1940-05-10 Blenheim Mk IF

1940-05-10 Blenheim Mk IF, 600 Sqdn. , Pilot Officer Michael H. Anderson, Spijkenisse (Near the bridge)

Type: Blenheim Mk IF

Serial number: L1515, BQ-L

Operation: Waalhaven

Lost: 10/05/1940

Pilot Officer Michael H. Anderson, RAF 90497, 600 Sqdn., age 23, 10/05/1940, Spijkenisse General Cemetery, NL

Leading Aircraftman Herbert C.W. Hawkins, RAF 800567, 600 Sqdn., age unknown, 10/05/1940, Spijkenisse General Cemetery, NL

Mission

10/05/1940: Waalhaven, NL

In the morning of the 10th May six Blenheim 1F fighter-cruisers from Squadron 600 (Squadron Leader James Wells) had been directed to Waalhaven. The planes left Manston at 1030 hours. They would never reach Waalhaven, for the Messerschmitt Bf-110's of 3/ZG1 [Cmdt: Oberleutnant Streib] would intercept the British planes over Pernis. Five of the six Blenheims were shot down; the sixth plane, the BQ-O (F/O Hayes and Cpl Holmes) escaped with heavy damage.

Type: Blenheim 1F

Serial number: L6616, BQ-R

Operation: Waalhaven

Lost: 10/05/1940

Squadron Leader James M. Wells, RAF (Auxiliary Air Force), 90081, 600 Sqdn., age 31, 10/05/1940, Rotterdam (Crooswijk) General Cemetery, NL

Corporal (Air Gnr.) Basil A. Kidd, RAF (Auxiliary Air Force), 800235, 600 Sqdn., age 30, 10/05/1940, Rotterdam (Crooswijk) General Cemetery, NL

Sergeant David survived the crash and escaped from Holland by HMS Hereward.

Type: Blenheim Mk IF

Serial number: L1335, BQ-W

Operation: Waalhaven

Lost: 10/05/1940

Flying Officer Charles R. Moore, RAF (Auxiliary Air Force), 90098, 600 Sqdn., age unknown, 10/05/1940, Rotterdam (Crooswijk) General Cemetery, NL

Corporal Laurence D. Isaacs, RAF (Auxiliary Air Force), 800520, 600 Sqdn., age 20, 10/05/1940, Rotterdam (Crooswijk) General Cemetery, NL

Type: Blenheim Mk IF

Serial number: L1515, BQ-L

Operation: Waalhaven

Lost: 10/05/1940

Pilot Officer Michael H. Anderson, RAF 90497, 600 Sqdn., age 23, 10/05/1940, Spijkenisse General Cemetery, NL

Leading Aircraftman Herbert C.W. Hawkins, RAF 800567, 600 Sqdn., age unknown, 10/05/1940, Spijkenisse General Cemetery, NL

Type: Bristol Blenheim

Serial number: ?, BQ-K

Operation: Waalhaven

Lost: 10/05/1940

F/O (Pilot) Rowe, PoW

Pilot Officer (Air Gnr.) Robert W. H. Echlin, RAFVR 77117, 600 Sqdn., age 36, 10/05/1940, Piershil Protestant Churchyard (Zuid-Holland), NL

Type: Blemheim Mk IF

Serial number: ?, BQ-N

Operation: Waalhaven

Lost: 10/05/1940

P/O Haine

P/O Kramer

Crashed at Herkingen, NL. Both crew members survived the crash and escaped from Holland by HMS Hereward.

The other two aircraft were L1401 and L1515, have not been able yet to link them to BQ-N and/or BQ-K

example found on a RAF site (code seems to be wrong)

another sample: Blenheim 1 F 600 wan L8679 (picture probably from BoB era)

Crash

On 10 May 40 because of the heavy Ju 52 transport movements near Waalhaven/Rotterdam 600 Squadron detailed 6 Blenheims IF to this target. At low level the airfield was attacked and one Ju 52 of KGr zbV 172 was set on fire.

