Blenheim Foto Desert

[kaki3152]

Can anyone identify the unit? Can't find the code "HV"

[Doug Norrie]

I would say a Blenheim I from 8 Squadron RAF.


Doug

[Håkan]

The text states that it was shot down in East Africa (AOI).

Best wishes/Håkan

[Håkan]

A quick check gives the following losses from 8 Sq. in East Africa:

L8406 lost 40/08/01
L8375 lost 40/08/05
L8433 lost 41/03/31

There might be more losses.

//Håkan

[Buckeye30]

8 Sqn. used HV on Blenheim Is 1939-1940 then aircraft letter only, including on Mk. IVs and later Mk.Vs. all in E. Africa. They were replaced by Hudsons and Wellingtons.
The 3 Blenheims noted by Hakan were Mk. Is.
Regards
Nick

[Col Bruggy]

Hello,

Hakan Gustavsson suggests that the aircraft was No.8 Sqn Blenheim I L8375 (I agree):

http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/italy_folcherio.htm

41786 P/O (Pilot) Roy Kingsley FELSTEAD RAF (The pilot of L8375), was an Australian serving in the RAF. He came from the bayside suburb of Brighton, in Victoria, Australia.

I cannot find any notification of a DFC being awarded to 44180 Tom McKenzie MITCHELL RAF. Mitchell was an "Old Haltonian" (29th Entry, Jan, 1934), as his NCO number (566717), indicates.

Col.