Blenheim loss Malta 20 August 1940

[Brian]

Hi guys

During a raid on Malta on 20 August 1940, a transit Blenheim was destroyed on the ground at Luqa airfield.

This loss does not seem to appear in any of the relevant books.

It was possibly a 'T' serial - has anyone the answer, please?

Cheers
Brian

[Alex Smart]

Hello Brian,
Looked in airbrit serials P,R,L,N T, V was too late.
So far the only one in the middle east that I have found was L8474 in Ethiopia.
There were few listed with the date given, so perhaps the a/c was repaired or SOC at some later date ?

Alex

[Martin Gleeson]

Hi Brian,

I assume the information on this Blenheim loss came from an RAF Malta HQ signal or similar official source ?
I have looked through 'MALTA: THE HURRICANE YEARS 1940-1941' to see if there were any other Blenheims lost on the ground in Malta from 1 August 1940 to 10 February 1941 and found only this one you ask about. It appears to be confirmed - as a loss - by a report on 10 October 1940 listing their aircraft losses from 10 June to 10 October 1940 (p. 73-74 of above book) where only one Blenheim is noted.

I cannot prove the following but hope someone can add to it. A strong candidate for this Blenheim loss could be T2076. It is recorded in the excellent 'RAF BOMBER LOSSES IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND MEDIERRANEAN' Vol.1 (p.38) as 'Lost at Malta en route to the Middle East. NFD.' under the date 1 January 1941. However I think the authors have used this precise date more as a sensible tidying up date rather than the exact date of loss and expect they based this on the Form 78 Aircraft History Card for T2076.
The above Form 78 shows T2076 was officially Taken On Charge by RAF Wyton on 16 August 1940 and to the Middle East on 20 August 1940. On page 2 in the 'Write off Details' box is written '? 1.41 F.B. 'E' En route to ME.' Further down is a Struck Off Charge date of 2 February 1941 with authority for this coming by a signal from HQ RAF Malta.

Beware of a 'nice fit' like this, but hopefully someone can provide more information.

Regards,

Martin Gleeson.

[Alex Smart]

Hello,
Air Brit has for T2076
Believed DBR in air raid at Malta en route to Middle East 1.41.

Note 1941
Henk has in his list the following -
1-1-1941
FSI - 38 - HE - 521
Hope you know the meaning ?

Also Vol1 of " A History of the Mediterranean Air War 1940-1945" has on page 104 details of 1-1-41.
Serb Magg Fiorenzo Milella claimed 1 Blenheim shot down and a second Blenheim claim as a Probable.
It seems that Nine Blenheim's were intercepted, but no losses were reported by the RAF.

Alex

[Orwell1984]

Not sure if this is Brian's original source for the incident but it's described here:
https://maltagc70.wordpress.com/2015...-hit-by-bombs/

AIR RAIDS DAWN 20 AUGUST TO DAWN 21 AUGUST 1940
Weather Periodic clouds; warm.
0810 hrs Six Blenheim bombers land at Luqa.
0938-0955 hrs Air raid alert for two formations of five bombers each, in line astern, escorted by 20 fighters which cross the coast and carry out bombing raids on Luqa and Hal Far. Twelve high explosive bombs land on Luqa, including three on the aerodrome, causing fires in several buildings and considerable damage. One Blenheim bomber on the ground is hit by an incendiary bomb and destroyed, another is damaged but repairable and another two slightly damaged. Several bombs are dropped over a defence post of 8th Bn Manchester Regiment but there are no casualties. Ten high explosive bombs are dropped on the Hal Far area, seven explode causing slight damage to one Swordfish of 830 Squadron, three are reported as unexploded.
1517 hrs Air raid alert for six enemy fighters which fly over the Island, probably on reconnaissance.
OPERATIONS REPORTS TUESDAY 20 AUGUST 1940
AIR HQ Arrivals 6 Blenheim. Departures 3 Blenheim. Aircraft casualties 1 Blenheim destroyed; 4 damaged

[Brian]

Hi guys

When researching 'Malta: The Hurricane Years' many, many moons ago, I noted this loss/incident - but cannot now say from where I obtained the information. Obviously from one of those elusive files at TNA (or PRO as it was then!)

But T2076 sounds promising.

Thanks

Brian