Date:	Friday 31 May 1940
Time:	14:40
Type:	Boulton Paul Defiant Mk I
Owner/operator:	264 (Madras Presidency) Sqn RAF
Registration:	L6961
MSN:	12
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Other fatalities:	1
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Location:	Dunkirk Beach, Dunkirk, Pas de Calais -   France
Phase:	Combat
Nature:	Military
Departure airport:	RAF Manston, Ramsgate, Kent
Destination airport:

Narrative:
Two Boulton Paul Defiant Mk.1s of 264 (Madras Presidency) Squadron, RAF were written off (damaged beyond repair) on 31 May 1940: Defiant L6961 and Defiant L6980 collided with each other during combat with Bf109's of III./JG26. L6961 crash-landed on beach near Dunkirk at 2.40 pm. Pilot Officer D. Whitley and Leading Aircraftman Turner (Air Gunner) unhurt. Aircraft abandoned where it force landed.

1. Royal Air Force Aircraft L1000-L9999 (James J Halley, Air Britain, 1978)
2. Air Battle for Dunkirk, 26 May–3 June 1940 By Norman Franks
3. The Battle Of France: Then And Now By Peter Cornwell p.399
4. National Archives (PRO Kew) File AIR 81/729: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14502613
5. 264 Squadron ORB (Operational Record Book)(Air Ministry Form AM/F.540) for the period 1/10/1939 to 31/5/1940: National Archives (PRO Kew) File AIR27/1553/1 at https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8397999
6. https://ww2talk.com/index.php?threads/264-squadron-patrol-over-dunkirk-calais-friday-31st-may-1940.19870/#post-240196.
7. http://www.epibreren.com/ww2/raf/264_squadron.html#31
8. https://www.backtonormandy.org/the-history/air-force-operations/airplanes-allies-and-axis-lost/defiant/108833-4154181.html
9. https://ww2talk.com/index.php?threads/raf-losses-may-1940-an-update.16940/page-16#post-202731

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
01-Jul-2022 21:01	Dr. John Smith	Added
02-Jul-2022 08:29	Nepa	Updated [Operator, Operator]
02-Jul-2022 13:53	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Source]
02-Jul-2022 13:55	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Source]