Blenheim L1297 at Church Fenton airfield.
On the night of 24th / 25th April 1941 an enemy aircraft was operating in the Church Fenton area. The exact events are not fully known,
two Allied aircraft were waiting to take off from Church Fenton were badly damaged on the ground when the enemy aircraft dropped some
bombs on the airfield at 00.08hrs, one other may have aircraft sustained damage. Both were probably 54 Operational Training Unit aircraft. L1297 was probably one of the two aircraft that was attacked while
it was in the air and it then crash landed at base.
Pilot - Sgt Geroge William Attenborough RAFVR (1160056).
George Attenborough was probably born in the Orsett area of Essex in 1922, he was educated at Northgate School, Ipswich and enlisted into the RAFVR
in 1940. He received his commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) (130447) on 13th July 1942. He was promoted to F/O on probation (war subs)
on 13th January 1943 and was awarded the DFC for service with 107 Squadron, Gazetted on 25th January 1944. Postwar he served as a pilot with the BOAC and
in 1950 was part of the flight crew of a Hermes aircraft which was involved with the first ever television transmission from an aircraft in flight.
Blenheim L1297 was built to contract 527114/36 as a bomber version by The Bristol Aeroplane Company Ltd. at Filton and was awaiting collection in August 1938.
It was taken on charge by 107 Squadron based at Harwell later that month and moved with the unit to Wattisham on 11th May 1939. It was later flown to MU for
conversion to MkIf status but the date for this is not known. In October 1939 it was taken on charge by 219 Squadron at Catterick then in July 1940 it was
transferred to 604 Squadron at Middle Wallop. In January 1941 604 Squadron ceased operating Blenheim MkIf's so the aircraft was transferred to 54 OTU at
Church Fenton. It sustained Cat.E/FB as a result of the enemy action recorded above.