Blenheim T2324 at Wetherby Racecourse.
On 15th November 1941 the crew of this aircraft were undertaking a training exercise and were flying in the Wetherby area when the aircraft was attacked in error at around 08.25hrs by two Spitfires belonging to 121 Squadron, the pilots of the Spitfires had mistaken the Blenheim for that of a twin engined Junkers Ju88. The Blenheim's port engine caught fire and after the pilot attempted to use the extinguisher to no effect he ordered his gunner to abandon the aircraft and then made good his escape. Sadly the gunner was unable to get clear of the aircraft and deploy his parachute before the aircraft began to break up in the air, it then crashed at 10.15hrs in the area of Wetherby racecourse. The main bulk of the aircraft crashed onto the middle of the racecourse and bits also fell in the gardens of Audby House. Races were due to be held the day after this incident and were apparently switched to the steeplechase track. A Court of Inquiry was held the day after this incident in which P/O Stepp and Brown were found guilty and sentenced to a few days detention.
Blenheim T2324 was built to contract 1485/39 by Rootes Securities Ltd. at Speke and was awaiting collection in September 1940. It was taken on charge on or about 24th
October 1940 by the Airborne Interception (A.I.) and Air to Surface Vessel (A.S.V.) School at Prestwick when the unit formed. (The Blenheim was an Airborne
Interception-equipped model which suggests it was a IVf). On 27th December 1940 this unit was re-designated No.3 RS at Prestwick. On an unknown date it was
transferred to 54 OTU at Church Fenton and as a result of the damage sustained on 15th November 1941 Cat.E2/FA damage was recorded.
Pilot - P/O Peter Hunt Cleaver RAFVR (103590). Survived.
Wireless Operator / Observer - Sgt John Moss Cohen RAFVR (1334838), aged 19, of Hampstead, London. Buried Willesden Jewish Cemetery, Middlesex.
My thanks to Brian Lunn and Graham Sharpe for their help in documenting this incident.
Peter Cleaver was born on 31st December 1921 in Hertfordshire and joined the RAFVR in the early part of the War, probably in early 1940. He received
his commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 16th August 1941. After completing his training at Church Fenton he was posted to 68 Squadron on 4th
December 1941. On 25th June 1942 he claimed one Dornier Do217 as destroyed and another on 8th August 1942 he claimed another (with F/Sgt Nairn with him
on both occasions). He rose to F/O (war subs) on 16th August 1942 and F/Lt (war subs) on 16th August 1943. Having been posted to 85 Squadron in April 1943
he was awarded the DFC for service with 85 Squadron, Gazetted on 13th April 1945, but no citation has yet been located. In April 1945 he flew as a test
pilot for a time with the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough. Having survived the War he received a permanent commission to the rank of F/Lt in
the RAF on 2nd October 1946, rising to S/Ldr on 1st July 1952. On 1st January 1954 he was awarded the Air Force Cross, again no citation has yet been
located. He rose to W/Co on 1st January 1960 and retired from the RAF on 31st December 1968. He died on 23rd June 1991 in Chicester, West Sussex. I
thank his son Mr R Cleaver for contacting me in July 2011 and for the additional information he has kindly provided to this account.
The two 121 Squadron pilots responsble for shooting down Blenheim T2324 were both American pilots serving in the RAF. Captain Malta Leon Stepp Jnr had previously served in 41 Squadron and later transferred to the USAAF, he died in the crash of Thunderbolt 42-7872 on 30th September 1943 on Cats Tor, near Buxton, Derbyshire while flying with the 2906th Observation Group. John Innes Brown later transferred to the USAAF and survived the War.