Bristol Bombay crash, 271 Sqdn, 11/05/1940, Betheniville, F

A Bristol Bombay transport of <a href='http://www.epibreren.com/ww2/raf/271_squadron.html'>271 Squadron</a> bringing reinforcements and spares for <a href='http://www.epibreren.com/ww2/raf/501_squadron.html'>501 Squadron</a> stalled on approach to the airfield and crashed killing four and injuring twelve.

Type: Bristol Bombay
Serial number: ?, BJ-?
Operation: Betheniville
Lost: 11/05/1940
Sergeant (Pilot) William H. Whitfield, RAF 740692, 271 Sqdn., age 22, 11/05/1940, Terlincthun British Cemetery, Wimille, F.
Of 501 Squadron one member was killed this day; F/O Alister C.J. Percy, also buried on Terlincthun British Cemetery.

Who the other two casualties were is unclear; two men of whom the unit is unknown by me died this day, but are buried in England. It is unlikely that they were aboard this plane.

So: who knows who the other two killed were?
Who knows the serial number and squadron code letter of this Bombay?
Was F/O Percy indeed on board the Bombay?
Who were the wounded men and of what unit(s)?

Regards,

Bart

[Dick]

Hi Bart
"Battle of France-then and now" Peter D Cornwell, confirms this loss as Bombay L5183(no Sqn Code given)
The casualties were :-
F/O A C J Percy Killed, given as 501 Sqn on CWGC
Sgt H J Barnwell Killed given as 105 Sqn on CWGC
Sgt W H Whitfield 217 Sqn Killed

Sgt H C Adams
F/Sgt F T Avent
Sgt D B Crabtree
Sgt J Davis
P/O B L Duckenfield
AC1 A F Holdsworth
LAC A L W Holt all inj but no unit given

F/O B J R Brady,seriously inj and evacuated to UK where he died on 14/8/40
No other names are given
Regards
Dick

Hello Dick,

Thank! So I guess the fourth killed is F/O B J R Brady.

Had already Sergeant (Pilot) Harold J. Barnwell noted down with the <a href='http://www.epibreren.com/ww2/raf/105_squadron.html#1105'>105 Squadron</a> casualties, with a question mark. That can be changed now.

Regards,

Bart (waiting on a message from the bookshop where I've ordered 'Battle of France-then and now')

[Phil Listemann]

Hello,

Just a point, Alister C.J. Percy was the 501 Squadron Adjutant. He was not a pilot. Two books narates this event, "FEAR NOTHING" written by David Watkins in 1990, and I published a much update edition least year : "501 (County of Gloucester) Sqn 1939-1945.

Phil (www.raf-in-combat.com)

Hello Phil,

Thanks for this additional information. I'll update the 501 Squadron page with it (but first I have to work a bit further on the <a href='http://www.epibreren.com/ww2/belgium/army.html'>Belgian Army losses in the Netherlands, May 1940</a>).

Regards,

Bart

[Henk Welting]

Slip of the pen......serial L5813

Henk.

[Dick]

Thanks Henk
The slip of the pen isn't mine for once. L5183 is what is in the book/
Regards
Dick

[John Larder]

L5183 is a Fairey Battle (Robertson - British Military Aircraft Serials)

[Peter Cornwell]

Gentlemen,

Thank you for pointing out this error, my apologies.