Blenheim 1 mid-air collision summer 1940

[Colin Osborne]

Can any one please cast any light on an incident my father saw when he was working in the harvest fields during summer 1940. Just south of Cambridge, over Trumpington, my father watched 2 Blenheim 1s in a mock dogfight which resulted in a collision between the two aircraft. One lost a wing and the other lost its tail. Both were seen to spin to the ground with no parachutes emerging. My father did not want to go to see the wreckage but apparently some older boys went and confirmed the crew were still in the aircraft.
Any info please?

Colin.

[paulmcmillan]

I am reasonably sure that your father witnessed the crash between two 218 Sqn Blenheims on 18th August 1940

"On Sunday 18th tragedy once again hit the squadron,
when two aircraft of ‘B' Flight collided while carrying out
a formation exercise. Blenheim L.9264 flown by Pilot Officer William Wheelwright struck Blenheim T.1929 flown by Flight lieutenant George Newton, P/O Wheelwrights aircraft immediately went into a inverted spin
and smashed into the ground, F/Lt Newton's aircraft caught fire in the air and dived into the ground and exploded, there was survivors."

See: http://host.raf38group.org/218squadron/reform

I am unsure where the aircraft actually crashed but William Wheelwright death was registered at Cambridge so it had to be in the vicinity. 218 Sqn were based at Oakington in Cambridgeshire at the time

Crew L9264



Wheelwright, W B : Pilot Officer : Blenheim IV L9264 of 218 Squadron, 18-Aug-1940. Pilot, Killed
Bilton, J N : Sergeant : Blenheim IV L9264 of 218 Squadron, 18-Aug-1940. Crew, Killed
Clapperton, R W : Sergeant : Blenheim IV L9264 of 218 Squadron, 18-Aug-1940. Crew, Killed


Crew T1929

Newton, George Edward : Flight Lieutenant (37824): Blenheim IV T1929 of 218 Squadron, 18-Aug-1940. Pilot, Killed
Smith, W L : Sergeant : Blenheim IV T1929 of 218 Squadron, 18-Aug-1940. Crew
Dennis, E A : Pilot Officer RAAF : Lancaster III ED753 of 50 Squadron, 25-Jul-1943 / 26-Jul-1943. Pilot, Killed
Harrison, R H : Aircraftman 1st Class : Blenheim IV T1929 of 218 Squadron, 18-Aug-1940. Crew, Killed

[Colin Osborne]

Paul, Thank you for your reply. My father thought they were Blenheim 1s only because they were diving and turning so frantically in mock combat, obviously the Blenheim 4s were similarly agile when unladen. The day and date tie in and the time would have been around lunchtime. He remembers the older boys who went to see the wreckage, said one or both aircraft came down on Cantelupe Farm in Grantchester, 2 miles south west of Cambridge. I have just looked on Google map and can see a farm on Cantelupe Lane in this location, which could well be very close to the crash site.
Thanks again for such an informative reply.

Colin