Blenheim L1403 near Little Fenton.
On 23rd June 1941 this trainee night-fighter crew were carrying out a training flight with 54 Operational Training Unit when one of the Blenheim's engines broke apart in the air. The aircraft became
uncontrollable after the tail had become damaged by part of the broken engine. The two on board abandoned the aircraft from 1500ft which then crashed near Little Fenton, not far from the airfield at 03.00hrs. It was later found the
engine had failed through oil starvation. A letter found on the superb RAF Commands forum website give additional information as to what happened to this crew after this
incident, as prior to leaving the OTU this crew were one of two crews to volunteer to join an "intruder" operational squadron.
Pilot - Sgt Robert Gordon Denyer RAFVR (927380). Uninjured.
Air Gunner - Sgt Donald Clinton Charles Graham RAF (628544), of Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada. Slightly injured.
Robert Denyer and Donald Graham were soon posted to 23 Squadron, and both lost their lives on 9th July 1941 during "night operations" when their aircraft,
Havoc BJ485 crashed soon after taking off from Ford airfield after it had suffered some form of engine failure. It is believed they were learning to fly the Havoc
type when the crash occured. Both are buried at Clymping Churchyard, Sussex. F/Sgt Graham was twenty four years old, Sgt Denyer's age is not given in the CWGC
online register but he was probably born in the Reigate area of Surrey in 1921, he was the son of Henry and Louisa Denyer (nee Appleyard).
Blenheim L1403 was built to contract 527114/36 by The Bristol Aeroplane Co. Ltd. at Filton as a bomber variant and was awaiting collection in November 1938.
It was initially taken on charge by 34 Squadron at Upper Heyford the following month but was transferred to 21 Squadron based at Watton in March 1939. In late 1939
the aircraft was transferred to 90 Squadron at Upwood but on 4th April 1940 90 Squadron and 35 Squadron merged, the aircraft later became attached to 17 OTU at Upwood
when it formed on 8th April 1940 but shortly after this date the it was flown into MU for conversion to MkIf status, it next appeared on charge with 23 Squadron at
Collyweston during the summer of 1940 before moving with the unit to Ford on 12th September 1940. Before the end of 1940 it had a spell on the books of 600 Squadron
at Catterick and 219 Squadron at Tangmere. In early 1941 it returned to the care of 23 Squadron at Ford but 23 Squadron ceased operating Blenheim MkIf's in April
1941 so the aircraft was transferred to the newly formed 60 OTU at Leconfield on 28th April 1941. 60 OTU were moved to East Fortune on 4th June 1941 and their role
as a Blenheim OTU ceased so the aircraft was transferred to 54 OTU at Church Fenton. As a result of the incidnet detailed above on 23rd June 1941 Cat.E2/FA damage was recorded.