Blenheim Z5722 at Catterick airfield.
On 22nd February 1941 this 600 Squadron aircraft is reported as slightly damaged at Catterick airfield as the result of a landing accident.
Pilot - P/O Francis Herbert Schumer RAFVR (84970). Of the Hendon area of London.
Francis Schumer was born in Hendon, Middlesex in 1919. He was educated at Giggleswick School and later at Worcester College, Oxford. While
at Oxford he joined the University Air Squadron and then joined the RAFVR in June 1939. He received his commission on 7th September 1940 to
the rank of P/O on probation. He crashed Blenheim K7160 at Aston Down on 12th September 1940 while training with 5 OTU and was posted to 600
Squadron on 24th September 1940. On 24th February 1941 P/O Schumer & Sgt Burke were injured when Blenheim L1326 overshot on landing at
Prestwick, hit HT cables and crashed. P/O Schumer was still serving with 600 Squadron when he died on 12th July 1941, probably flying
Beaufighter R2317 which spun out of control and crashed at Goonhilly Down, near Mullion, Cornwall. He was twenty two years old and
cremated at Golders Green Crematorium, London.
Blenheim Z5722 was built to contract B.119994/40 by A.V.Roe & Co. Ltd. at Chadderton and was awaiting collection in July 1940. After a short
period of MU storage it was taken on charge by the F.I.U. at Shoreham in August 1940. It was transferred to 600 Squadron at Catterick before the
end of the year but 600 Squadron were in the process of converting to the Beaufighter at this time, having commenced conversion in September 1940.
This squadron were to use Blenheims until the conversion was completed in March 1941. The aircraft sustained Cat.A(c)/FA damage as a result of
the mishap at Catterick as detailed above and was repaired on site. Before the repair was completed 600 Squadron had moved to Drem on 14th March
1941 so the aircraft was taken on charge by 68 Squadron who were resident at Catterick when the aircraft was returned to service. On 17th April
1941 it moved with this unit to High Ercall but 68 Squadron were a Beaufighter unit with a only few Blenheims on their charge for conversion of
new crews arriving from OTU. On 8th March 1942 it moved with the unit to Coltishall. On 6th June 1942 is was written off as the result of a
flying accident with Cat.E2/FA damage being recorded when the aircraft suffered a loss of power on take off at Coltishall, it then collided
with a flag pole and crashed. The then pilot P/O R N Bailey RCAF was sadly killed.