Traces of World War 2 
RAF - 53 Squadron
10/05/1940 - 30/06/1940

      home - latest update 24 June 2008


53 SQUADRON - Bomber - Bristol Blenheim MK IV

History | Operations and losses | Sources | Links | Books | Questions and/or remarks



In January 1939 the Squadron received Blenheims and soon after the outbreak of war No. 53 moved to France to undertake strategic reconnaissance duties. The Squadron returned to the UK in May 1940 to fly reconnaissance missions from south-east England and in July began bombing sorties.

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Losses 10/05/1940 - 30/06/1940

10/05/1940: German Bomber attack, Metz, France. 2 a/c damaged (1 abandoned later)
10/05/1940: Reconnaissance, B, 1 a/c damaged (abandoned later)
11/05/1940: Photo-reconnaissance, B. 1 a/c lost, 1 POW, 2 WIA
13/05/1940: Reconnaissance, B. 1 a/c damaged, 1 WIA
15/05/1940: Reconnaissance, B. 1 a/c lost, 3 a/c damaged, 2 KIA, 1 MIA *
16/05/1940: Reconnaissance, B/F. 3 a/c lost, 3 POW, 5 WIA
17/05/1940: Reconnaissance, F. 1 a/c damaged

18/05/1940: ?
. 1 Plane lost, 3 KIA
26/05/1940: ?
. 1 Plane lost, 3 KIA
27/05/1940: ?. 1 Plane lost, 3 KIA
25/06/1940: ? 1 MIA


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Losses 01/01/1940 - 09/05/1940 (in progress)

Aircraftman 2nd Class Thomas J. Hotten, RAF 570199, 53 Sqdn., age 19, 12/02/1940, Bienvillers Military Cemetery, France

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Type: Bristol Blenheim Mk IV
Serial number: L9329, TE-L
Operation: Reconnaissance over the Ruhr
Lost: 03/05/1940
Pilot Officer (Pilot) John L.G. Butterworth, RAF 40798, 53 Sqdn., age 21, 03/05/1940, Durnbach War Cemetery, Germany
Sergeant (Obs.) Maurice G.A. Pearce, RAF 565936, 53 Sqdn., age 24, 03/05/1940, Durnbach War Cemetery, Germany
Aircraftman 2nd Class Robert A. Wood, RAF 624992, 53 Sqdn., age unknown, 03/05/1940, Durnbach War Cemetery, Germany
Shot down near Hornisgrinde, 21.00 hrs.

Sources: CWGC and Peter D. Cornwell, The Battle of France, Then and Now, 2008

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Type: Bristol Blenheim Mk IV
Serial number: R3634, PZ-Y
Operation: Reconnaissance over Germany
Lost: 09/05/1940
S/L W.B. Murray - unhurt
AC Voules - unhurt
Sergeant (Obs.) Douglas G.B. Falconer, RAF 523067, 53 Sqdn., age 28, 09/05/1940, Dieppe Canadian War Cemetery, F
Lost bearings due to ground mist on return from reconnaissance over Hamm and the Ruhr Valley. Unable to locate airfield forced-landed at Laboissière, north-east of Montdidier, 02.45 hrs. Sgt Falconer baled out but fell dead on road between Erches and Andechy.

Sources: CWGC and Peter D. Cornwell, The Battle of France, Then and Now, 2008

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10/05/1940: German Bomber attack, Metz, France

Type: Bristol Blenheim IV
Serial number: L4862, ?-?
Operation: (-)
Damaged: 10/05/1940 - abandoned later
Aircraft caught on the ground at Metz in bombing attack. Damaged but repairable, later abandoned.

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Type: Bristol Blenheim IV
Serial number: P6916, ?-?
Operation: (-)
Damaged: 10/05/1940
Aircraft caught on the ground at Metz in bombing attack. Damaged but repairable.

Source: Peter D. Cornwell, The Battle of France, Then and Now, 2008

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10/05/1940: Reconnaissance, Belgium

Type: Bristol Blenheim Mk IV
Serial number: L9332, PZ-Z
Operation: reconnaissance
Damaged: 10/05/1940 - abandoned later
P/O D.P. Massey - unhurt
Sgt Whetton - unhurt
AC1 Vickers - unhurt
Damaged by light Flak during recce sortie over Belgium and was abandoned after the crew landed to report at the advanced airfield at Vitry-en-Artois, 11.40 hrs.

