Date:	Wednesday 30 October 1940
Time:
Type:	Bristol Beaufighter Mk IF
Owner/operator:	219 (Mysore) Sqn RAF
Registration:	R2065
MSN:
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Location:	Balcome Place, near Balcombe, West Sussex, England -   United Kingdom
Phase:	Approach
Nature:	Military
Departure airport:	RAF Redhill, Surrey
Destination airport:	RAF Redhill

Narrative:
Beaufighter R2065: Took off at 18:25 hrs for a routine patrol around the London area. 30/10/1940
The weather on the night was at first clear but quickly worsened to minimum visibility.
During return flight from patrol the crew were desperately trying to locate RAF Redhill.
Beaufighter R2065, (althoughwas equipped with the Mk.IV A.I. (Airborne Interceptor) Radar which was still experimental at the time), tragically flew in to Beech trees at high ground near Balcombe in West Sussex. Crew were instantly killed when the aircraft erupted into a ball of flame and metal.
Crew:
P/O (33497) Kenneth Wilson WORSDELL (pilot) RAF – killed
Sgt (562691) Eric Cecil GARDINER (obs.) RAF – killed

1.Royal Air Force aircraft R1000-R9999 (James J Halley, Air Britain, 1980)
2.National Archives (PRO Kew) File AIR 81/4229:
3.https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C16688327
4.Beaufighter production list
5. http://www.wingsmuseum.co.uk/Beaufighter_R2065_Balcombe_Sussex.htm
6. http://www.yorkshire-aircraft.co.uk/aircraft/yorkshire/york40/l1168b.html
7. http://www.wingsmuseum.co.uk/beaufighter_r2065_memorial_sussex.htm
8. https://britainatwar.keypublishing.com/2011/08/25/beaufigher-crew-memorial-unveiled/

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
28-Oct-2012 14:05	Nepa	Added
20-Aug-2013 14:36	Nepa	Updated [Aircraft type, Operator]
11-Nov-2014 15:24	Comet123	Updated [Aircraft type, Location, Departure airport]
13-Jul-2015 06:54	angels one five	Updated [Source, Narrative]
29-Aug-2015 14:47	Angel dick 15	Updated [Source, Narrative]
19-Oct-2019 19:15	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Time, Other fatalities, Location, Destination airport, Source, Narrative]
19-Oct-2019 19:16	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Narrative]
23-Mar-2021 17:12	Anon.	Updated [Operator, Location, Operator]
05-May-2021 21:13	MiG15	Updated [Operator, Location, Narrative, Operator]
12-Jun-2022 16:52	Nepa	Updated [Destination airport, Source, Narrative, Operator]
18-Jun-2022 20:42	Nepa	Updated [Time, Operator]