Blenheim L6603 at Church Fenton airfield.
On 24th August 1941 this 54 O.T.U. aircraft suffered from the port engine failing while the pilot was undertaking a night training flight. The reduction gear on the port engine had completely broken apart in flight and torn through the casing resulting in the port propeller breaking away from the aircraft. The propeller landed in a field around a mile and half from Church Fenton airfield. The pilot twice tried to make a forced landing at Church Fenton
airfield but on both occasions he overshot. On the second attempt at 23.10hrs L6603 collided with a dispersed Blenheim K7170 and a
gun emplacement. The pilot was sadly killed and this aircraft was destroyed.
Pilot - P/O John Leigh Okell RAFVR (68182), aged 22, of Edgware, Middlesex. Buried Kirkby Wharfe Cemetery, Yorkshire.
P/O Okell's grave in Kirkby Wharfe Cemetery. He received his commission on 29th May 1941 to the rank of P/O on probation. His name has been
mis-spelt "O'Kell" elsewhere on the internet but Okell is believed to be correct.
Blenheim L6603 was built to contract 588371/36 by A.V.Roe Ltd. at Chadderton and was awaiting collection in August 1938. After a period of storage it was
taken on charge by 601 Squadron at Hendon in January 1939 who were converting from Gauntlet MkII's to Blenheim night fighters. On an unknown date later in
1939 it was transferred to 23 Squadron at Wittering and on 31st May 1940 it moved with this unit to Colleyweston then on 12th September 1940 with the unit to
Ford. In April 1941 23 Squadron ceased operating Blenheim MkIf's and the aircraft was transferred to 54 OTU at Church Fenton. As a result of the damage at Church
Fenton on 24th August 1941 Cat.E2/FA damage was the assessement and the aircraft was written off.