Blenheim L6642 near Church Fenton.
On 28th March 1941 the pilot of this 54 Operational Training Unit aircraft was carrying out a night landing at Church Fenton in poor visibility and was flying on instruments, he
lost control while attempting to overshoot landing, the Blenheim stalled and struck the ground at 00.40hrs. Both the crew were killed in the crash
near Fennel Garth Lane, Church Fenton.
Pilot - P/O Alastaire Noel McKelvie RAFVR (60784), aged 19. His parents were living in Shanghai, China. Buried Hoylake Cemetery, Cheshire.
Wireless Oprerator / Air Gunner - Sgt Gustave James Alfred Sandfield RAFVR (917816), aged 19, of Highgate, London. Buried Hendon Cemetery, North London.
Air historians Albert Pritchard, Eric Barton and Ken Reast located small fragments on the surface at the crash site in August 2002 with permission from the landowner, confirming the crash location. Eric retained a few small fragments he located and these were passed to me in 2022 for me to find a home for.
Alastaire McKelvie received a commission on 30th December 1940 (with seniority back dated to 22nd December 1940) to the rank of P/O on probation.
Blenheim L6642 was built to contract 588371/36 by A.V. Roe Ltd. at Chadderton and 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 suffered
engine or propeller trouble on the port engine in early April 1940 and this possibly resulted in an engine change. 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 the
accident at Church Fenton on 28th March 1941.
