Watton AFB

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Watton – Reims

MSN:

25739/14294

YOM:

1944

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Bound for Reims Airbase, in France, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances into the North Sea. No trace of the aircraft nor the four crew members was ever found.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Terschelling: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 21, 1941

Type of aircraft:

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Registration:

V5580

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Schedule:

Watton - Watton

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The airplane departed RAF Watton at 1215LT on an anti-shipping operation. Approaching the Dutch coast, it crashed into the sea off Terschelling. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Lt Frederick Charles Powles, pilot,
Sgt John Douglas Life, observer,
F/Sgt Simon James Williams, wireless operator.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF Watton: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 13, 1941 at 1110 LT

Type of aircraft:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Operator:

Registration:

V5463

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Watton - Watton

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The airplane was engaged in a local training exercise at RAF Watton and took off at 1108LT. Two minutes later, while climbing, it stalled and crashed onto a hangar, bursting into flames. Five occupants were killed and a sixth was injured.
Crew:
P/O Frederic Norman Grant, pilot, †
F/Sgt Ronald Edward Hall, pilot, †
Sgt Peter Ernest Ritter, observer, †
Sgt Thomas James Wade Thomas, wireless operator, †
P/O Ernest James Tuckey, observer, †
Cpl E. Clayton.

Probable cause:

It is believed that the airplane stalled after it climbed at a too steep an angle.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Rotterdam: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 28, 1941 at 2025 LT

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Operator:

Registration:

V5825

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Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Watton - Watton

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The airplane departed RAF Watton at 1445LT on an operation to Rotterdam. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by a Me.109 and crashed into the harbor of Rotterdam. A crew was killed and two others became PoW.
Crew:
Sgt Raymond Jervis Somerfield, †
F/Lt William Beckingham,
F/Lt William Logie MacDonald.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

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

Date & Time: Aug 28, 1941 at 2010 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

V6436

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Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Watton - Watton

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The airplane departed RAF Watton at 1447LT on an operation to Rotterdam. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in Maassluis, west of Rotterdam. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Frank Kerr Orme, pilot,
P/O Stanley Frederick Maude Gunnis, observer,
F/O Albert Henry Collins, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off 's-Gravenzande: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 28, 1941 at 1955 LT

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Registration:

Z7447

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Schedule:

Watton - Watton

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The airplane departed RAF Watton at 1446LT on an operation to Rotterdam. Over the target area, it was damaged by the German Flak and later crashed into the sea off 's-Gravenzande. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
S/L Richard Ashton Shuttleworth,
F/Sgt Dennis John Mackan, observer,
F/Sgt George Brittain, wireless operator.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

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

Date & Time: Aug 28, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

Z7435

Flight Phase:

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Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Watton - Watton

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The airplane departed RAF Watton at 1446LT on an operation to Rotterdam. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by enemy fire and crashed in Rozenburg. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Kenneth Hayes, pilot,
Sgt Allan Arthur Cecil Shaddick, observer,
Sgt Raymond Frank Brian, wireless operator.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Den Helder: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 26, 1941 at 1417 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

Z7483

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Schedule:

Watton - Watton

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Watton at 1155LT on an anti-shipping operation. Approaching the Dutch coast, it was shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the sea some 15 km west-southwest of Den Helder. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Ronald Hamilton,
Sgt Alex Stanley Oman,
Sgt Thomas Parkinson.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

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

Date & Time: Aug 12, 1941

Type of aircraft: