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| Date: | Sunday 3 December 1939 |
| Time: | 16:40 |
| Type: |  Bristol Blenheim Mk IV |
| Owner/operator: | 90 Sqn RAF |
| Registration: | L4884 |
| MSN: | WP-L |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | two miles south-east of Whittlesey, Huntingdonshire, England -
 United Kingdom
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | RAF Upwood, Huntingdonshire |
Bristol Bleheim Mk.IV L4884 (WP-L) of 90 Squadron, RAF: Written off (damaged beyond repair) 3/12/1939 when the pilot became lost as darkness fell. While attempting a forced landing in a field near Whittlesey, Huntingdonshire, the Blenheim hit a dyke and overturned. No fatalities, but both crew were injured.
According to the official Air Ministry File into the accident (File AIR 81/1709): "Blenheim L4884, 90 Squadron; aircraft accident, Whittlesey, 3 December 1939; Sergeant L Charnock and Aircraftman J Harking injured".
Blenheim IV L4884. Took off for training navigation flight /cross country exercise. 03/12/1939
Crew lost their bearings as darkness fell during a cross-country training flight. Aircraft ran into a ditch before stopping and turned over during an attempted forced-landing in a ploughed field about two miles south-east of Whittlesey (Cambridgeshire) and some seven miles north of the airfield at 16:40 hrs.
Crew:
Sgt Jack Edwin Merrett (Pilot) RAF unhurt.
Sgt Leonard Charnock (Obs.) RAF slightly injured.
AC2 James Harkins (WOp/AG) RAF slightly injured.
Sources:
1. Royal Air Force Aircraft L1000-L9999 (James J. Halley, Air Britain, 1978 p 31)
2. National Archives (PRO Kew) File AIR 81/1709: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C16359654
3. http://www.rafupwood.co.uk/90squadron.html
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 25-Jun-2019 02:47 | Dr. John Smith | Added |
| 25-Jun-2019 05:48 | stehlik49 | Updated [Operator, ] |
| 09-Nov-2022 19:16 | Lipatov Sergey | Updated [Narrative, ] |
| 15-Jul-2024 10:38 | Nepa | Updated [Time, Location, Narrative, Operator, ] |
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