6th Jan 1940 - Blenheim L6641

[andy bird]

Hi
Blenheim L6641 flew with 254 Sqn and was pancaked onto the beach at Scolt Head Island (bird sanctuary) off Brancaster Norfolk on January 6th 1940.

Unfortunately I have been unable to clarify a time or the complete crew. Could anyone help with these?

Pilot - F/O David Bain (Canadian) 24 years old joined the RAF 1937/38.
Observer -
Gunner -


The three managed to paddle to the shore and as far as I can find out via Norwich Library - the local volunteer home guards wadded out and pulled them in. The pilot spent a brief spell in Norwich hospital.

Kind Regards

Andy Bird

[paulmcmillan]

I too would love to know this.. A book about Scolt Head "Island of Terns" by an ex-warden Bob Chestney which has details which were copied from the original vistors book (original now lost) of the Bird Sanctuary provides a little more detail on the subsequent recovery/disposal. But not the correct date! I have not seen the book but I was kindly supplied information from it by seome who has access to a copy. I quote...


"Essentially, he says the Blenheim came down late December 1939 and "The salvage section MV Cambridge recorded in the visitors' book: Collected crashed aircraft 6644 Blenheim bomber. Arrived January 1, 1940. Completed task February 20. Number of RAF personnel involved 36"

Note MU not MV and the number error..





There are still bits of this Blenhiem lying around...

[paulmcmillan]

Andy

Please clear your PMs

Thanks

Paul

[paulmcmillan]

Sorry to raise this back up after 4 years, but close so sorting some of this out

On my file I have following which I believe comes from the Canadians in the RAF' book by Molson

"P/O David John Bain (RAF) #41243 had accident sometime in 1939 or 1940 which resulted him using a parachute. He also crashed 6th January 1940 in Blenheim L6641 of 254 Sqn at Scolt Head Brancaster which resulted in him being hospitalized for seven months"

Actually these incidents have been mixed up, indeed he crash landed Blenheim L6641 of 254 Sqn at Scolt Head Brancaster on 6th January 1940, but all the crew were OK (wreckage still survives on this Island Bird Sanctuary). The incident in "which resulted in him being hospitalized for seven months" is the crash to Anson K8819 on 15.1.40 of SoAN at Castle Carey, Somerset Pilot: F/O Charles Sydney Harold Richardson (OK), the passenger/pupil P/O D "W" Bain was injured, when his parachute opening and dragging him from the aircraft. I am now 100 convinced this is David John Bain as no other Bain RAF officer in RAF fits description and date criteria

[BC]

Sorry, no time for incident. Nice to see little bits and pieces of info are still coming to light on incidents like this. Appreciate your sharing the gen with us. "Still bits of the Blenheim lying around"? Perhaps, but only small pieces which came off during the recovery work. No other details on crew I'm afraid.

[paulmcmillan]

For clarity Anson K8819 January 15, 1940

Crew Confirmed as

37481 F/O Charles Sydney Harold Richardson - Pilot
41243 P/O David John Bain - .Navigator (Training)
564688 Sergeant Wilfred Stanley Herring - .Navigator (Training)
617855 Douglas John Drake - Wireless Operator

Aircraft crashed behind Lamyatt Railway Crossing

Bain was injured in bail out , he was dragged out of the aircraft prematurely by the opening of the parachute canopy and hit the tail plane, he was admitted to hospital in Wincanton with shock and a compound fracture of middle third of Left Humerus. Other 3 un-injured Bain was first out and landed Godminster, Herring out and landed Bruton, Drake (3rd) at Cole and Richardson last at Ansford Railway Station.


The Bain on 6th Jan 1940 - Blenheim L6641 is another Bain NOT David John Bain. He was Flying Officer William Pennington "Bill" Bain #39480 as per Andrew Bird Book Coastal Dawn



https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=...q=Bain&f=false