Blenheim K7091 near Hempholme.
On 6th May 1942 the pilot of this No.2 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit aircraft was undertaking a basic night flying circuits and landings practice, this was a common training flight when pilots were new to flying the aircraft type. The pilot was thought to have lost sight of the airfield's drem lighting and the aircraft struck the ground near Standingholme Farm near Hempholme at 01.15hrs. The pilot was sadly killed and the aircraft destroyed.
Blenheim K7091 was built to contract 43506/35 by The Bristol Aeroplane Co. Ltd. at Filton as a bomber variant and was awaiting collection in September 1937. It was initially taken charge by 90 Squadron at Bicester on 14th October 1937 and served with them until being placed in storage on 20th April 1939 with 6 M.U. at Brize Norton. At some point during this period of storage the airframe was converted to MkIf status. On 21st December 1939 it was taken on charge by 145 Squadron at Croydon but was then damaged in a mid air collision on 10th February 1940 when it collided with Blenheim K7114 near Gatwick but both aircraft were able to be landed safely. As assessment Cat.M/FA damage was recorded and it was repaired on site and returned to 145 Squadron. On 10th May 1940 145 Squadron moved to Tangmere and the aircraft was flown to 10 MU at Hullavington for storage on or around this date. On 9th July 1940 it was taken on charge by 1 (C)OTU at Silloth and from 8th September 1940 to 1st November 1940 the aircraft was detached to Prestwick. On 21st December 1940 it was transferred to 2 (C)OTU at Catfoss. As a result of the accident near Hempholme on 6th May 1942 Cat.E2/FA damage was recorded and it was struck off charge with some 710 hours total flying time.
Pilot - Sgt Angus McBean RAFVR (1014015), aged 25, of Durham. Buried Durham Churchyard, Co.Durham.
In 2012 Yorkshire Water came across pieces of the aircraft during work at the crash site on what is now Tophill Low Nature Reserve near Standingholme Farm and on the seventieth anniversary of the incident a memorial plaque was unveiled at the crash site on a bird-watching hide with family of the pilot in attendance.
A search on the land by metal detectorists uncovered a few small pieces of the aircraft to confirm the location. Although I had nothing to do with this memorial project as I came to learnt of it too late to attend. I thank their website "http://tophilllow.blogspot.co.uk" for their credit to this webpage. The green paint on some of the pieces shown on the photograph below is very characteristic of the Blenheim colour.
I credit all photographs shown on this webpage to Liz Everingham, via David Thompson.