Blenheim L1168 damaged by friendly fire, landed at Catterick airfield.
On 3rd July 1940 this 219 Squadron aircraft was one of three that was flying a patrol of the North Sea off Hartlepool when it was attacked by two Acklington based Spitfires at 13.56hrs. The Blenheim received damage to the starboard engine and had a fuel tank holes. Where the aircraft landed is not yet confirmed but it was probably at Catterick at 14.42hrs. The Spitfires may have been from 72 Squadron who were in the air at the same time, their record book states that they were instructed to intercept aircraft in poor weather while flying near the Farne Islands.
Pilot - P/O Kenneth Wilson Worsdell RAF (33497).
Air Gunner - LAC Tucker (Probably LAC Ronald Yeaman Tucker RAF (552711)).
Kenneth Worsdell was killed flying 219 Squadron Beaufighter R2065
on 30th October 1940 when it crashed near Redhill. He is buried at Nutfield Cemetery, Surrey.
If the air gunner was whom I suspect his identity to be then this operational flight on 3rd July 1940 was his last with 219 Squadron. He was posted to 235 Squadron in mid-July 1940 and was killed on 18th July 1940 flying Blenheim N3541. He was just eighteen years old and has no known grave, being commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Blenheim L1168 was built to contract 527114/36 by The Bristol Aeroplane Co. Ltd. at Filton and was awaiting collection in March 1938
and was flown into MU storage. In May 1939 it was issued to 18 Squadron at Upper Heyford as a bomber version of the Blenheim when the
unit converted from Hawker Hinds. In February 1940 18 Squadron ceased operating Blenhiem MkI's so the aircraft went into works for conversion to a Mk.If. When this
conversion was complete it was issued to 64 Squadron at Church Fenton but in April 1940 64 Squadron ceased operating Blenheim MkIf's so
this aircraft was transferred to 219 Squadron at Catterick.
It sustained repairable Cat.R damage on 3rd July 1940 and was repaired on site at Catterick within a few days.
It sustained Cat.R(b)/FA damage on 5th August 1940 at Catterick and was taken away and repaired in works. When the repair was complete and after a period of storage it was issued to 54 O.T.U. at Church Fenton which formed on 25th November 1940. It was destroyed in a fatal accident near Nether Poppleton, to the north of York on
28th February 1941 with Cat.W/FA damage being recorded.