Source: Peter D. Cornwell, The Battle of France, Then and Now, 2008

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11/05/1940: Photo-reconnaissance sortie, Belgium

Type: Bristol Blenheim IV
Serial number: L9459, PZ-C
Operation: photo-reconnaissance sortie over Belgium
Lost: 11/05/1940
F/O A.D. Panton - wounded, evacuated to England
Sgt W.A. Christie - wounded, evacuated to England
AC2 R. Bence - wounded, PoW
Took off from Poix. Forced-landed and burned out near Borlez during photo-reconnaissance sortie over Belgium. Possibly that claimed by Lt Braxator of 3./JG1 near Overijse, 16.55 hrs.

AC2 Bence was severely wounded. His leg was amputated and he was later taken Prisoner of War.

Source: Peter D. Cornwell, The Battle of France, Then and Now, 2008

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13/05/1940: Reconnaissance sortie, Belgium

Type: Bristol Blenheim IV
Serial number: L4861, PZ-?
Operation: Reconnaissance sortie, Belgium
Damaged: 13/05/1940
F/L A.C. Brown - unhurt
Sgt Brooks - unhurt
AC2 W. Cavett - badly wounded in leg
Took off from Poix. Damaged by ground fire and forced-landed on one engine at Vitry, 07.35 hrs. Aircraft repairable.

Source: Peter D. Cornwell, The Battle of France, Then and Now, 2008

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15/05/1940: Reconnaissance

Type: Bristol Blenheim IV
Serial number: L9460, PZ-?
Operation: Reconnaissance
Damaged: 15/05/1940
P/O R.I.C. Macpherson - unhurt
Sgt A.T. Moreland - unhurt
AC2 S. Robinson - unhurt
Took off from Poix. Returned slightly damaged by Me 109's, 08.30 hrs. Aircraft repairable. See 16/05/1940

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Type: Bristol Blenheim IV
Serial number: L9399, PZ-?
Operation: Reconnaissance
Lost: 15/05/1940
Pilot Officer (Pilot) Peter K. Bone, RAF 40795, 53 Sqdn., age 27, 15/05/1940, Templeuve Communal Cemetery, Tournai, Belgium
Sergeant (Obs.) William J. Cronin, RAF, 365686, DFM, 53 Sqdn., age 31, 15/05/1940, Templeuve Communal Cemetery, Tournai, Belgium
Leading Aircraftman Jack Bromley, RAF 550718, 53 Sqdn., age 20, 15/05/1940, missing (buried as 'unknown airman' in Ramegnies-Chin Churchyard, Belgium, according to Cynrick De Decker and Jean Louis Roba in 'Mei 1940 boven België'.
Took off from Poix. Shot down by F/L Owen of 504 Squadron and crashed near Couture de Froyennes, near Tournai (Doornik).

'At 09.00 hrs planes from 53 Squadron fly via Tournai to Dinant. British soldiers transported on the Tournai-Lille railroad see a Hurricane attacking a twin engined aircraft and shooting it down. Wildly cheering they watch this aircraft exploding in a ball of fire at Ramegnies-Chin near Couture de Froyennes.

In the wreckage the bodies of P/O Bone and Sgt Cronin are found. A third charred body is pulled by parachute ropes out of the molten metal and buried in Ramegnies-Chin Churchyard. As combat broke out there was no time to identify him.'

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Type: Bristol Blenheim IV
Serial number: L4841, PZ-?
Operation: Reconnaissance
Damaged: 15/05/1940
P/O P.F.C. Villiers-Tuthill - unhurt
Sgt A.H. Payne - unhurt
LAC D.B. Mearns - unhurt
Took off from Poix. Crash-landed at Vitry, damaged by Me 110, 09.15 hrs. Aircraft repairable.

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Type: Bristol Blenheim IV
Serial number: L9460, PZ-?
Operation: Photo-Reconnaissance
Damaged: 15/05/1940
F/L B.B. St G. Daly - unhurt
Sgt W.R.B. Currie - unhurt
AC2 P.J. Blandford - unhurt
Took off from Poix. Damaged in attack by F/O E.J. Kain of 73 Squadron on return from operation, 09.30 hrs. Aircraft repairable.

