18 Sqn Crash near Tangmere 21 March 1940

[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