Blenhiem P4827

[dave gaydon]

Dear members
Could someone please confirm the fate of Blenheim P4827?
Any help greatly appreciated.
David.

[Markus]

Blenheim IV (P4827) 139. Sq. RTo...
Shot down 14.5.1940 by Bf 109s Stab I./JG 53 Lt.Dittmar - south/west of Sedan during sotie to bomb troop concentrations between Givonne and Bouillon. Abandoned over Sauville and crashed in woods near La Cassine (Ardennes) 16km SSW of Sedan (15:30).
Sgt. Brady and Sgt. Willsher baled out unhurt. LAC Maddox KIA

[dave gaydon]

Markus many thanks for your quick reply. Please find attached (hopefully) a photograph, I would value your opinion as to the possibility that P4827 was in fact not lost but returned damaged and later abandoned?

David.
I must apoloigise for posting on the wrong forum.

[Fairlop]

Hi,

Attached is another view of this damaged machine.

Michal

[Pieter H]

Gentlemen, I'm lost!

I have multiple pictures of the Blenheim P4827 XD-P (similar to the ones attached above) showing a 139 Sqn aircraft abandoned on a French airfield. It clearly had been salvaged for spare parts, e.g. the engines.

However, the serial P4827 is always linked to the aircraft of sgt Brady, Sgt Willsher and LAC Maddox that was shot down on May 14 over Sedan/Givonne and crashed at La Cassine. Sometimes as 139 Sqn (Markus above, Sacré/Gillet in Bataille Aérienne et Rupture sur la Meuse), sometimes as 114 Sqn (Peter Cornwell in TBoFTaN). However by that time 114 and 139 Sqn were both operating from Plivot, using each others aircraft and crews, so in that sense the squadron number is not a hard indication of the aircraft code.

But whatever the squadron attachment, I can't see how the same aircraft could have been shot down on May 14 and also appear in numerous pictures of a captured aircraft. Misreading of the pictures is no issue, since for once both the serial and fuselage codes are clearly readible.

In other words, the aircraft of Brady and his crew can not have been the P4827, unless I'm missing something. Any clues?

Regards, Pieter

[dave gaydon]

Good Evening all
Thank you for your comments Pieter. Perhaps it is a possibility that perhaps Sgt Potter was flying P4827 that fateful day and managed to return badly shot up?
Now 'Valiant Wings' place Sgt Potter in L9466 could there have been a mix of aircraft allocation in the ORB if that is indeed where Mr Franks gleaned his information?

regards David.