Bristol 142 Blenheim

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Operator:

Registration:

BA500

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Ash Sharqiyah North Governorate

Schedule:

Masirah AFB - Masirah AFB

Location:

Masirah AFB

Country:

Oman

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The airplane was engaged in a convoy patrol mission out from RAF Masirah. It crashed upon takeoff and was destroyed by fire. All three crew members were killed.
Crew (244 Sq):
F/Sgt Donald William Henry Nash, pilot,
F/Sgt George Keir, navigator,
F/Sgt Montrose Edward Sublet, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I at RAF Bicester

Date & Time: Jul 15, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

L6621

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Bicester

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

The crew was completing a local training exercise at RAF Bicester on behalf of 13th OTU. Because the undercarriage could not be lowered, the airplane belly landed and was damaged beyond repair. Both pilots escaped uninjured.

Probable cause:

The undercarriage could not be lowered.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV near RAF Colerne: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 12, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

V5890

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Colerne - Colerne

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

While on a solo training flight out from RAF Colerne, the pilot lost control of the airplane after one of the engines failed in flight. The airplane crashed 5 km from the airbase and was destroyed. The pilot was killed.
Crew:
W/O Jaroslav Dohnal, pilot.

Probable cause:

Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I at RAF Harlaxton

Date & Time: Jul 10, 1943 at 2215 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

L6763

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Harlaxton - Harlaxton

Location:

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Region:

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Circumstances:

The pilot was engaged in a local solo training flight at RAF Harlaxton. The airplane crashed upon landing and was damaged beyond repair following a night single engine approach with the undercarriage halfway down and unlocked. The pilot escaped unhurt.
Crew:
F/O B. Lumb, pilot.

Probable cause:

An engine failed in flight due to a loss of oil from a tank which was punctured by an undercarriage door on takeoff.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I at RAF Harlaxton

Date & Time: Jul 10, 1943 at 0040 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

L1195

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Harlaxton - Harlaxton

MSN:

8478

YOM:

1938

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

Damaged beyond repair after landing in very bad weather on a dark night when the pilot overshot and swung the aircraft on landing downwind.
Crew:
P/O F. G. Harrison, pilot.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at Yelahanka AFB: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 6, 1943 at 0825 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

V6504

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Site:

Yelahanka AFB (Bangalore)

Schedule:

Yelahanka AFB - Yelahanka AFB

Location:

Karnataka

Country:

India

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed Yelahanka AFB at 0810LT on a local test flight. About 15 minutes into the flight, while flying at an altitude of 1,000 feet in the vicinity of the airfield, the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed 1,5 km south of the airbase. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Sydney Schragger, pilot,
F/Sgt William Edward Brister, observer.

Probable cause:

Loss of control after the left propeller detached from the engine.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I at RAF Spitalgate

Date & Time: Jul 5, 1943 at 1303 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

L1404

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Spitalgate - Spitalgate

MSN:

8687

YOM:

1939

Location:

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Region:

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Circumstances:

Following a solo training sortie, the pilot was returning to RAF Spitalgate. After landing, the airplane suffered a failure of its braking systems. The pilot swung the aircraft and the undercarriage collapsed. The airplane was damaged beyond repair and the pilot escaped uninjured.
Crew:
Sgt L. G. Boyd, pilot.

Probable cause:

Failure of the braking systems on landing.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I at RAF Harlaxton

Date & Time: Jul 5, 1943 at 0050 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

K7117

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Harlaxton - Harlaxton

MSN:

8070

YOM:

1937

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot was engaged in a local solo training sortie at RAF Harlaxton. Following a night approach, the airplane landed hard, causing the undercarriage to collapse. The airplane was damaged beyond repair and the pilot escaped uninjured.
Crew:
S/L A. J. Banham, pilot.

Probable cause:

The pilot misjudged his height and failed to check his instruments on final approach, resulting in a hard landing.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I at RAF Spitalgate: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 3, 1943 at 1735 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

L1463

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site: