Accident Bristol Blenheim Mk I K7097,
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ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 68434
 
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Date:Saturday 10 December 1938
Time:day
Type:Silhouette image of generic BLEN model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Bristol Blenheim Mk I
Owner/operator:30 Sqn RAF
Registration: K7097
MSN:
Fatalities:Fatalities: 6 / Occupants: 6
Aircraft damage: Destroyed
Location:Iraqi Desert, 60 miles South West of RAF Habbaniya, Al-Anbar Province -   Iraq
Phase: En route
Nature:Military
Departure airport:RAF Habbaniya, Al-Anbar Province, Iraq
Destination airport:
Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources
Narrative:
Blenheim I K7097, "P" of 30 Squadron, RAF Habbaniya: Written off (destroyed) 10/10/38 when crashed in bad weather, 60 miles South West of Ramadi, Iraq. All six crew on board were killed:

Sqn Ldr Percy Kinsey killed
Sgt Vernon Walter Garside killed (pilot)
AC1 Reginald Walter Carpenter killed
AC1 Lewis William Cooper killed
AC1 Frederick Oscar Gamble (aged 32) killed
Capt John Barnett Harvey (aged 30) killed

The wreckage of Blenheim K7097 was not found for ten days. The cause of the crash was presumed to be due to carburettor icing. All six fatalities were interred in the Habbaniya War Cemetery in Habbaniya, Iraq.

According to the official Air Ministry announcement in "Flight" (January 5, 1939 page 12 - see link #5)

"FLYING ACCIDENTS
With reference to the disappearance, on December 10, of an aircraft of No. 30 (Bomber) Squadron, Habbaniya, Iraq, the Air Ministry announces with regret that, after extensive searches, the wreckage of the aircraft has been located about 60 miles from Habbaniya, and the undermentioned personnel have lost their lives: Sqn. Ldr. Percy Kinsey and Capt. John Barnett Harvey, Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders, attached to the Iraq Levies (passengers), Sgt. Vernon Walter Garside (pilot), and A/C1s Reginald Walter Carpenter, Lewis William Cooper, and Frederick Oscar Gamble."

Sources:

1. Air Britain The K File The RAF of the 1930s
2. http://www.rcawsey.co.uk/Accf1939.htm
3. http://www.rafcommands.com/archive/08613.php
4. http://aircrewremembered.com/blenheim-test.html
5. https://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPDFArchive/1939/1939%20-%200022.PDF

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
04-Oct-2009 09:49 JINX Added
15-Dec-2014 18:30 Fort Knox Updated [Operator, Location, Narrative]
08-Mar-2018 19:26 Dr. John Smith Updated [Time, Location, Departure airport, Source, Narrative]
08-Mar-2018 19:27 Dr. John Smith Updated [Total occupants]
22-Mar-2018 02:48 Dr. John Smith Updated [Location, Source, Narrative]
06-Oct-2018 06:38 Nepa Updated [Operator, Operator]

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