Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum - Two 82 Squadron Blenheims damaged on ops 8-9 May 1941

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Two 82 Squadron Blenheims damaged on ops 8-9 May 1941

Dear all,

During a small-scale raid on the Kiel Canal on 8/9 May 1941, 82 Squadron Blenheims V6194 and V6026 were both damaged in night fighter attacks. What was the extent of damage, and can anybody supply me with the time and place of the encounters?

Cheers and thanks, Theo

Re: Two 82 Squadron Blenheims damaged on ops 8-9 May 1941

82 Sqn ORB

8 a/c to Bremerhaven, two aircraft both damaged in port wing by flak which was very heavy

V6194 S/L Watson t/o 22:22 hrs, landed 03:26 hrs

V6026 Sgt Wrightson t/o 22:36 hrs, landed 02:55 hrs

4 a/c on Night sweep for shipping off Rotterdam
Two a/c followed by night fighters but evaded with no damage

Martin

Re: Two 82 Squadron Blenheims damaged on ops 8-9 May 1941

Hello,

Unfortunately, neither of these airmen survived much longer:

1/
21 May 1941
No.82 Sqn
Blenheim IV Z6165
Op: Delivery Flight

Took off Portreath for Malta, but crashed into the Mediterranean 12km N of Gouraya, Algeria. The dead are commemorated on the Alamein Memorial*.

580332 F/Sgt Leslie Howard WRIGHTSON RAF +
88696 P/O Kenneth Granville Anderson MARSH RAFVR + (CWGC + 23/5/1941)
641331 F/Sgt Clifford George EVANS RAF +

* The three airmen named above are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, not the Alamein Memorial.

2/
11 June 1941
No.82 Sqn
Blenheim IV Z6426
Op: Anti-shipping

Took off Luqa to attack a convoy S of Pantelleria. Hit by flak from the MV's "Tembier" (Italian) and "Wachtfels" (German), the Blenheim hit the mast of the "Tembien", and crashed into the sea in flames. All are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

33337 S/L Michael Litchfield WATSON RAF +
85014 P/O Nigel Clinton ALERS-HANKEY RAFVR +
538193 Sgt Kenneth Mossman POOLE RAF +

See:
Royal Air Force Bomber Losses in the Middle East and Mediterranean Vol.1 1939-1942.
Gunby,David & Pelham Temple
Hinckley:Midland Publishing,2006
1/p.61, 2/p.67

Col.

Re: Two 82 Squadron Blenheims damaged on ops 8-9 May 1941

Thanks Martin and Col for posting these details.

Cheers, Theo