On 4th April 1941 this 114 Squadron aircraft was landing at Thornaby airfield following a convoy protection flight when the port tyre burst, the aircraft swung off the landing runway, across an intersecting runway and across the grass. Eventually the wheels sank into soft ground, this caused the aircraft to briefly tip onto its nose and twist the nose towards the rotating port propeller causing some damage.
There is a report that it was damaged again a few days later but the two dates may refer to the same incident and given the fuselage was damaged in this first incident it seems highly unlikely it was repaired that quickly.
Pilot - Sgt Francis Wall Strover Mansfield RAFVR (745803).
Observer - Sgt E F Thomas RAFVR (938648).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Robert Arthur Tofts RAF (751346).
F/Lt Mansfield was killed on 29th October 1944 when Blenheim Z6176 crashed at Coxmore, Nottinghamshire. He is buried at Herne Bay Cemetery, Kent.
Blenheim T2224 was built to contract 1485/39 by Rootes Securities at Blyth Bridge and was delivered to an RAF MU in August 1940. After MU
acceptance it was taken on charge by 114 Squadron at Oulton in late 1940 and on 2nd March 1941 it moved with the unit to Thornaby. On 4th
April 1941 it sustained Cat.A/FA damage as a result of this incident as stated above. It was repaired on site and returned to the unit.
On 13th May 1941 it moved with the unit to Leuchars then on 19th July 1941 with the unit to West Raynham. The aircraft is known to have
still been on charge with 114 Squadron on 25th June 1942 because it took part in the 1000 Bomber Raid on Bremen. In September 1942 it was
placed into MU store when 114 Squadron ceased operating Blenheim MkIV's. It was then transferred to The Admiralty on 9th February 1944
but was immediately sent to a RNDA store from where it was never heard of again / saw no further service.
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