Blenheim downed by Spitfire?

The same happend with Beaufighters, I know of one incident where a 604 Sqn Beau shot down a 600 Sqn Beau in mid 1941. The pilot of the 604 Sqn aircraft was quoted as saying “I thought it was a Beaufighter” !!!!!

Fascinating.

There were apparently many cases of confusion and friendly fire during the Battle. Understandable but also sad.

This exact scenario was of course recreated in Piece of Cake. It’ll be interesting when they get that Blenheim Mk 1 flying at Duxford – it could lend a whole new idea to combat themes at airshows, having a squadron of Spitfires attacking it. 🙂

Groundcrew diary:

14th Aug. A black and sad day for our Maintenance Flight. The air raid alarm sounded around 17:00 hrs and 3 minutes later a JU88 dived out of the clouds and dropped a salvo of bombs on No 5 hangar, which housed our Maintenance Flight. Some of the flight personnel were closing the hangar doors, as per orders, when the bombs dropped. Cpl Smith, LAC Thorley, and LAC Wilson were killed; Cpl Appleby was injured and taken to hospital. A direct hit on an air raid shelter adjacent to the hangar accounted for three civilian workmen. Only two of our aircraft were in the air at the time, and one of these, L1065, pilot Sgt Feary, immediately gave chase and shot down the JU88. The remainder of the squadron took off without orders immediately the bombs dropped, seeking revenge. The only success was Fg Off Dundas in R6961, who shot down a DO17 and finished off a JU88 that was limping home after being shot up. Fg Off Goodwin N3024 failed to return from this patrol. Fg Off Newbury shot at a Blenheim and received a few in reply, but both sides missed. Three aircraft in the hangar were written off, R6692, P9322 and R6977. R6961 had a few bullet holes, which were capable of being patched.

Aha!

15th Aug. Another raid by a formation of 10 aircraft who dropped a large salvo, estimated at about 90 bombs. No 5 hangar was again hit, and also No 4, into which the Maintenance Flight had moved from No 5. The MT petrol pump was also hit and bombs fell very near the Sgts Mess and 609 Barrack Block. The buildings stood up to it alright, but most of the windows caved in. The damage, considering the number of bombs, wasn’t very great. The squadron, already airborne, were ordered to give chase. Fg Off Edge R6986 ME110 Destroyed. Plt Off Ostazewski L1065 ME110 Destroyed, Flt Lt Howell L1096 JU88 Destroyed, Flt Lt McArthur R6769 2 ME110s Destroyed, Fg Off Newbury L1082 2 JU88s Probably Destroyed, and Sqn Ldr Darley K9997 JU88 Probably Destroyed. Plt Off Crook appeared to have the credit of shooting down a Blenheim. The Blenheim Squadron had orders to orbit the aerodrome during raids and no doubt it was difficult to recognise them in the heat of battle. However it was established that the crew escaped. A new aircraft which had just arrived R6922 was on the aerodrome near the hangars and had starboard mainplane written off by bomb blast

18th Aug. Air raid warning – again no raiders or contact with the enemy. Plt Off Keough landing R6699 off patrol struck a dispersed Blenheim. Flaps and tail unit of R6699 damaged but not too seriously. The Blenheim? We didn’t ask, our name was mud in the Blenheim Squadron.

David Crook was with 609 Squadron.Not mentioned in the Form 540 – but these two excerpts may provide an insight as to the difficulties. I do recall the story though.

Middle Wallop. 18/7/40. Squadron at Warmwell from 13.00 hours. Red section – F/Lt. Howell, F/O. Edge and Sgt. Feary engaged a Ju.88 south east of Swanage. All three made two attacks. F/Lt. “bailed” out and was picked up by Naval Auxiliary vessel. F/O. Edge forced landed at Studland beach and was taken off by Naval vessel. Sgt. Feary landed safely. Believe E/A reported down in sea from three different sources at 15.10, but no positive confirmation yet that machine destroyed. (Appendix “F”). Yellow section 1 and 2 intercepted a JU.88 at about 18.00 hours and attacked it as it was about to attack convoy. E/A escaped but believed damaged and rear gunner killed. Yellow 3 did not engage. (Appendix “G”). Yellow section intercepted a long nose Blenheim at 12,000 feet above Warmwell. It looked very new and had the ordinary British markings on it. It aroused suspicion by taking violent evasive action. Yellow 3 did a feint attack on it but no one liked to fire at it. Blenheim was last seen going due south out to sea.

21st. A patrol of 2 aircraft. (F/Lt. F.J. Howell and P/O. S.J. Hill) brought down a Ju.88 which had been reported to be posing as a Blenheim and, inter alia, machine-gunning Old Sarum R.A.F. Station, from a height of 50 feet. Howell dived to decide what it was, and even after making sure that it was a Ju.88 with a big cross was surprised to see the rear gunner signalling, with smoke cartridges. Both pilots attacked in turn and after an unusual chase above and below tree-tops the E/A hit the ground and blew up near Lymington. It was fortunately found possible to salvage a portion of the rudder inscribed with the swastika as a memento, for this interception brought the then total of E/A destroyed by the Squadron to 100. Howell, with characteristic self-effacement, attributed the comparative ease of this interception to the excellent vectoring of the Middle Wallop Duty Controller, F/Lt. Fieldsend. This was in any case a popular victory which gave rise to considerable celebration. (Appendix ‘C’)