A Blenheim shot down in Crete by friendly fire on April 28, 1941

[pierre21]

One largely forgotten episode of this epic struggle is the story of a Bristol Blenheim Mk IV F (203 squadron, L9044), which covers the withdrawal of a convoy to Crete. A British destroyer with trigger-happy and quite nervous anti aircraft personnel believes the twin engine light bomber is a German one. They promptly set their sights on the Blenheim and shoot at it.

Read the story and check more photos

[Alex Smart]

Hello,
Looks like it might be L9044, F/O P.N.Gordon-Hall, Sgt G. Pool, Sgt I.B. Oultram.

Ref page 57, Bomber Losses in the Middle East and Mediterranean.
Alex

[pierre21]

Originally Posted by Alex Smart

Hello,
Looks like it might be L9044, F/O P.N.Gordon-Hall, Sgt G. Pool, Sgt I.B. Oultram.

Ref page 57, Bomber Losses in the Middle East and Mediterranean.
Alex

Indeed Alex, you are right. On this photo, Blenheim pilot Gordon-Hall at the Hellenic Air Force Museum, with the aircraft in the background.

[Col Bruggy]

Hello,

See also:

7-5-1941
No.203 Sqn.
Blenheim IV T2072:'M'
Op: Mosul.

Took off 0520, Habbaniyah/Dhibban to strafe Luftwaffe aircraft at Mosul airport. Crashed 42km S of Mosul, probably brought down by ground fire. The pilot and observer were captured by the French in Syria, but subsequently released by advancing British forces. Sgt Oultram is buried in Mosul War Cemetery.

F/O P N Gordon-Hall - PoW
Sgt C Poole - PoW
Sgt I B Oultram +

See: BLME1/59

Col.

[Chris Goss]

I was in touch with the pilot & have his stories from both crashes.