Blenheim Friendly Fire 31 July 1940 - Serial Number?

[Peter Cook]

Does anyone know the serial number of the Blenheim IF night fighter flown by F/O Rhodes of 29 Squadron on 31 July, in which he shot down a Fairey Battle of 12 Squadron? Although the incident is fully described in the 29 Squadron ORB Form 540, the entry for this sortie in ORB Form 541 has been redacted -- the details of the Blenheim's serial number, the crew names and time up/down have been obscured by over-typing. As far as I can tell from the ORBs this was Rhodes first operational flight with 29 Squadron.

[ian hunt]

Sorry Peter but Blenheim serial not given in Brian Cull's "Blue on Blue" Vol.1 (wonder if further volumes are coming anytime?). Only says the Battle was L5568.
Ian

[Peter Cook]

Thanks for the response Ian, I will keep looking!

Peter

[Chris Goss]

The only sources for this would be a process of elimination via the F540, an accident card or Rhodes' logbook but mindful he lasted only 25 days after this, the chances of his logbook still being around are slim

[Peter Cook]

Thanks Chris, I have taken another look at the redacted version of the Rhodes entry for 31/7/40 and the last two serial numbers appear to be L__24, for which the only 29 Squadron match is L1324, which is listed again in F540 on 4/8/40 flown by F/L Adams. Rhodes did not fly in L1324 again. The F540 records for August list him flying in L1337 on 6/8/40, and 9/8/40, L8661 on 11/8/40, L6741 on 18/8/40 (when he made a claim for an He 111), L8661 on 20/8/40, L6741 on 23/8/40, L1330 on 25/8/40, when he was shot down and killed.

[ian hunt]

Hi Peter

Even without reading your estimation above, I looked at the ORB online and my guess would have been that the serial looked like it may have ended in "....324", so ties in with your guess too.

Wonder why it was crossed out?

Ian

[Chris Goss]

Reverse engineering often comes up trumps

[Peter Cook]

Chris, apologies for delay in replying and thanks for your confirmation. I presume that it was crossed out because of the friendly fire incident, removing the record of the flight.