At the very same time a formation of Ju 52s headed for Waalhaven. These were escorte by Me 110's of 2. and 3./ZG 1. Very heavy dogfights started - only one Blenheim (piloted by F/O Hayes) managed to escape and return. The others were shot down by the Me110's.

Early in the afternoon of May 10th the RAF attacked Waalhaven airport with Blenheim-1F fighter-bombers of 600 squadron. One of the Blenheim had straffed the airbase when on the way back a Messerschmitt attacked them. According to reports from citizens of Hoogvliet and Spijkenissewas the Blenheim was able to shoot his attacker down and the German crashed with a big splash in the Oude Maas near the bridge of Spijkenisse.

Two months later, parts of the wreck was secured by the son of the Bridge guard.

The British Blenheim was also damaged by German return fire and forced to land. It was to be a crash landing. Just outside Hoogvliet the Blenheim hit the ground, both crew members were killed. The pilot was found beheaded and missing a leg, the air gunner was found dead in the turret.

The crew of the Blenheim L1515 L-BQ consisted of Pilot Officer [equivalent to second lieutenant pilot] Michael H. Anderson and Leading Aircraft (s) man [equals Soldier 1st Class] HCW Hawkins. The man could not be identified on 10 and 11 May 1940. On May 11 when the two appear to have been recovered, they were recorded as two British soldiers of unknown origin in the rank of Leading Aircraft (s)man. It was decided to bury the two airmen in Spijkenisse.

The story has a special follow-up. Until 1981 both pilots were known as "unknown British pilots' at the General Cemetery of Spijkenisse. Only then local historian Hans Underwater together with British archives was able to establish the identity of these two airmen buried in Spijkenisse. It also provided direct identification of two other - until then - unknown British pilots; Flying Officer [1st Lieutenant] Moore and Corporal Isaacs. They had crashed at Waalhaven and had remained unidentified until then.

http://www.zuidfront-holland1940.nl/index.php?page=ijsselmonde-2

Crew

Pilot Officer Michael H. Anderson, RAF 90497, 600 Sqdn., age 23, 10/05/1940, Spijkenisse General Cemetery, NL

Leading Aircraftman Herbert C.W. Hawkins, RAF 800567, 600 Sqdn., age unknown, 10/05/1940, Spijkenisse General Cemetery, NL

Name: ANDERSON, MICHAEL HERBERT

Initials: M H

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Pilot Officer

Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force

Unit Text: 600 Sqdn.

Age: 23

Date of Death: 10/05/1940

Service No: 90497

Awards: Mentioned in Despatches

Additional information: Husband of Priscilla Ann Anderson (nee Troughton), of Kingston, near Lewes, Sussex.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: Grave 26.

Cemetery: SPIJKENISSE GENERAL CEMETERY

Name: HAWKINS, HERBERT CHARLES WILLIAM

Initials: H C W

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Leading Aircraftman

Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force

Unit Text: 600 Sqdn.

Date of Death: 10/05/1940

Service No: 800567

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: Grave 25.

Cemetery: SPIJKENISSE GENERAL CEMETERY

Claim

The claims were made by:

Oblt Werner Streib 1

Fw Paul Gildner 1

Uffz Müller 2

Oblt Möller 1

Other sources also mention Leutnant Knacke with one claim - he flew in the Schwarm of Streib, Gildner and Müller.

Olt.Moeller made 3 claims and Viktor Moelders from 1/ZG2 claimed in space of one minute 2 Fokker T.V shot down. One from his claims was not confirmed and the other concerns T.V No.855 which crashed in North Sea. Another Fokker T.V was only damaged. The next victories (3?) came on the 12.05.40 (or 13.05.40?) - on this day Moelders claimed one Spitfire shot down but again this victory was not officially credited. On the 13.05.40 I/ZG1 claimed 26 planes destroyed on the ground on the airfield Hamstede.

