenciennes
Nord
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances near Valenciennes. Both crewmen Sgt D. G. McLeod and P/O M. G. L. Lovell were injured.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Orchies

Date & Time: May 14, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L9241
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Wattisham - Wattisham
Location:
Orchies
Nord
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Wattisham on a bombing mission over German positions in Sedan. For unknown reasons, the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing in Orchies. All three crew members evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
Sgt A. R. Storrow,
Sgt E. C. Parker,
LAC Rowlands.

Crash of a Vickers 408 Wellington IA in Hondschoote

Date & Time: Mar 24, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 408 Wellington IA
Operator:
Registration:
P9225
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Mildenhall - Mildenhall
Location:
Hondschoote
Nord
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft left RAF Mildenhall at 1930LT on March 23, on a reconnaissance flight over Germany to locate both Weser and Elbe Rivers. On the return leg to UK, while overflying the Belgian border, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter. The captain instructed his crew to abandon the aircraft and all six occupants bailed out. The aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a pasture located in Hondschoote, southeast of Dunkerque. All six crew were unhurt while the aircraft was destroyed.
Crew (149th Squadron):
F/O F. W. S. Turner,
F/O J. P. M. Hewett,
Sgt H. Dean,
AC2 Fairgrieve,
AC2 Smith,
P/O J. D. Hargreaves.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.
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