ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 227773
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| Date: | Wednesday 22 May 1940 |
| Time: | day |
| Type: |  Bristol Blenheim Mk IV |
| Owner/operator: | 59 Sqn RAF |
| Registration: | L9266 |
| MSN: | TR-E |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | Fricourt, Somme department in Hauts-de-France -
 France
|
| Phase: | Combat |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | RAF Andover, Hampshire |
Bristol Blenheim Mk.IV L9266 (TR-E) 59 Squadron RAF: Written off (destroyed) when lost (failed to return) from combat operations 22 May 1940. All three crew killed. According to the official Air Ministry file on the incident (File AIR 81/480): "Blenheim L9266 crashed near Fricourt, France, 22 May 1940. Aircraftman 2nd Class G D Coles, Sergeant C J W Brinn and Flying Officer F D Bird: report of deaths".
Took off from RAF Andover, Hampshire, UK. Target: Albert Canal. Reportedly shot down in error by RAF Spitfires*, and crashed at Fricourt, Somme department in Hauts-de-France, in Northern France
Crew of Blenheim L9266:
Flying Officer (Pilot) Francis Derek Bird, RAF 33300 (Ireland), age 23, killed in action 22/05/1940
Sergeant (Observer) Charles John Westley Brinn, RAF 563306, killed in action 22/05/1940
Aircraftman 2nd Class (Wireless Op./Air Gunner) Gordon Desmond Coles, RAF 618330, age 20, killed in action 22/05/1940
All three crew fatalities were buried at Fricourt Communal Cemetery, Somme, France (see links #5 & #6 for photographs of gravestones). Flying Officer Francis Derek Bird was winner of the 440 yards and equal first in the Long Jump: Inter-Services Athletic Meeting, 1937. The reported crash location of Fricourt is a commune in the Somme department in Hauts-de-France in northern France at approximate coordinates: 49°59′56″N 2°42′57″E
NOTE: *The claim that L9266 was "shot down in error" by RAF Spitfires is disputed, and there is no evidence in the 59 Squadron ORB (Operations Record Book - Air Ministry Form 540) that such an encounter took place.
Sources:
1. Royal Air Force Aircraft L1000-L9999 (James J Halley, Air Britain, 1978 p 61)
2. National Archives (PRO Kew) File AIR 81/480: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14502182
3. http://francecrashes39-45.net/page_fiche_av.php?id=3031
4. http://www.epibreren.com/ww2/raf/59_squadron.html#2205
5. http://www.mcp1418.eu/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/aviateurs-fricourt.jpg
6. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/58869718
7. https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2952968/bird,-francis-derek/
8. https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2952969/brinn,-charles-john-westley/
9. https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2952970/coles,-gordon-desmond/
10. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fricourt
11. http://ww2talk.com/index.php?threads/59-squadron-honour-roll-update.11617/page-2#post-127416
12. http://ww2talk.com/index.php?threads/loss-of-blenheim-22nd-may-1940.53280/
13. http://www.oldhaltonians.co.uk/pages/rememb/ROH/19.htm
History of this aircraft
Other occurrences involving this aircraft
| 17 July 1940 | R3694 | 59 Sqn RAF | 3 | English Channel, off Cherbourg, Manche, Normandy | |
w/o |
| 28 April 1941 | N3615 | 59 Sqn RAF | 3 | North Sea off Hoek van Holland, Zuid-Holland |  |
w/o |
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 31-Jul-2019 22:58 | Dr. John Smith | Added |
| 01-Aug-2019 11:16 | stehlik49 | Updated [Operator] |
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