Wenzel, Werner Hptm 14 6/JG-27(5/40), 9/JG-27(8/41 S.U.), 9/JG-3(7/42 S.U.), Adj III/JG-7(3/45), Stfkpt 9/JG-7(4/45 to end) Bf 109E in JG-27, Bf 109F in JG-3, Me 262A-1a in JG-7 EP, EK 1 & 2, Fighter Operational Clasp One known victory, his 1st, a Blenheim over Rotterdam, 10 May, 1940. His first known Soviet victory, an I-16 on 14 August, 1941. A Soviet double on 18 July, 1942; both Il-2's. An Il-2 at Kalatsch on 27 July, 1942. An SU-2 at Tingula on 5 August, 1942. An Il-2 N of Nadeshda on 19 August, 1942. An R-5 at Stalingrad on 24 August, 1942. A P-2 at Orlowkoj on 7 September, 1942. His 14th, a LaGG-3 on 1 October, 1942. Magnus Report, victory count may be 18 or higher.

10-05-40 00:00 "Ltn." "Werner" "Wenzel" 06-11-09 "JG 27" "Blenheim" "Rotterdam" "14.35" " 1st" 6 "yes" "OKL" "Prien/Bock"

Uebe, Heinz Uffz 2 6/JG-27 Bf 109E EK 1 & 2, Fighter Operational Clasp One known victory, his 1st, a Blenheim south of Rotterdam, 10 May, 1940. His 2nd, a Morane 406 at Montdidier, 6 June , 1940.

10-05-40 00:00 "Uffz." "Heinz" "Uebe" 06-11-09 "JG 27" "Blenheim" "S. Rotterdam" "14.20" " 1st" 4 "yes" "OKL" "Prien/Bock"

I/ZG 1 intercepted six Blenheim IVs of RAF 600 Squadron over Walhaven airfield, five were shot down with only one escaping. Falck describes his experiences as he tries to bag the one that escaped.

"I was on patrol in the area of the Hague when I spotted a Blenheim and tried to catch him. I chased him around church spires, around sand dunes, around trees, round and round we went only 10-15 meters high. I was right behind him but couldn't get a shot at him. When he broke for the open sea I thought 'Now I'll get him!' I began closing in on him but after a few kilometers he began circling a steamship at only a few meters above the waves. Round ana round the ship and 1 couldn't get a shot at him. Finally he again broke for the open sea toward England but now 1 was low on fuel and had fo break off my chase. The last I saw of him he was skimming the waves as fast as he could towards home. That Englishman was some pilot."

F/O Hayes was that "brilliant pilot", who could run alive from Falck under his fire.

10 May 1940 Oblt. Werner Streib shot down Blenheim bomber, his first and last day victory. I./ZG 1 pilots intercepted a formation of 6 Blenheims, and only 1 could avoid death. All rest was shot down.

Strangly Streib is not credited for destroying any planes on May 10th.

Streib, Werner Obst 6/13/1911 Pforzheim/Baden 65 2/ZG-1, 4/NJG-1, Stfkpt 2/NJG-1 (7/40), Kdr I/NJG-1 (10/40-7/43), Kdr NJG-1 (7/43-3/44) Do 17Z-7, Bf 110G-4 Werk # 5317 (lost 5/5/43), He 219A-0 Wk# 190009 (lost 6/12/43) RK(10/7/40)-EL (2/26/43)-S(3/11/44), DK-G(3/9/42), EK 1 & 2, Night Fighter Oper.Clasp in Gold Approximately 150 combat missions. 65 Night victories, 1 Day victory. One known victory, an RAF Whitley V bomber on 20 July, 1940, flying the only Do 17Z-7 built. His RO/Gunner, Uffz Lingen. Another Whitley and perhaps a Wellington on the night of 22 July, 1940. A Hampden the night of 30-31 August, 1940, no location. Two Wellingtons and a Hampden over England the night of 30 September, 1940. A Hampden the night of 14-15 October, 1940, no location. Another, a Hampden at Venlo, 10 March, 1941. Two Wellington's at Panningen, southeast of Eindhoven the night of 13-14 March, 1941. Two Hampdens in the Roer/Limburg vicinity the night of 10-11 April, 1941. Another victory, a Whitley V on 1 July, 1941, no location. A Lancaster and a Whitley V on 17 August, 1941, no location. A Wellington and a Whitley V the night of 27-28 December, 1941, no location. He crashed his Bf 110G-4 at Hegelsom Holland, SW of Horst, NW of Venlo, on 5 May, 1943, cause and pilot/crew disposition unknown (DeSwart). Crashed his He 219 at the Venlo Holland airfield on 6/12/43, cause and injuries unknown (DeSwart). Deceased 15 June, 1986.

