Date:	Friday 17 May 1940
Time:	06:30
Type:	Bristol Blenheim Mk IV
Owner/operator:	82 (United Provinces) Sqn RAF
Registration:	P4903
MSN:	UX-U
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Location:	near Laon, Aisne department in Hauts-de-France -   France
Phase:	Combat
Nature:	Military
Departure airport:	RAF Watton, Norfolk
Destination airport:

Narrative:
Blenheim P4903/U : Written off (destroyed) when lost (failed to return) on combat operations (Target: Gembloux, Belgium). All of the three crew survived and evaded capture. According to the official Air Ministry file on the incident (File AIR 81/402): "Blenheim P4903 failed to return from an operational flight over France, 17 May 1940. Sergeant L H Wrightson, injured. Sergeant S J Beaumont and Leading Aircraftman K A Thomas, uninjured"

On 17th May, 1940, twelve aircraft of 82 Squadron, based at RAF Watton, in Norfolk, took off to attack troop concentrations at Gembloux, Belgium, where the German army was sweeping West towards the Channel ports. Blenheim P4903 (UX-U) was airborne at 04:50 hrs from RAF Watton, Norfolk. One of the 12 Blenheims lost by 82 Sqn on this operation.

They were supposed to have a Hurricane fighter escort but they were intercepted before the escort arrived, and they had to proceed without their escorts. As they reached their target, 15 German Bf-109 fighters attacked them.

Eleven of them were shot down and the sole survivor (Blenheim Mk.IV P8858, UX-W), which was badly damaged, managed to reach RAF Watton, Norfolk, but it was written off due to the damage sustained.
Crew:
Sgt (580332) L.H. Wrightson (Obs.) RAF - injured
Sgt Stanley J. Beaumont (pilot) RAF - Ok
AC.1 K.A.Thomas (WOp./AG) RAF - Ok

Cause of loss and exact crash-site not established; believed shot down by a Bf 109 near Laon, Aisne department in Hauts-de-France. All three crew bailed out, survived, and evaded capture. It is reported that the crew eventually made their way to safety and returned to their Squadron. According to Ronald E. Ridgeway, nephew of Sgt. Beaumont: "The pilot was badly hurt and had to be carried through some dangerous areas before they joined refugees fleeing the German advance. They were hidden in the crowd and the French underground got them to Nantes, France where they were taken back to England in a French fishing boat".

1. Royal Air Force Aircraft P1000-P9999 (James J Halley, Air Britain, 1978 p 26)
2. National Archives (PRO Kew) File AIR 81/402: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14502073
3. The Squadron That Died Twice - The story of No. 82 Squadron RAF by By Gordon Thorburn
4. http://francecrashes39-45.net/page_fiche_av.php?id=8010
5. http://www.epibreren.com/ww2/raf/82_squadron.html#1705

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
02-Jan-2012 10:18	Uli Elch	Added
17-Jul-2019 18:51	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Time, Cn, Operator, Other fatalities, Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative]
17-Jul-2019 18:51	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Country]
18-Jul-2019 10:49	stehlik49	Updated [Operator]
01-Jan-2021 16:37	Anon.	Updated [Destination airport, Narrative, Operator]