Date:	Wednesday 11 September 1940
Time:	17:50
Type:	Fairey Albacore Mk I
Owner/operator:	826 Sqn FAA RN
Registration:	L7117
MSN:	F3317
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 3
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Location:	English Channel, south east of Dover, England -   United Kingdom
Phase:	Combat
Nature:	Military
Departure airport:	RAF Bircham Newton, Docking, Norfolk
Destination airport:	RAF Bircham Newton, Norfolk

Narrative:
826 Sqn. Royal Navy, FAA, Albacore Mk.I L7117 'F4K', operating from RAF Bircham Newton, Norfolk, England, ditched in the English Channel south-east of Dover following combat with enemy aircraft, during an attack on an enemy convoy of invasion barges and support craft, 8 miles off Calais, France. Two of the three aircrew, Pilot, Lieutenant, Allan Sawbridge Downes (wounded) and Observer, Sub-Lieutenant, Conrad Richard Mallett (uninjured) were picked up by MTB. Air Gunner, Naval Airman, James Alexander Moffat Stevens was lost with the aircraft.

During the 'Invasion of Britain alert' in 1940, RN Fairey Albacores of 826 Sqn. from RAF Bircham Newton and RAF Bristol Blenheims of 235 Sqn. from RAF Thorney Island, were scrambled on 11th September to attack a convoy of invasion barges and support vessels located in the English Channel, 8 miles off Calais France. During the attack one Albacore and two Blenheims were shot down in a dog fight with Messerschmitt Bf 109s and several other aircraft returned to England with substantial battle damage.

U-boats in Atlantic, September 1940 (naval-history.net)
JG52 & JG53 claims 11/Sept/40 [Archive] - Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum (12oclockhigh.net)
http://www.aircrewremembered.com/RoyalNavyFleetAirArmDatabase/?q=Air+Gunner&o=Aircraft&d=asc
826 Sqn ditched Albacore 11/09/40 [Archive] - Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum (12oclockhigh.net)
Albacore I  L7117 [Royal Air Force Aircraft Serial and Image Database] RAFCommands.com
Coastal Dawn: Blenheims in Action from the Phoney War through the Battle of ... - Andrew D. Bird - Google Books

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
21-Feb-2021 17:33	Peter Clarke	Added
21-Feb-2021 20:29	Castle	Updated [Operator, Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Operator]
22-Feb-2021 03:18	Peter Clarke	Updated [Registration]