Werner Streib (The first night fighter ace to recieve the Knight's Cross, post-war Brigadegeneral in the Luftwaffe)

A claim on a Blemheim is made by;

Uebe, Heinz Uffz 2 6/JG-27 Bf 109E EK 1 & 2, Fighter Operational Clasp One known victory, his 1st, a Blenheim south of Rotterdam, 10 May, 1940. His 2nd, a Morane 406 at Montdidier, 6 June , 1940.

Squadron

No 600 (City of London) Squadron

Photo: Pieter Schlebaum

Formed at Northolt on 14 October 1925 as a light bomber squadron in the Auxiliary Air Force. Initially equipped with DH9As, it later received Wapiti's in August 1929 and Harts in January 1935. It continued in the bomber role until 1 July 1934 when it was redesignated a fighter squadron, but it was February 1937 before the first Demons arrived, conversion being complete by April. Blenheims arrived in January 1939 and although originally intended to operate both in the day and night role. In February 1940 Fg Off Tollimarche won a George Cross as a result of attempting to rescue his passenger following a crash landing in which his aircraft caught fire. Not expected to live he actually recovered, becoming one of the first 'Guinea Pigs'.

The day the Germans invaded France and the Low Countries, 10 May 1940, the squadron dispatched 6 a/c to attach Waalhaven Airfield in Rotterdam. 5 of the 6 were shot down by German Bf 110's and 7 aircrew killed, including Sqn Ldr "Jimmy" Wells the CO. As a result of operations like this it soon became obvious that the Blenheim was not suitable for the day fighter role. However, the squadron soon adapted to the night fighter role and was one of the first units to use Airborne Interception (AI) radar. Beaufighters replaced the Blenheims in September 1940 and it continued to operate this type until 1945.

It moved to North Africa in November 1942, Malta in June 1943 and finally to Italy in September 1943, continuing to operate in the night fighter/intruder role throughout. Mosquitos were received in January 1945 which were retained until the squadron disbanded on 21 August 1945.

With the reactivation of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, 600 was reformed on 10 May 1946 at Biggin Hill as a day fighter squadron under the command of under Sqn Ldr Norman Hayes, who had flown the only Blenheim to make it back from the raid on Rotterdam on 10 May 1940. It was initially equipped with Spitfire F14Es, F21s and F 22s, until March 1950 when Meteor F 4s began to arrive, the squadron being fully re-equipped by November. These were replaced by F 8s in November 1951 but along with all the flying units of the RAuxAF, it was disbanded on 10 March 1957.

With the decision to resurrect the RAuxAF squadron numbers, it was reformed from No 1 (County of Hertford) MHU in 2001 and is designated HQ Augmentation Squadron.

Motto: Praeter sescentos (More than six hundred)

Squadron Codes used: -

E-mail: keithfordATtiscali.co.uk

Date: 8 Mar 2007

Time: 10:47

Comments

It was interesting to read the page for No 600 Squadron relating to the ill fated raid on Waalhaven Airfield in Rotterdam. My mother's brother Leading Aircraftman HCW Hawkins was on one of the aircraft shot down and was as I understand, only reported missing in action at the time. It was only some years later that it was discovered he had in fact been killed and is now buried in Spijkenisse General Cemetery in Holland.

Keith Ford

Plane

Bristol Blenheim

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Bristol Blenheim was a British light bomber aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company that was used extensively in the early days of the Second World War. It was adapted as an interim long-range and night fighter, pending the availability of the Beaufighter. It was one of the first British aircraft to have all-metal stressed-skin construction, to utilise retractable landing gear, flaps, powered gun turret andvariable pitch propellers. A Canadian-built variant named the Bolingbroke was used as an anti-submarine and training aircraft.

