Blenheim L6786 near Church Fenton airfield.
On 1st May 1941 this aircraft was being flown on a night training flight with 54 OTU when it began to have engine trouble, the pilot was
attempting to make an emergency landing at Church Fenton airfield when it stalled at 00.40hrs and crashed just east of Church Fenton airfield.
The crash investigation found that the aircraft had been left to idle for too long before taking off and the unit ORB states that this had caused
plug trouble which resulted in engine failure. It is therefore very likely that the aircraft had just taken off for the training flight and the engine
trouble developed soon afterwards, the pilot probably was attempting to turn the aircraft to go in for a landing when the aircraft stalled and crashed.
The pilot was killed and the aircraft destroyed.
Pilot - P/O Leslie Frederick Charles Mayer RAFVR (62327), aged 23, of Tottenham. Buried Tottenham Cemetery, Middlesex.
Leslie Mayer received a commission on 9th March 1941 to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency).
Blenheim L6786 was built as a bomber version to contract 588372/36 by A.V.Roe and Co. Ltd. at Chadderton and was awaiting collection in October 1939.
It was taken on charge by 57 Squadron who were based at Rosierres-en-Santerre later the same month. 57 Squadron ceased operating Blenheim MkI's in March 1940
and the aircraft was flown back to England and placed into MU store. While there it was converted to a MIf status during the same month but remained in store.
It next appears on the books of 600 Squadron at Catterick in October 1940 but 600 Squadron ceased operating Blenheim MkIf's in February 1941 and the aircraft
passed into the hands of 54 OTU at Church Fenton. Cat.E2/FA damage was recorded after this accident near Church Fenton on 1st May 1941.