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

Date & Time: May 22, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L9266
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Andover - Andover
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Departed RAF Andover on a mission over Albert, France. Mistakenly shot down by the pilot of a Spitfire and crashed in Fricourt. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Francis Derek Bird, pilot,
Sgt Charles John Westley Brinn, observer,
AC2 Gordon Desmond Coles, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Mistakenly shot down by a British fighter.

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

Date & Time: May 21, 1940 at 1500 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L9325
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Watton - Watton
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
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.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V near Abbeville

Date & Time: May 21, 1940
Operator:
Registration:
N1384
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Driffield - Driffield
MSN:
1548
YOM:
1939
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Driffield at 2036LT on a bombing mission over Cambrai. While cruising over the area of Abbeville, the airplane was hit by Flak. The Captain attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crash landed in a pasture and was damaged beyond repair. All five occupants escaped unhurt.
Crew (77th Squadron):
F/O David Douglas Pryde, pilot,
P/O Andrew Woodrow Dunn, pilot,
Sgt Albert Cuthbert Thompson, observer,
AC1 Thomas Brendon Kenny, wireless operator,
AC1 Frank Crawford, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Lioré-et-Olivier LeO 451 in Berny-sur-Noye: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 20, 1940 at 2000 LT
Operator:
Registration:
L-631
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Claye-Souilly - Claye-Souilly
MSN:
95
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Claye-Souilly Airfield between 1200LT and 1300LT to bomb an area northeast of Amiens. After being attacked by ground fire, the airplane was shot down by the pilot of a Me.109 and crashed, bursting into flames. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Lt Augustin Sudres, pilot,
Cpt Jean Charles Moncheaux, navigator,
Sgt/C Pierre Albert Charles Sommesous, mechanic,
Sgt/C Corentin Jean-Marie Quideau, radio operator.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Lioré-et-Olivier LeO 451 in Lawarde-Mauger-l'Hortoy

Date & Time: May 20, 1940
Operator:
Registration:
L-642
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Claye-Souilly - Claye-Souilly
MSN:
106
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Claye-Souilly Airfield on a bombing mission over the area of Amiens. After being shot down by enemy fire, it crashed in a wooded area located in Lawarde-Mauger-l'Hortoy, bursting into flames. All four occupants were seriously injured.
Crew:
Lt Henri Gabriel Hourtic, Chief,
Sgt/C Jacques Tanchoux, pilot,
Cpl Jean Roger, radio operator,
Sgt Jean Desneux, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in La Chaussée-Tirancourt

Date & Time: May 19, 1940 at 0700 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L4856
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Poix-de-Picardie - Poix-de-Picardie
MSN:
8871
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
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 over Lessines and Ath, Belgium. After being hit by enemy fire, the airplane ran out of fuel and crash landed in a field in La Chaussée-Tirancourt. All three crew members evaded, one was injured.
Crew:
P/O Clive R. Wylie, pilot,
AC1 Houlihan, observer,
Sgt Liddiard, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Crécy-en-Ponthieu

Date & Time: May 19, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L9191
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed upon takeoff from Crécy-en-Ponthieu Airfield. All three crew members were injured.
Crew:
F/L R. G. Wheldon, pilot,
Sgt A. E. Craig, observer,
Sgt G. Hawkins, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Le Quesnel

Date & Time: May 17, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
R3595
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Rosières-en-Santerre - Rosières-en-Santerre
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Rosières-en-Santerre on a reconnaissance mission. It was shot down by the pilot of a Me.109 and crash landed in a field in Le Quesnel. All three crew members evaded, one of them was injured. The aircraft was written off.
Crew:
P/O G. W. S. Ritchie, pilot,
LAC R. N. Wells, observer,
Sgt G. C. P. Haines, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Amiens

Date & Time: May 16, 1940 at 1630 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L4852
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Poix-Croixrault - Poix-Croixrault
MSN:
8867
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Poix-Croixrault on a reconnaissance sortie. After being damaged by the German Flak, the pilot decided to divert to Amiens for an emergency landing. On final approach to Amiens-Glisy Airport, the airplane crashed, bursting into flames. All three crew members were seriously injured.
Crew:
F/Lt B. B. St George Daly, pilot,
Sgt W. R. B. Currie, observer,
AC2 P. J. Blandford, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by Flak.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Laboissière-en-Santerre: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 9, 1940 at 0254 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
R3634
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Metz - Poix-Croixrault
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew departed Metz on a reconnaissance mission over the Ruhr, Germany. While returning at night, the crew failed to locate the airfield due to poor visibility caused by mist. A crew member bailed out but was found dead. Both other crew members were uninjured after the airplane crash landed in a field.
Crew:
S/L W. B. Murray, pilot,
Sgt Douglas Gordon Bonnar Falconer, observer, †
AC1 Voules, wireless operator and air gunner.