Blenheim at Naffits Farm, Sutton on Forest.

This Blenheim crashed near Naffits Farm, south of Sutton on the Forest after it flew into the ground on the 22nd of December 1941 at 23.45hrs. No Crash Card AM1180 was available at Hendon for this incident upon my enquiry, the full reasons for the crash are yet to be discovered in my research. What is known is that the aircraft was circling as part of an exercise when it flew into the ground at high speed and was burnt out.

It was built to contract 774679/38 by The Bristol Aeroplane Co Ltd at Filton but converted during production from a Mk I to Mk IV and delivered to 107 Sqdn at Wattisham on 11th May 1939 when the unit moved in from Harwell and at the same time converted from Blenheim I's to IV's. It was transferred to 35 Sqdn at Cranfield in November 1939 and moved with the unit to Bassingbourn on 7th December 1939. On an unspecified date in early 1940 it transferred to 101 Sqdn at West Raynham and shortly after to 110 Sqdn at Wattisham. 110 Sqdn sent a detachment to Lossiemouth in April 1940; this being one of the aircraft. It was transferred to 21 Sqdn at Lossiemouth in June 1940 but within the same month the aircraft was back on charge with 101 Sqdn at West Raynham. On 12th June 1940 it was again transferred, this time to 18 Sqdn at West Raynham. It moved again, this time to 15 Sqdn at Wyton, leaving them in November 1940, moving to 18 Sqdn at Great Massingham. In early 1941 it moved to 17 OTU at Upwood before finally joining 54 OTU on an as yet unspecified date. It sustained Cat E2/FA Burnt in its crash at Sutton on Forest and was therefore written off.

Pilot - Sgt Leonard H Tickner RAFVR, aged 26, of Worthing. Buried Worthing (Durrington) Cemetery. Died soon after the crash.

Passenger - Sgt F Turner RAF, serious injuries.