Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF Wattisham

Date & Time: Jun 2, 1940 at 0715 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N6190
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Wattisham - Wattisham
MSN:
9289
YOM:
1939
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following a bombing mission over Gravelines, the twin engine airplane crashed upon landing at RAF Wattisham. All three crew members were uninjured.
Crew:
F/O J. W. Stephens,
Sgt W. J. Barrett,
LAC E. C. White.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF Wattisham

Date & Time: Jun 2, 1940 at 0700 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
P4919
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Wattisham - Wattisham
MSN:
9401
YOM:
1939
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Wattisham at 0346LT on a bombing mission over Gravelines, southwest of Dunkirk. Over the target area, it was attacked by Flak and the crew evacuated the zone and elected to return to his base. The aircraft crashed upon landing and was destroyed. A crew member was injured and two others were unhurt.
Crew:
F/Sgt H. J. Ratcliffe, pilot,
Sgt P. J. Crowley, observer,
LAC D. S. Harrison, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by Flak.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC in Barton Mills: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 24, 1940 at 0310 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
P9270
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Mildenhall - Mildenhall
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The bomber was returning to RAF Mildenhall following a combat mission. While on a night approach, it crashed in unknown circumstances in Barton Mills, some 3 km southeast from the airbase. Three crew members were killed and three others were injured.
Crew:
F/Lt Ian Douglas Grant-Crawford, pilot, †
F/O Holdsworth,
Sgt Mundell,
AC1 Edgar Sydney Hewitt, †
AC2 John Burton, wireless operator and air gunner, †
AC1 Crook.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF Wattisham

Date & Time: May 22, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N6207
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Wattisham - Wattisham
MSN:
9306
YOM:
1939
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed upon landing at RAF Wattisham with its undercarriage shot away. All three crew members evacuated safely.
Crew:
F/O G. O. Lings,
Sgt Martin,
AC1 Bingham.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IF at RAF Martlesham Heath

Date & Time: May 12, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
P4834
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Martlesham Heath - Martlesham Heath
MSN:
9349
YOM:
1939
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Martlesham Heath on a mission over the Netherlands. Approaching the Dutch coast, the airplane was hit by enemy fire. The crew evacuated the area and returned to his base when the aircraft crashed upon landing, bursting into flames. Both crew members were injured.
Crew:
F/Lt C. D. S. Smith, pilot,
AC1 A. W. Newton, wireless operator and air gunner.
Sources:
Probable cause:
Hit by enemy fire.

Ground accident of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF Wattisham

Date & Time: May 10, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L8778
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Wattisham - Wattisham
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
In the absence of qualified pilot, LAC J. E. Humphreys attempted to taxi the Blenheim to its dispersal, but he ran off the perimeter track and collided with a tree. The pilot escaped uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Crew error.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC at RAF Mildenhall: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 4, 1940 at 2250 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
P9267
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Mildenhall - Mildenhall
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training flight at RAF Mildenhall. On final approach at night, the aircraft crashed one mile short of runway, bursting into flames. Four crew members were killed while three others were injured. Few hours later, one of the survivor died from injuries sustained.
Crew (149th Squadron):
F/L J. M. Griffiths-Jones,
F/O J. P. M. Hewett, †
F/O H. A. Innes, †
Sgt H. Dean,
Sgt R. M. Nelson, †
AC2 L. F. Foster, †
P/O J. D. Hargreaves. †

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Ipswich

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1940 at 1015 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N6242
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Ipswich - Ipswich
MSN:
9339
YOM:
1939
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot was completing a local training flight at Ipswich Aerodrome. On final approach in gusty winds, he lost control of the airplane that stalled and crashed. The pilot was uninjured.
Crew:
Sgt G. W. Forster.
Probable cause:
The airplane stalled on approach due to an insufficient speed.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV near Ipswich

Date & Time: Mar 27, 1940 at 1540 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L8753
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Ipswich - Ipswich
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Ipswich at 1535 on a local training mission. Five minutes later, it crashed on the banks of the River Orwell. Two crew members were injured and a third was unhurt.
Crew:
F/O J. K. Buchanan,
Sgt G. Lumsden,
LAC B. Gray.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Oakley

Date & Time: Mar 23, 1940 at 2025 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N6200
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Wattisham - Wattisham
MSN:
9299
YOM:
1939
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following a reconnaissance mission over Heligoland, the crew was returning to his base at RAF Wattisham. En route, the pilot was forced to attempt an emergency landing for unknown reasons. The airplane landed in an open field located in Oakley and came to rest upside down. All three crew members were uninjured.
Crew:
F/O J. K. Buchanan,
Sgt Patterson,
AC2 Greenwood.