Blenheim K7126 at Catterick airfield.

On the night of 18th / 19th November 1940 this aircraft overshot a night landing at Catterick airfield following a training flight and the undercarriage collapsed. The crew are not believed to have been injured. The 600 Squadron ORB is not clear for this date. Sgt Lipscombe was the pilot's regular air gunner but Sgt Hindrup's name is mentioned for one of the flights this night probably with P/O Woodward.

Pilot - P/O Robert Sinckler Woodward RAFVR (74698), of Goring on Thames, Oxfordshire.

Air Gunner - Possibly Sgt Alfred John Lipscombe RAFVR (759213).

OR - Air Gunner - Sgt Frederick George Hindrup RNZAF (NZ40284).

Sgt Hindrup was later posted to Bomber Command when the need for air gunners was reduced in Fighter Command with the advent of Beaufighters and better electronic equipment. He was posted to 99 Squadron and sadly killed on 20th April 1941 flying Wellington T2997 which hit a balloon and crashed in to Harwich harbour. His body was never found and he is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Robert Woodward was born in Goring on Thames in March 1919 and was the son of Major Charles Palgrave Woodward, East Kent Regiment. He studied at Rugby School and Corpus Christi College, Oxford and while at Oxford he learnt to fly with the University Air Squadron and then joined the RAFVR in June 1939 as a trainee pilot. He was called up when War was declared and after completing his pilot training he joined 236 Squadron in late September 1939 and received his commission on 3rd October 1939. He was posted to 600 Squadron on 25th September 1940 and was promoted to F/O on 3rd October 1940. He later converted to fly Beaufighters and in May 1941 he and Lipscombe were flying Beaufighter T4641 when it was attacked by an RAF aircraft belonging to 604 Squadron over the sea, he was able to fly his burning aircraft back to the English coast where he and his radar operator baled out. Woodward was later awarded the DFC on 29th August 1941 and the citation referred to this friendly fire accident, it reads.. "This officer has shown great perseverance and keenness during night-flying operations and has destroyed three enemy aircraft. One night in May 1941, his aircraft was set on fire when a considerable distance out to sea. Nevertheless, Flying Officer Woodward succeeded in flying the burning aircraft back over this country and did not abandon it until he had first ensured that his observer had left the aircraft safely. In pressing home his attacks against the enemy, Flying Officer Woodward has displayed great skill and determination.”

On 20th September 1941 he and Lipscombe were flying together when their aircraft got into a spin which Woodward struggled to get out of, he ordered Sgt Lipscombe to bale out and then baled out himself. Although he survived the landing with a broken leg Sgt Lipscombe was killed. While recovering from his injuries he was promoted to F/Lt on 3rd October 1941. In March 1942 he was posted to command 263 Squadron, as Acting S/Ldr he was posted missing on 7th December 1942 flying Whirlwind P7105 to attack shipping off Jersey. He is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial and was twenty three years old. He had married in April 1942 and never lived to see the birth of his daughter. He is also commemorated on a family grave at Goring on Thames.

Alfred Lipscombe joined the RAFVR around the outbreak of WW2, after training he was posted to 600 Squadron on 8th October 1940. As given in Woodward's biog, Sgt Lipscombe became Robert Woodward's regular radar operator with 600 Squadron before his death in September 1941. He was twenty two years old and is buried in Hendon Cemetery, Middlesex.
Blenheim K7126 was built to contract 43506/35 by The Bristol Aeroplane Co. Ltd, at Filton and delivered to 90 Squadron at Bicester on 18th December 1937. On 24th April 1939 it was flown to 6 MU at Brize Norton for storage but on 27th May 1440 it was flown to 32 MU at St.Athan for conversion to MkIf status. This only took a week and on 6th June 1940 it was taken on charge by 600 Squadron at Northolt. It moved with the unit to Manston on 20th June 1940 but on 26th June 1940 it sustained Cat.M/FA damage when the undercarriage collapsed as the engines were being run up at Manston. It was repaired on site and on 22nd August 1940 moved with the unit to Hornchurch, then on 12th September 1940 to Redhill and on 12th October 1940 with the unit to Catterick. It sustained Cat.M/FA damage on 19th November 1940 as a result of the incident detailed above, from here it was repaired on site and then flown to Drem when the unit moved out on 14th March 1941. On 19th May 1941 it transferred to 54 OTU at Church Fenton then on 3rd July 1941 it transferred to RAFC Cranwell. On 8th January 1942 it transferred to No.3 Radio School at Prestwick and on 2nd June 1942 it transferred to 60 OTU at East Fortune. On 7th August 1942 it was flown to John Curran Ltd, at Cardiff for major repair though the reason for this is not known. On 21st December 1942 it was flown to 39 MU at Colerne for long term storage. On 2nd January 1943 it was taken on charge by 12 PAFU at Grantham. but on 4th May 1943 it was damaged sustaining Cat.E2/FA damage following a heavy landing at Grantham (Spittlegate) airfield and was deemed beyond repair. It was struck off charge on 12th August 1943.

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