Blenheim L8377 near Church Fenton airfield (or Bramham?).
On 29th May 1941 this 54 OTU aircraft collided with Defiant N1556 while both aircraft were in the circuit of Church Fenton airfield at 01.25hrs. At the time
of the collision there was an air-raid warning sounding across the airfield and it was usual to turn off all the airfield lighting. Both aircraft were
also flying without their navigation lights turned on and had been instructed to orbit different positions at different heights as to prevent a collision.
Following the collision both aircraft crashed and all on board were killed. It is not known why one of the aircraft was flying at the height and in the
same area as the other. Church Fenton's ORB gives a grid square map reference for where this incident occurred and this plots to an area around Rakes Wood,
near Bramham which is actually not anywhere near Church Fenton.
Pilot - Sgt Kenneth Campbell Gemmell RAF (911830), aged 21, of Chiswick, Middlesex. Cremated Mortlake, Surrey.
Sgt Gemmell is commemorated on a memorial panel in Mortlake Cemetery, Surrey but with a different spelling of surname to that shown in the CWGC database.
His birth was registered as Gemmell as the surname and is believed correct.
Blenheim L8377 was built to contract 551920/37 by Rootes Securities Ltd. at Speke as a bomber version and was awaiting collection in November 1938.
It was first taken on charge by 34 Squadron at Upper Heyford the following month but during 1939 it was transferred to 21 Squadron at Watton before it was
flown into long term storage. During this storage period it was converted to a Mk.1f status. It was next taken on charge by 23 Squadron at Colleyweston
in the summer of 1940. On 12th September 1940 it moved with the unit to Ford but 23 Squadron ceased operating Blenheim Mk1f's in April 1941 so the aircraft
was transferred to 54 OTU at Church Fenton. As a result of the accident on 29th May 1941 Cat.E2/FA Burnt damage was recorded.