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| Date: | Wednesday 10 January 1940 |
| Time: | 11:50 |
| Type: |  Bristol Blenheim Mk IV |
| Owner/operator: | 104 Sqn RAF |
| Registration: | L8873 |
| MSN: | EP-L |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | near RAF Bicester, Oxfordshire, England -
 United Kingdom
|
| Phase: | Approach |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | RAF Bicester, Oxfordshire |
| RAF Bicester |
Blenheim L8873: Takeoff for a Training navigation flight /cross country exercise. 10/01/1940
The plane returned early for base. Starboard engine failed near Worcester, during a formation training flight.
The pilot misjudged his approach and force-landed in a field just outside the aerodrome at approximately 11.50hrs causing very severe damage to the aircraft. Aircraft a write-off.
Crew:-
Sgt Derrick Neil Whittaker (Pilot) RAF slightly injured.
Sgt (581211) Jocelyn FRIENDLY (Obs.) RAF slightly injured.
AC1 (545929) Archibald Payne MILK (WOp/AG) RAF unhurt but shaken.
Bristol Blenheim L8873/L: Written off (damaged beyond repair) 10 January 1940, when wrecked in a forced landing at RAF Bicester, Oxfordshire. The crew of two were injured. According to the official Air Ministry file into the incident (File AIR 81/495): "Sergeant D N Wittaker and Sergeant J Friendly: injured as a result of an accident on board Blenheim L8873, Bicester, England, 10 January 1940"
Warrant Officer Friendly DFM was later killed in a 139 Squadron Mosquito, DZ464, 21/22 May 1943.
Sources:
1. Royal Air Force Aircraft L1000-L9999 (James J Halley, Air Britain, 1978 p 60)
2. National Archives (PRO Kew) File AIR 81/495: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14502197
3. https://www.pprune.org/military-aviation/458759-104-squadron-blenheim-loss.html
4. http://www.epibreren.com/ww2/raf/104_squadron.html
5. Rob Davis Bomber Command Losses Database http://robdavistelford.co.uk/webspace/raf_bc
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 04-Aug-2019 23:43 | Dr. John Smith | Added |
| 05-Aug-2019 06:34 | stehlik49 | Updated [Operator, ] |
| 22-Jul-2024 22:27 | Nepa | Updated [Time, Total occupants, Location, Phase, Narrative, Operator, ] |
| 22-Jul-2024 22:34 | Nepa | Updated [Narrative, Operator, ] |
| 13-Apr-2025 06:43 | Rob Davis | Updated [Source, Narrative, ] |
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