Long-range fighter

The Bristol Blenheim was used by both Bomber and Fighter Commands. Some 200 Mk I bombers were modified into Mk IF long-range fighters with 600 (Auxiliary Air Force) Squadron based at Hendon, the first squadron to take delivery of these variants in September 1938. By 1939, at least seven squadrons were operating these twin-engine fighters and within a few months, some 60 squadrons had experience of the type. The Mk IF proved to be slower and less nimble than expected, and by June 1940, daylight Blenheim losses were to cause concern for Fighter Command. It was then decided that the Mk IF would be relegated mainly to night fighter duties where No. 23 Squadron RAF who had already operated the type under night time conditions had better success.

Variants

Blenheim Mk I Three-seat twin-engined light bomber, powered by two 840 hp (630 kW) Bristol Mercury VIII radial piston engines, armed with a 0.303 in (7.7 mm) machine gun in the port wing, plus a 0.303 in (7.7 mm) Vickers K gun in the dorsal turret, maximum bombload 1,000 lb (450 kg). 1,552 built. Company designation Type 142M.Blenheim Mk IF Night fighter version, equipped with an AI Mk III or Mk IV airborne interceptor radar, armed with four 0.303 in (7.7 mm) machine guns in a special gun pack under the fuselage. About 200 Blenheim Mk Is were converted into Mk IF night fighters.Blenheim Mk II Long-range reconnaissance version with extra fuel tankage. Only one Blenheim Mk II was built.Blenheim Mk III Blenheim Mk IV Improved version, fitted with protective armour, powered by two 905 hp (675 kW) Bristol Mercury XV radial piston engines, armed with a 0.303 in (7.7 mm) machine gun in the port wing, plus two 0.303 in (7.7 mm) machine-guns in a powered operated dorsal turret, and two remotely controlled rearward-firing 0.303 in (7.7 mm) machine gun mounted beneath the nose, maximum bombload 1,000 lb (450 kg) internally and 320 lb (150 kg) externally. 3,307 built.Blenheim Mk IVF Long-range fighter version, armed with four 0.303 in (7.7 mm) machine guns in special gun pack under the fuselage. About 60 Blenheim Nk IVs were converted into Mk IVF fighters.Blenheim Mk V High-altitude bomber version, powered by two Bristol Mercury XV or XXV radial piston engines.

Specifications (Blenheim Mk IV)

Data from British Warplanes of World War II ^[22]

General characteristics

Crew: 3
Length: 42 ft 7 in (12.98 m)
Wingspan: 56 ft 4 in (17.17 m)
Height: 9 ft 10 in (3.0 m)
Wing area: 469 ft² (43.6 m²)
Empty weight: 9,790 lb (4,450 kg)
Loaded weight: 14,400 lb (6,545 kg)
Powerplant: 2× Bristol Mercury XV radial engine, 920 hp (690 kW) each
Propellers: Three-bladed Hamilton Standard propeller

Performance

Maximum speed: 266 mph (231 kn, 428 km/h)
Range: 1,460 mi (1,270 nmi, 2,351 km)
Service ceiling: 27,260 ft (8,310 m)
Rate of climb: 1,500 ft/min (7.6 m/s)
Wing loading: 30.7 lb/ft² (150 kg/m²)
Power/mass: 0.13 hp/lb (.21 kW/kg)

Armament

Guns:
- 1 × .303 in (7.7 mm) Browning machine gun in port wing
- 1 or 2 × .303 in (7.7 mm) Browning guns in rear-firing under-nose blister or Nash & Thomson FN.54 turret
- 2 × .303 in (7.7 mm) Browning guns in dorsal turret
Bombs:
1200 lb (540 kg)
- 4 × 250 lb (113 kg) bombs or
- 2 × 500 lb (227 kg) bombs internally and 8× 40 lb (18 kg) bombs externally

Standards

Standard originally awarded on 15 Jan 1952 but presented:-

xx xxx xxxx

HRH Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother.

Battle Honours*

Home Defence, 1940 - 42: France and Low Countries, 1940:, Battle of Britain, 1940: North Africa, 1942 - 43: Sicily, 1943: Italy 1943 - 45: Salerno: Anzio & Nettuno: Gustav Line: Gothic Line:

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