Date:	Tuesday 8 April 1941
Time:	04:50
Type:	Boulton Paul Defiant Mk I
Owner/operator:	256 Sqn RAF
Registration:	N3424
MSN:
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Location:	Midgeland Road, Marton Moss, Blackpool, Lancashire -   United Kingdom
Phase:	Initial climb
Nature:	Military
Departure airport:	RAF Squires Gate, Blackpool, Lancashire
Destination airport:	RAF Squires Gate, Blackpool, Lancashire

Narrative:
Boulton Paul Defiant Mk I, N3424, 256 Squadron, RAF Squires Gate, Blackpool, Lancashire. Written off (destroyed) 8 April 1941. Took off from RAF Squires Gate, Blackpool, Lancashireat 04:50 hrs. Crashed into Greenhouses at Midgeland Road, Marton Moss, Blackpool, Lancashire, when height was lost due to engine failure just after taking off at night. It is believed that the engine failure was caused by the ground crew not allowing enough time for the Defiants Rolls-Royce Merlin engine to "fully warm up". Both crew members were killed in the accident.

Crew of Defiant N3424:
Sergeant John Denis Harold CUNNINGHAM (923918) RAFVR, Pilot, aged 21 - killed on active service 8 April 1941, buried at Ramsgate Cemetery, Ramsgatre, Kent
Sergeant Albert Douglas WOOD (401819) RNZAF, Air Gunner, aged 24 - killed on active service 8 April 1941, buried at Park Cemetery, Lytham St. Annes, Fylde, Lancashire

1. Royal Air Force Aircraft N1000-N9999 (James J Halley, Air Britain, 1977 p 20)
2. National Archives (PRO Kew) File AIR81/5732: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C16689830
3. 256 Squadron ORB for April 1941: National Archives (PRO Kew) File AIR 27/1523/4: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8397481
4. CWGC: https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2654969/john-denis-harold-cunningham/
5. CWGC: https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2412658/albert-douglas-wood/
6. https://aircrewremembered.com/cunningham-john-denis-harold.html
7. https://www.nzwargraves.org.nz/casualties/albert-douglas-wood
8. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._256_Squadron_RAF
9. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackpool_Airport#RAF_Squires_Gate
10. https://getmyride.uk/midgeland-road-bus-stop-school-road-marton-moss-blackpool-2590b0582

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
30-Apr-2021 22:38	angels one five	Added
19-Jul-2021 09:06	angels one five	Updated [Time, Narrative]
20-Jul-2021 20:26	Anon.	Updated [Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Operator]
08-Aug-2021 04:45	angels one five	Updated [Location]