Sources: CWGC; Peter D. Cornwell, The Battle of France, Then and Now, 2008; Cynrick De Decker and Jean Louis Roba, Mei 1940 boven België. De luchtstrijd tijdens de Achttiendaagse Veldtocht, De Krijger, 1993

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16/05/1940: Reconnaissance

Type: Bristol Blenheim IV
Serial number: L4860, PZ-W
Operation: Strategic reconnaissance, B
Lost: 16/05/1940
P/O M. Lovell - badly wounded
Sgt D. McLeod - wounded
AC1 Kenneth - unhurt
Took off from Poix. Shot down over the Albert Canal 06.00 hrs. Crash-landed at Wadelincourt, in Henegouwen / Hainaut province, Belgium.

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Type: Bristol Blenheim IV
Serial number: L4843, PZ-?
Operation: Strategic reconnaissance, F
Lost: 16/05/1940
P/O R.I.C. Macpherson - POW
Sgt A.T. Moreland - POW
AC2 S. Robinson - POW
Took off from Poix. Failed to return from strategic reconnaissance to Charleville-Mézières and reported crashed at Mainbressy, east of Rozoy, 11.00 hrs.

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Type: Bristol Blenheim IV
Serial number: L4852, PZ-?
Operation: Reconnaissance
Lost: 16/05/1940
F/L B.B. St G. Daly - badly burned
Sgt W.R.B. Currie - badly burned
AC2 P.J. Blandford - badly burned
Took off from Poix. Damaged by anti-aircraft fire from Allied troops, then attacked by Sgt Crozier of 85 Squadron near Amiens. Crashed and burned out during emergency belly-landing at Glisy, 16.30 hrs. during landing approach.


Source: Peter D. Cornwell, The Battle of France, Then and Now, 2008

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17/05/1940: Reconnaissance

Type: Bristol Blenheim IV
Serial number: R3699, PZ-?
Operation: Reconnaissance
Damaged: 17/05/1940
P/O S.G. Collins - unhurt
Sgt Service - unhurt
AC Cowling - unhurt
Took of from Poix. Returned starboard cowling damaged by light flak during recce sortie over Rethel and Vouziers, 13.30 hrs. Aircraft repairable.

Source: Peter D. Cornwell, The Battle of France, Then and Now, 2008

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18/05/1940: Reconnaissance

Type: Bristol Blenheim Mk IV
Serial number: ?, PZ-?
Operation: ?
Lost:
Aircraftman 1st Class (W. Op.) William A. Christie, RAF 552522, 53 Sqdn., age 18, 18/05/1940, St Hilaire Cemetery, Frevent, F
Sergeant (Obs.) Anthony Gothard, RAF 581060, 53 Sqdn., age unknown, 18/05/1940, St Hilaire Cemetery, Frevent, F
Pilot Officer (Pilot) Leslie J. Huggett, RAF 42346, 53 Sqdn., age unknown, 18/05/1940, St Hilaire Cemetery, Frevent, F

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26/05/1940: ?

Type: Bristol Blenheim Mk IV
Serial number: ?, PZ-?
Operation: ?
Lost: 26/05/1940
Pilot Officer (Pilot) Gerald M. Bailey, RAF 42330, 53 Sqdn., age 24, 26/05/1940, Bayenghem-les-Seninghem Churchyard, F
Sergeant (Obs.) William J.K. Evans, RAF 580951, 53 Sqdn., age 22, 26/05/1940, Bayenghem-les-Seninghem Churchyard, F
Aircraftman 1st Class (W.Op.) Alan A. Gillmore, RAF 552644, 53 Sqdn., age 19, 26/05/1940, Bayenghem-les-Seninghem Churchyard, F

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27/05/1940: ?

Type: Bristol Blenheim Mk IV
Serial number: ?, PZ-?
Operation: ?
Lost: 27/05/1940
Sergeant (W.Op./Air Gnr.) Daniel B. Mearns, RAF 628503, 53 Sqdn., age 19, 27/05/1940, Faumont Churchyard, F
Sergeant (Obs.) Alfred H. Payne, RAF 366401, 53 Sqdn., age 30, 27/05/1940, Faumont Churchyard, F
Pilot Officer (Pilot) Percy F.C. Villiers-Tuthill, RAF 42165, 53 Sqdn., age 23, 27/05/1940, Faumont Churchyard, F


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25/06/1940: ?

