[Blenheim]

On 12/06/41 the RAF lost two Blenheims in this area and Luftwaffe Jagdfleiger claimed three.

One claim was made by Oblt. Karl-Heinz Leesman, Gruppencommandor of I./JG 52 in a Bf 109E from Leeuwarden at 2105 hours (Luftwaffe and RAF were on same time at this period) but I am not able translate the map reference given for the location of the claim into a physical location (it was “148/05 Ost” if anybody can assist). It seems likely that this Blenheim was T1955, LA-G of 235 Squadron which had taken off from Dyce at 1805 hours on a “Stand” Patrol (an anti-shipping patrol along the line between Stavanger and Kristiansand) and which failed to return. P/O M.R.Stephens, Sgt J.T.Carmichael and Sgt W.G.Halliday were all killed and are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

The second Blenheim lost was T2121, WR-J of 248 Squadron which had also taken off from Dyce on a similar patrol but much earlier at 1455 hours. This is a bit more complicated and appears to have been claimed by two pilots of Stab I./JG 77 from Stavanger-Sola. They were Ltn. Hans Tetzner and Ltn Robert Müller and both were flying Bf 109Es. However I am not able to discover any time for the claims and the only location given is “to the south-west of Stavanger”.

I hope this helps and I am sorry I cannot be any more definite. I would be very interested to see any more details of the claim by the Bv 138 of a Blenheim.