Blenheim L1523 at Church Fenton airfield, damaged by enemy action.
In the minutes around midnight on 24th / 25th April 1941 at least one enemy aircraft was operating in the air around the Tadcaster area, two Blenheims were attacked while flying near
base at 23.45hrs and were written off after landing on Church Fenton airfield. 54 Operational Training Unit L1523 was probably one of these two aircraft. The Station ORB states that two other aircraft
were damaged on the ground when the enemy aircraft dropped bombs at 00.08hrs on the airfield, three others were also slightly damaged on the ground by the bombing.
In addition to the damaged aircraft AC1 Reginald Dennis Carter RAFVR (1355166) and AC1 George Albert Marshgreen RAFVR (934844) were slightly wounded during the attack.
Pilot - Name unknown.
Blenheim L1523 was built to contract 527114/36 as a fighter version by the Bristol Aeroplane Company Ltd. at Filton and was awaiting collection in March 1939
but was immediately placed into long term MU storage. On 30th December 1939 it was taken on charge by 242 Squadron at Church Fenton but the following month 242
Squadron converted to Hurricane's the aircraft was transferred to 64 Squadron also based at Church Fenton. In April 1940 64 Squadron ceased operating Blenheim MkIf's
and the aircraft was placed back into long term MU storage. On 4th September 1940 it was taken on charge by 25 Squadron at North Weald and moved with the unit on 8th
October 1940 to Debden, then to Wittering with them on 27th November 1940. On 17th December 1940 it was transferred to 600 Squadron based at Catterick but in February
1941 600 Squadron aso ceased operating Blenheim MkIf's so it was transferred to 54 OTU and flown back to Church Fenton. As a result of the damage in April 1941
Cat.E/FB damage was recorded.