Leading Aircraftman Ernest E. Wheeler, RAF 628716, 53 Sqdn., age 20, 25/06/1940, missing.
Likely to be a ground crew member left behind in France and perished during Operation Aerial.

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Sources

Air of Authority - 53 Squadron
AirRecce - The story of photographic reconnaissance
Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database
Australian War Memorial
Bail-outs for 1940
Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Lost Bombers
Pilotfriend.com - Bristol Blenheim
Royal Air Force - 53 Squadron
RAF History - Bomber Command
RAF Museum: British Military Aviation in 1940
The Royal Air Force, 1939-1945
War over Holland

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Books

W.R. Chorley, Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War, Volume 1, 1939/40, Midland Counties Publications, ISBN 0 904597 85 7
Peter D. Cornwell, The Battle of France, Then and Now, 2008
Cynrick De Decker and Jean Louis Roba, Mei 1940 boven België. De luchtstrijd tijdens de Achttiendaagse Veldtocht, De Krijger, 1993 (in Dutch)
Jock Manson, United in effort - 53 Sqn, Air Britain 1997
Errol Martyn, For Your Tomorrow - A record of New Zealanders who have died while serving with the RNZAF and Allied Air Services Since 1915 (Vol One: Fates 1915-1942)
Terrence O'Brien 'Chasing after Danger'
A J M Smyth 'Abrupt Sierras'
Graham Warner, Bristol Blenheim: A Complete History. 2nd Edition. (Manchester, U.K.: Crecy Publishing, 2005)

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Links

Discussion Groups
Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum
RAF Commands Forum

Other
Abbreviations used in the Royal Air Force
Code Names & RAF Vocabulary

Air Aces
AirRecce - The story of photographic reconnaissance
Airwar over Denmark
Allied World War II Casualties in the Netherlands
Armée de l'Air - Order of Battle, 10th May 1940
Australian Wargraves
Axis History Factbook
Battle-of-Britain.com
De Belgen in Engeland 1940-1945 (in Dutch)
Belgian Aviation History Association Archaeological Team
Biplane Fighter Aces from the Second World War
The Bristol & District Blitz War Memorial - A register of those who lost their lives due to enemy action in Bristol and surrounding districts, 1940-1944
British Aircraft Directory
British Aviation Archaeological Council - Books and research links
Canada's Air Force History
HMS Cavalier
Ciel de Gloire (in French) RAF Squadrons
CWGC Cemeteries Germany
CWGC Cemeteries Netherlands
Czechoslovak airmen in the RAF 1940-1945
Danish WW2 Pilots
Dutch Pilots in RAF Squadrons
Eagles Squadrons (American pilots in the RAF)
Foreign Aircraft Landings in Ireland 1939-1946
'High flight', poem by John Gillespie Magee
Holocaust Memorial Day and Channel Islands Occupation Memorial
I Remember (in Russian and English)
An Irish Airman Foresees His Death, poem by W.B. Yeats
Jagdgeschwader 27 (in German)
Luchtoorlog ('Arial War', in Dutch, with many photos)
Land Forces of Britain, the Empire and Commonwealth
The Luftwaffe, 1933-1945
Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum
The National Ex-Prisoners of War Association
Naval History.net
Nordic Aviation during WW2
Order of Liberation (in French/English/Spanish)
Pilotfriend.com: aircraft of WW2
Polish Air Force 1940-1947 Operations Record Books
RAF Battle of Britain
RAF Upwood
RAF WWII 38 Group Squadrons Reunited
De Slag om de Grebbeberg (Dutch)
Test Flying Memorial
Warbird Alley
War over Holland
World War II Aircraft wrecksites in Norway
www.bomber-command.de

Aircraft crashes on the North Yorkshire Moors, England
Bills-Bunker.de
The Lancastershire Aircraft Investigation Team
Luftfahrt-Archäologie in Schleswig Holstein (in German)
North East Diary 1939-1945
Wartime Leicester and Leicestershire

The Aerodrome - Aces and Aircraft of World War 1
WW1 Cemeteries


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This page is dedicated to the men of 53 Squadron.

© Bart FM Droog / Rottend Staal Online 2008. Permission granted for use of the data gathered here for non commercial purposes, if the original sources and this source are mentioned with appropriate links. For this site: link to http://www.epibreren.com/ww2/raf/index.html