Accident Bristol Blenheim Mk IF L6740, Monday 11 December 1939
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Date:Monday 11 December 1939
Time:02:40
Type:Silhouette image of generic BLEN model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Bristol Blenheim Mk IF
Owner/operator:29 Sqn RAF
Registration: L6740
MSN: YB-J
Fatalities:Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 2
Other fatalities:0
Aircraft damage: Destroyed
Location:Great Chesterfield Park, NW of Saffron Walden, Essex, England -   United Kingdom
Phase: En route
Nature:Military
Departure airport:RAF Debden, Essex
Destination airport:RAF Duxford
Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources
Narrative:
Blenheim L6740/J: Took off at 23:10 hrs for Night interception mission.10/12/1939
Aircraft was sent on an interception but did not find the reported enemy plane. While returning from an attempted night interception of a suspected German seaplane on the water off Frinton-on-Sea (Essex) The plane unable to land at RAF Debden due to fog, made a number of attempts to land a RAF Duxford but not able due to weather. The very bad weather had prevented the crew from landing earlier at RAF Debden and RAF Mildenhall. Damaged beyond repair in a crash at Great Chesterfield Park, north-west of Saffron Walden (Essex) at 02:40 hrs on 11/12/1939.
Crew:
F/Sgt (563998) William Henry PACKER (pilot) RAF - killed
LAC (????) Edwin JONES (WOp/AG) RAF - seriously injured.

Sources:

1. "The Bristol Blenheim: A Complete History", by Graham Warner. ISBN 0-85979-101-7
2. Royal Air Force Aircraft L1000-L9999 (James J Halley, Air Britain, 1978 p 45)
3. National Archives (PRO Kew) File AIR 81/1725: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C16359670
4. https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2430616/packer,-william-henry/
5. http://www.rcawsey.co.uk/Acc1939a.htm
6. http://www.oldhaltonians.co.uk/pages/rememb/ROH/20.htm
7. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Chesterford
9. NAtional Archives Kew Sqdn 29 Record of Events Doc AIR27/341/3 page 1 & 2

Location

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
11-Dec-2017 09:05 Laurent Rizzotti Added
23-Feb-2018 17:42 Nepa Updated [Phase, Nature, Narrative, ]
28-Apr-2018 22:33 Dr. John Smith Updated [Cn, Other fatalities, Location, Departure airport, Source, Narrative, ]
26-Sep-2018 10:06 Nepa Updated [Operator, Operator, ]
25-Jun-2019 19:34 Dr. John Smith Updated [Time, Source, ]
25-Jun-2019 19:37 Dr. John Smith Updated [Source, ]
25-Jun-2019 19:39 Dr. John Smith Updated [Narrative, ]
17-Apr-2020 15:50 AlLach Updated [Narrative, Operator, ]
15-Jul-2024 10:24 Nepa Updated [Time, Destination airport, Narrative, Operator, ]

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