11 Squadron Blenheims, June 1941.

[Martin Gleeson]

Hallo all,

Could anyone please tell me the serial numbers of the 8 Blenheim IVs handed over to 11 Sqn. on 1 June 1941 by 211 Sqn. at Aqir ?

Also looking for the serial of the 11 Sqn. Blenheim which was force-landed on a beach in Syria or Lebanon on 2 June 1941, and was it a write-off ?

(From DUST CLOUDS IN THE MIDDLE EAST by Christopher Shores).

Regards,

Martin Gleeson.

[peter]

Hi Martin,

From 'The Bristol Blenheim' - Warner

02/06/1941
Blenheim IV L9316. 11 Squadron, force-landed on a beach in Palestine after being pursued by French MS.406 fighters, crew safe, aircraft recovered and repaired.

Regards
Peter.

[Martin Gleeson]

Hallo Peter,

Thanks for that but it is precisely this entry that caused my puzzlement. Just two places above it one will also find L9316 lost on 31-5-41 with 84 Squadron after being shot down by a Vichy French MS.406. The crew of 3 were KIA and this date and unit is supported by the CWGC website.
I recently acquired a copy of the Form 78 from the RAF Museum for L9316. No squadrons are mentioned, but its fate is shown as '2/6/41 F.A. (E) (Missing)'.
SCORPIONS STING (A history of 84 Sqn.) by Don Neate provides less information than Warner. Nor is L9316 on the list of Blenheim IVs that served with the squadron.

It is a puzzle.

Regards,

Martin.

[Henk Welting]

Pel Temple for sure may have the answer we're looking for.
Regards,
Henk.