Thorney Island AFB

Operator:

Registration:

T1804

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Thorney Island - Thorney Island

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The airplane was completing a local training exercice out from RAF Thorney Island when it was mistakenly shot down by the pilot of a Hurricane. It crashed into the sea off Bracklesham Bay, killing bot crew members.
Crew:
P/O David Noel Woodger,
Sgt Daniel Leslie Wright.

Probable cause:

Mistakenly shot down by a British fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I at RAF Thorney Island

Date & Time: Aug 24, 1940 at 1640 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

Z5736

Flight Phase:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Thorney Island - Thorney Island

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane was completing a local training exercice out from RAF Thorney Island when it was mistakenly shot down by the pilot of a Hurricane. It crashed upon landing at RAF Thorney Island and was damaged beyond repair. Both crew escaped unhurt.
Crew:
Sgt K. E. Naish,
Sgt Owen.

Probable cause:

Mistakenly shot down by a British fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV near Bayeux: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 19, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

R2795

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Thorney Island - Thorney Island

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The aircraft departed RAF Thorney Island at 2200LT on August 18 on a raid over Caen Airfield. While cruising at night and in poor weather conditions, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances near Bayeux. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Bruce Reynolds, pilot,
Sgt William George Frederic Whiting, observer,
Sgt William Gaston Jules Wilkinson, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV into The Channel: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 8, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N3590

Flight Phase:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Thorney Island - Thorney Island

Location:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Thorney Island on a reconnaissance mission over Cherbourg. It crashed in unknown circumstances into The Channel. No trace was ever found.
Crew:
P/O Henry Lawrence Newson Davis, pilot,
Sgt Barrington William Beaumont, observer,
Sgt George Howey Coulton, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Le Havre: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 2, 1940 at 1105 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N3587

Flight Phase:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Thorney Island - Thorney Island

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Thorney Island at 0905LT on a reconnaissance mission after another RAF Blenheim registered L8792 was missing since the previous day in the area of Cherbourg. While flying over Le Havre, the airplane was shot down by the pilot of a Me.109 and crashed. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Deryck Allnutt Drew, pilot,
Sgt Arthur Gordon Herbert, observer,
Sgt James Reuben Close, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Querqueville: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 1, 1940 at 1515 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

R2774

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Thorney Island - Thorney Island

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Thorney Island at 1505LT on a mission over Cherbourg. Approaching the target, it was shot down by the pilot of a Me.109 and crashed in Querqueville. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Bryan Martin McDonough, pilot,
Sgt Frederick Arthur Percy Head, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Saint-Valery-en-Caux: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 1, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

L8792

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Thorney Island - Thorney Island

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Thorney Island at 1500LT on a raid over Cherbourg. While returning to its base, it was shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the sea off Saint-Valery-en-Caux. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
W/Cdr Reginald Gilbert Squarey Morgan-Weld-Smith, pilot,
P/O David Henry Davis, observer,
Sgt Peter Pryde, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Criel-sur-Mer: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 25, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

T1801

Flight Phase:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Thorney Island - Thorney Island

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Thorney Island at 0315LT on a reconnaissance mission over The Channel after the French ship named 'Meknès' was sunk by a German torpedo boat. At night, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter and crashed into the sea off Criel-sur-Mer. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Matthew Roy Turnbull, pilot,
Sgt Gilbert Peter Rowe, observer,
Sgt David Wallace, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IF off Cherbourg: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 20, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

L1300

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site: