Accident Bristol Blenheim Mk I L8731,
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ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 21907
 
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Date:Wednesday 8 November 1939
Time:night
Type:Silhouette image of generic BLEN model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Bristol Blenheim Mk I
Owner/operator:64 Sqn RAF
Registration: L8731
MSN:
Fatalities:Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2
Aircraft damage: Destroyed
Location:near Rose Farm, Church Fenton, Tadcaster, North Yorkshire -   United Kingdom
Phase: Take off
Nature:Training
Departure airport:RAF Church Fenton, North Yorkshire
Destination airport:RAF Church Fenton
Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources
Narrative:
Blenheim L8731: Written off 8/11/39 crashed just after take-off at night for a night flying formation practice near Rose Farm, Church Fenton, Tadcaster, North Yorklshire, sadly killing the pilot when the aircraft flew into trees. It was thought that the pilot had raised the flaps too early after take off and the aircraft then failed to climb and struck trees some 700 yards from the airfield near Rose Farm, Church Fenton, directly in line with Church Fenton's runway 05/24.
Crew:
P/O (NZ40604) Desmond Charles Reid Carter (pilot) RNZAF - killed
LAC (527690) Geoffrey George James Lovegrove (Wop/AG ) RAF - died 12/11/39 (four days later) of injuries sustained.

Blenheim L8731 was built to contract 551920/37 by Rootes Securities Ltd at Speke and was delivered to 64 Squadron who were based at Church Fenton in August 1939. The aircraft sustained severe damage in the incident detailed above, Cat.W/FA damage was recorded following assessment and the aircraft was written off.

Sources:

1. Royal Air Force Aircraft L1000-N9999
2. http://www.rcawsey.co.uk/Acc1939a.htm
3. https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2402811
4. https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2414332
5. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/109765233
6. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/103399342
7. http://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C21958
8. https://www.nzwargraves.org.nz/casualties/desmond-charles-reid-carter
9. http://www.yorkshire-aircraft.co.uk/aircraft/yorkshire/york39/l8731.html

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
01-Aug-2008 11:09 Anon. Added
26-Jan-2013 16:11 Nepa Updated [Aircraft type, Operator, Location, Departure airport, Source, Narrative]
06-Aug-2013 18:57 JINX Updated [Operator, Location]
15-Dec-2014 16:57 Froome Updated [Operator, Location, Departure airport, Source, Narrative]
25-Apr-2018 20:49 Dr. John Smith Updated [Time, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Location, Source, Narrative]
03-Oct-2018 18:14 Dr.John Smith Updated [Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative]
06-Oct-2018 15:28 Nepa Updated [Operator, Operator]
23-Feb-2020 18:55 Iwosh Updated [Nature, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, Operator]

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