Date:	Sunday 18 May 1941
Time:	16:22
Type:	Bristol Blenheim Mk IV
Owner/operator:	139 (Jamaica) Sqn RAF
Registration:	L9413
MSN:	XD-D
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 5 / Occupants: 5
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Location:	Acle,11 miles east of Norwich, Norfolk, England -   United Kingdom
Phase:	En route
Nature:	Training
Departure airport:	RAF Horsham St. Faith, Norfolk
Destination airport:	RAF Horsham St.Faith

Narrative:
Blenheim L9413/D: Took off for Training flight.18/05/1941
Blenheim whilst on a training flight, crashed at 16:22 hrs and burst into flames following a low pass over an army gun battery at Acle,11 miles east of Norwich. Crashed and burst into flames following owing to an error of judgement on the part of the pilot.
The plane collided with a pear tree and then clipped the gable end of Wingates House causing extreme structural damage to the building.
Crew:
P/O (J/3714) Arthur Mitchell SAUNDERS (Pilot) RCAF - killed
Sgt (755386) Robert Lang Riddet HALBERT (Obs.) RAF - killed
Sgt (1354337) Peter Ronie GORDON (WOp/AG) RAFVR - killed
Lt. (97627) Edward Simon PACKE (pass.) 115 Field Regiment Royal Artillery : killed;
Cpl (550042) George Alfred ACTON (pass.) RAF - killed

1.https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/178766337/george-alfred-acton
2.Blenheim production list
3.ORB 139 Sqdn RAF
4.AIR81/6544.
5. https://aircrewremembered.com/AlliedLossesIncidents/?q=L9413&qand=&exc1=&exc2=&search_only=&search_type=exact
6. Personnel file of P/O Saunders from RCAF Archives Canada
7. https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/2764254

Other occurrences involving this aircraft

1 October 1939

N6231

139 Sqn RAF

2

between Glissen and Westenfeld, 5 km north of Petershagen.

w/o

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
09-Sep-2023 13:40	tachel	Updated