Blenheim V5805 near Thwing.
On 3rd September 1941 this 2 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit aircraft crashed in a force landing near to Thwing village on the Yorkshire Wolds. Two
airmen on board were injured.
Pilot - Sgt Archie William Taylor RAAF (402417). Injured.
Navigator (Wireless Operator / Air Gunner?) - Sgt Hilary Rolfe Parfitt RAFVR (1152533). Injured.
Navigator (Wireless Operator / Air Gunner?) - Sgt Jack Victor Gardner RAFVR (921455).
Archie Taylor was born Wolverhampton, England on 20th September 1913 but emigrated to Australia. He enlisted for RAAF service on 19th August 1940 at Sydney, NSW, Australia and at that date was working as a salesman. After training he was awarded his pilot's Wings on 16th May 1941 in Canada and arrived in the UK in June 1941. He was posted to 2 (C)OTU on 5th July 1941. His service file makes no mention of him sustaining injuries in September 1941 so they must have been fairly minor. He and Parfitt were then posted to 236 Squadron on 28th February 1942 but they were killed on 28th March 1942 on their first operational flight in Beaufighter ?4795 "Y" on an operational flight to St.Nazaire. They attacked an enemy aircraft and after attacking one it blew up causing damage to their Beaufighter which then caused it to crash. They have no known grave and are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Sgt Jack Gardner was killed on 18th January 1942 flying in Beaufighter T4833 with 252 Squadron in North Africa. He also has no known grave and is commemorated on the Alamein Memorial.
Blenheim V5805 was built to contract 1485/39 by Rootes Securities Ltd. at Blythe Bridge and was awaiting collection
in December 1940. After a lengthy period of MU storage it was taken on charge by 2 (C)OTU at Catfoss in May 1941. As a
result of the incident near Thwing on 3rd September 1941 Cat.E2/FA damage was recorded and the aircraft written off.