Bodney AFB | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The crew was completing a local training flight at RAF Bodney. Shortly after a night takeoff, while climbing to a height of 200 feet, the airplane entered a dive, crashed and exploded. A crew was killed and three others were seriously injured.
Crew:
S/L G. S. King,
Sgt George Harvey Whalen, observer,
Sgt Edwin Horatio Sturt, wireless operator, †
Sgt L. H. Lightfoot.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF Bodney

Date & Time: Nov 1, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L8737

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Bodney - Bodney

Location:

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Crew on board:

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The crew was completing a local training flight at RAF Bodney. Immediately after takeoff, the airplane went out of control and crashed. All three crew members were injured.
Crew:
P/O R. Armstrong,
Sgt W. R. Clinton,
Sgt G. Evans.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF Bodney

Date & Time: Oct 9, 1940 at 0205 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

T2277

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Bodney - Bodney

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

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The airplane departed RAF Bodney at 1900LT on October 8 on an operation to Calais. While returning to base, it crashed upon landing and was destroyed. All three crew members were injured.
Crew:
Sgt R. L. Smith,
Sgt Anslow,
Sgt Blackaddy.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF Bodney

Date & Time: Oct 9, 1940 at 0155 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

T2032

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Bodney - Bodney

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

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The airplane departed RAF Bodney at 1900LT on October 8 on an operation to Calais. While returning to base, it crashed upon landing and was destroyed. All three crew members escaped uninjured.
Crew:
Sgt H. G. Brittain,
Sgt Harbord,
Sgt Lister.

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

Date & Time: Jun 14, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

R3742

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Bodney - Bodney

Location:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Bodney on a bombing mission over Merville Airfield. It was shot down by the pilot of a Me.109 and crashed in Ardres. A crew was killed and two others became PoW.
Crew:
P/O William Anthony Saunders, pilot,
Sgt William Harry Eden, observer,
Sgt Clifford Webb, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Saint-Hilliers: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 13, 1940 at 1630 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

R3676

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Bodney - Bodney

Location:

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The airplane departed RAF Bodney at 1505LT on a bombing mission over German columns in the Forêt de Gaul. It crashed in unknown circumstances in Saint-Hilliers, killing all three crew members.
Crew:
P/O Lewis M. Blanckensee, pilot,
Sgt Albert Williams, observer,
Sgt Jack Guest, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Videlles

Date & Time: Jun 13, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L9269

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Bodney - Bodney

Location:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Bodney at 1505LT to attack German columns in the Forêt de Gault. The pilot was forced to attempt an emergency landing for unknown reasons. All three crew members survived.
Crew:
F/Lt L. V. E. Petley, pilot,
Sgt W. M. Harris, observer,
Sgt E. F. Hart, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Damville

Date & Time: Jun 11, 1940 at 1935 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L8743

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Bodney - Bodney

Location:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Bodney at 1700LT on a bombing mission over Northern France. It was shot down by enemy fire and crash landed in Damville. All three crew members survived.
Crew:
P/O R. M. Rogers, pilot,
Sgt H. G. U. Huckins, observer,
Sgt W. H. A. Bradshaw, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Saint-Aubin-sur-Scie: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 11, 1940 at 1900 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L8746

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Bodney - Bodney

Location:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Bodney on a bombing mission over Northern France. It was shot down by enemy fire and crashed in Saint-Aubin-sur-Scie. Two crew members were killed and a third became PoW.
Crew:
P/O D. MacDonald, pilot,
Sgt Gwyn Lewis, observer,
Sgt Alastair G. Murray, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

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

Date & Time: Jun 11, 1940 at 1835 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

R3674

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Bodney - Bodney

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Bodney at 1700LT on a bombing mission. It was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter and crashed in Boulleville. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt John J. Outhwaite, pilot,
Sgt James P. Waters, observer,
Sgt John M. Sculfer, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.