18 Sqn Crash near Tangmere 21 March 1940

[en830]

Does anyone have the serial number of the 18 Sqn Blenheim that crashed near Tangmere whilst making an approach to the airfield on 21st March 1940. The aircraft had earlier left Rosieres-En-Santerre and crashed near Tangmere on route to Kemble, .

The pilot was P/O Henry Stephen Penton Hulton (20) 33428 of St Brelade in Jersey, I believe that there were 2 survivors from the crash. Hulton is buried in my local cemetery.

[Alex Smart]

Hello,
From BCL vol 1.

21 March 40
18 Sqn
Blenheim I
L1427
"WV- "
Ferry
P/O. H.S.P. Hulton +
Sgt. O.W. Dunbreck +
LAC. Oultram - inj
Cpl. G. E. Lapwood - inj
T/o 0800 Rosiéres-en-Santerre bound for Kemble via Tangmere. Crashed into a fog shrouded hill near Chichester, Sussex.

All the best
Alex

[en830]

Thanks Alex

Much appreciated.

Ian

[Andy Saunders]

It actually crashed near Brighton. Not near Chichester. I was in touch with Lapwood (who retired as a Squadron Leader) and have a large file on the subject. Do you need anything else? A farm worker, as I recall, was awarded the George Medal for rescuing the surviving crew from the burning wreckage. I have all the details of that in my file.

[Observer1940]

I am interested to note that Andy has Brighton as the location of the crash of Blenheim L1427.

I am afraid that Bill Chorley's crash location is incorrect for Blenheim L1427.

I have three pages of the Report conducted by P/O D. S. Dickins and F/Lt C. Thompson who were instructed by the Station Commander and with a letter from the Officer Commanding No. 18 Squadron to fly down to Tangmere and investigate the crash of Blenheim L.1427 at Jeffery's Point, Portslade, near Brighton.

The witnesses were Gerald Winter, Castle Hill, Rotherfield, Sussex, two witnesses from Brighton and one from Peacehaven.

"Winter immediately ran to the scene" ... "Winter shewed tremendous bravery by trying to extricate the pilot and Observer," ...

Another paragraph in the Report of "a spectator, whose name and address is not known, said he saw an R.A.F. aircraft flying over Brighton at the time, and no recognition signal was seen to be fired."

Forms were issued by the Brighton Registrar and signed by the Lewes Coroner to repatriate two coffins out of the country, Sgt Dumbreck to Scotland and P/O Hulton to Jersey.

Empire Gallantry Medal
Spelt "Jeffries Point" Portslade, Sussex, in Flight Magazine, with Mr Gerald Winter's address being given as "Ivydean, Roderick Avenue, Peacehaven, Sussex." different to the address in the earlier 1940 accident report.

Mark