211 Squadron loss 13/2/42

[herkman]

Hi there

I am researching the loss of a Blenheim mark four, and believe that part of its serias was 9820.

The aircraft was lost over Sumatra on 13/2/42 with the loss of three crew.

Can anyone indicate the full serial number, and any information on the crash.

Many thanks

Col Tigwell Australia

[CZ_RAF]

Hi,

unfortunately I found only Z9820 which crashed on 19.4.42 while with 113 Sq.

Pavel

[Amrit]

Warner does not have the serial number either. But he states

"211 Squadron Mk IV crashed into sea in storm returning from Banka Strait"

Mackay, Payne and Oddie (all RAAF) killed.

Oddie's casualty file states "Six Blenheims led by Wing Commander Bateson detailed to escort convoy. Aircraft did not locate convoy and on return journey rain into storm over Palembang. This aircraft and crew not heard of since" (page 19)

http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/imagine.asp?B=1055357&I=1&SE=1

This is Mackay's casualty file

http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/imagine.asp?B=1055287&I=1&SE=1

And Payne's:

http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/imagine.asp?B=1055377&I=1&SE=1

Hopefully you may find something in them

A

[brian]

Hi Col

According to what I wrote in 'Bloody Shambles' Volume II (published 1993), the Blenheim crashed in a swamp about 30 miles south-west of P.2 airfield, where the wreck remained undiscovered for over 25 years.

Possibly those who discovered it were able to identify it by its serial number?

Hope this helps

Cheers
Brian

[CZ_RAF]

Check it once more:

L9820 - Beaufort
N9820 - Anson
P9820 - Barracuda
R9820 - Anson
T9820 - Magister
V9820 - Lysader
W9820 - nil
X9820 - Wellington
Z9820 - Blenheim IV but as I wrote in previous post.

Pavel

[Errol Martyn]

Colo,

Have you looked at this website which is dedicated to a detailed account of No.211 Sqn?

http://users.cyberone.com.au/clardo/index.html

Errol

[COL BRUGGY]

Hi everyone,

On 22 July, 2004, I accessed the digitised A705 file of, AUS404566 Graham Gordon MACKAY RAAF. I made some notes, intending to return to it later.

I accessed the file again on 3 August, 2006, only to find that the digitisation had been removed !

On 20 November, 2008, I emailed the NAA asking for an explanation, the following, in essence, is their reply:-

Dear Mr Bruggy,

Thank you for your email regarding the Casualty file for Graham Gordon Mackay.

Due to technical problems with one of our servers several years ago all images on that particular server were lost. We have redigitised the file you have requested and anticipate that it should be loaded onto Recordsearch and available to view tomorrow 27/11/08.

End of quote.

I apologise to my namesake for cluttering up his thread with this material, but there would be a lot of Board members who would have applied for, and had files digitised, only to find the digitisation had vanished, now you know why. Take appropriate action.

Brian, If you go to the site quoted by Errol, you will find that the crew were identified by the discovery of Mackay's jacket amongst the wreckage. The Blenheim itself, remains unidentified.

Regards,
Col.B.

[Don Clark]

2021 Link update vs 2009
211 Sqn Loss 13 Feb 42 posts and Post #6 ref

Mackay, Oddie, Payne & Blenheim IV "9820" (Z9829)
See
Obs F/O NH Oddie 400541 RAAF
http://www.211squadron.org/nh_oddie.html
and in particular 13 Feb op
http://www.211squadron.org/nh_oddie.html#13Feb1942
and Blenheim "9820" vs Z9829
http://www.211squadron.org/nh_oddie.html#Found1967
and
http://www.211squadron.org/nh_oddie.html#Z9829

See also
Letters incl & following
http://www.211squadron.org/nh_oddie.html#Brownletter
and
RAAF Cas file report extracts
http://www.211squadron.org/sumatra___java.html#RAAFCasualtyFiles

With virtual certainty Z9829, the Blenheim IV wreckage was found late 1967 in swamps ~30 miles SW of Palembang P1, not P2 (Post #4): that is, ~15 miles NE of Palembang P2.
See also
http://www.211squadron.org/maps.html#PalembangP1P2

It is some years since Herkman & I were in corresp on this matter.
See also Blenheim Anomalies thread, my post #9 (http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/showthread.php?27091-Bristol-Blenheim-anomalies&p=157936#post157936)