Blenheim L6642 damaged in air, returned to Catterick airfield.
On 16th April 1940 this 219 Squadron aircraft was being used on an search light co-operation flight when the port airscrew failed and then flew off the engine due to lack of lubrucant. The pilot made a safe landing at Catterick and the engine was either repaired or replaced.
Pilot - Sgt Thomas Birkett RAFVR (741782).
Thomas Birkett joined the RAFVR in or around July 1939 as a trainee pilot, upon completion of his training he was posted to 219 Squadron. He slightly damaged Blenheim L1168 and L1109 at Catterick later in the year and then flying a Blenheim from St.Athan to Catterick he was forced to land at Sywell on 29th August 1940 after suffering mechanical trouble. He received a commission to P/O on 10th October 1940. He was killed in a flying accident in Beaufighter R2071 on 13th November 1940 which crashed near Edenbridge, Kent, he was twenty six years old and is buried in Chew Magna Churchyard, Somerset.
Blenheim L6642 was built to contract 588371/36 by A.V. Roe Ltd. at Chadderton and was awaiting collection in November 1938. After a very long period of
MU storage it was taken on charge by 222 Squadron at Duxford on 5th October 1939 when the unit re-formed after a period of absence from the RAF of just
over twenty years. 222 Squadron ceased operating Blenheim MkIf's in March 1940 and the aircraft was transferred to 219 Squadron at Catterick. It probably
had an engine change following this incident in April 1940, with possible Cat.M damage and a repair on site. On 1st November 1940 it passed into the
hands of 55 OTU which formed at Aston Down on that date but its stay with them was short as it moved to 54 OTU at Church Fenton on 10th December 1940
when all 55 OTU's Blenheim's and Defiant's were transferred to 54 OTU. Cat.E2/FA damage was recorded after an accident at Church Fenton in March 1941.