Mission

12/05/1940: Escort Duties, NL

Type: Bristol Blenheim IV

Serial number: L9189, LA-0

Operation: Escort duties

Lost: 12/05/1940

Pilot Officer (Pilot) Norman A. Savill, PoW

Sergeant (Obs.) Henry R. Sunderland, RAFVR 755141, 235 Sqdn., age 23, 12/05/1940, Oostvoorne Protestant Cemetery, NL

Leading Aircraftman (W. Op./Air Gnr.) Roy H. Tyler, RAF 552475, 235 Sqdn., age 19, 12/05/1940, Oostvoorne Protestant Cemetery, NL

This plane took off at 05.00 hrs from Manston in company with other aircraft of the squadron to cover troop landings at The Hague and was attacked by eight Me109s of II/JG27 at 07:55 hrs. Both the observer and the air gunner were killed in the attack and P/O Norman A. Savill ('Norm') baled out of the burning aircraft at low altitude. On landing on farmland along the Kloosterweg between Brielle and Oostvoome, P/O Savill was captured by Dutch soldiers who were convinced that he was German and made preparations to shoot him. Despite being badly wounded and covered in bums he managed to convince them that he was an RAF officer and was taken to Vlaardingen hospital. He spent the war in German captivity.

In August 1967 parts of Blenheim L9189 were recovered (recovery RNLAF-29(27)) at Rozenburg.

The three Blenheims of 235-sq and three Hurricanes of the BAFF had been ordered to rally at Hook of Holland in order to protect the expedition that would escort Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands to the UK.

Blenheims of 235-sq met with a flight of Hurricanes nearby the coast of Holland around 0700 local time. Almost immediately a clash with two Bf-110's occured, during which P/O Savill claimed to have downed one. That claim is not supported by evidence. Meanwhile the Hurricanes pilots were already alerted from low fuel guages and returned to France.

Little after 0700 hrs the Blenheims ran into five or six Bf-109's of II./JG.27, which were on a free patrol over Waalhaven. F/O Peacock claimed a Bf-109, but again not substantiated by any proof. Two Blenheims were downed, as you already know. Of the Smith machine the entire crew perished. Smith was burried in the Hague, the others at Hook of Holland. Savill's machine was transformed into a strainer by the Bf-109's, killing all crew members with exception of Savill himself. Both KIA were buried in Oostvoorne. Savill had bailed out. He had broken a leg and was badly burnt. He was transported to a Vlaardingen hospital where he was treated for a duration of nine months. He was then transfered to Stalag Luft III Sagan. Only F/O Peacock and his plane returned safely to Bircham Newton.

The three Hurricanes mentioned by Allert were not coming from the BAFF in France, but directly from England. No Hurricanes from the BAFF have flown over Holland during these days other than the most southernmost borders around Maastricht, Breda and Zeeuws Vlaanderen.

In fact these were three Hurricanes from No 151 Sqn based on North Weald, but flying this mission from Martlesham Heath, who indeed returned much earlier than the Blenheims.

The Blenheim of PO Savill was the L9189 LA-O, the one of PO Smith the L9324 LA-P.

As Allert already mentioned, neither of the Bf100 nor the Bf109 claimed by the Blenheims there is nay proof.

UNIT

No 235

On 30 October 1939, No 235 reformed at Manston as a fighter squadron and received Battles for training purposes in December. In February 1940, it equipped with Blenheims and was transferred from Fighter to Coastal Command on 27 February 1940 for fighter-reconnaissance duties.

When the German invasion of the Low Countries began in May 1940, the squadron flew patrols over Holland and during the Battle of Britain was engaged in convoy protection and reconnaissance missions over the North Sea.

Operations and losses 01/01/1940 - 18/07/1940 (incomplete)

Not all operations listed; those with fatal losses are.

08/05/1940: Training, UK. 1 Plane lost, 3 KIA

09/05/1940: Training, UK. 1 Plane lost, 1 KIA

10/05/1940: Reconnaissance, NL. 1 Plane lost

12/05/1940: Escort Duties, NL. 2 Planes lost, 5 KIA, 1 POW

18/05/1940: Shipping protection Oostende, B. 1 Plane lost, 3 MIA

20/05/1940: Escort. 1 Plane lost

24/05/1940: Escort. 1 Plane lost, 2 KIA, 1 MIA

26/05/1940: Reconnaissance. 1 Plane lost, 2 KIA

29/05/1940: Patrol. 4 Planes lost, 5 KIA, 3 MIA, 1 DOI

16/06/1940: (-) 1 died of pneunomia

27/06/1940: Search & Rescue, North Sea

27/06/1940: Patrol, Netherlands. 4 Planes lost, 9 KIA, 2 DOW, 1 POW

-----------------

18/07/1940: Convoy Patrol. 1 Plane lost, 3 MIA

http://www.epibreren.com/ww2/raf/index.html

• • 235.Squadron was equipped with the Blenheim type IV light bomber and stationed at Manston. In the morning of May 12, 1940 the squadron was instructed to perform an agressive patrol across the sector the Hague. It was intercepted by German fighters though, what caused the formation to be scattered. Two planes ended up being shot down near Hook of Holland and the nearby island Rozenburg. Only one of the in total six involved crew members managed to survive, P/O Norman Savill. He was of the plane that crashed on Rozenburg and was badly injured upon his arrival on the ground.

  • The Blenheim of P/O Smith was attacked by Bf-109's of JG.26 nearby Hook of Holland and crashed in the Nieuwlander Polder, all three on board dead. P/O Smith was burried in the Hague, LAC Lowry and Sergeant Robertson in Hook of Holland.

CLAIM

12 May

These German claims do not match the confirmed air-losses of Allied planes over Holland. The following list gives the confirmed claims:

Meaninig 7 Blenheims were claimed for only 3 lost. Judging from the time of the claims it is safe to assume that Bendert, Wiesingen and Kugler share a claim of a Blenheim over Rotterdam and that Schacht and Reckel share the other claim over Rotterdam.

Kugler, Hermann Lt 1 4/JG-27 Bf 109E EK 2, Fighter Operational Clasp One known victory, his 1st, a Blenheim north of Rotterdam, 12 May, 1940.

Wiesinger, Wilhelm Oblt 8 4/JG-27 (5/40) Bf 109E & F EP, EK 1 & 2, Fighter Operational Clasp KIA 23 June, 1941 (Magnus). One known victory, his 1st, a Blenheim north of Rotterdam, 12 May, 1940. A "damaged" Hurricane over England on 13 August, 1940. His 2nd, a Spitfire at Thorney Island on 18 August, 1940. His 3rd, a Spitfire at Ashford on 1 September, 1940. His 4th, a Spitfire at Southend on 6 September, 1940. Nos.5 & 6, both Hurricanes at London on 30 September, 1940. His 7th, a Hurricane at Bethersden on 15 October, 1940. His 1st Soviet victory, an I-17 on 22 June, 1941, opening day of Operation Barbarosa. Magnus, 10 victories.

Bendert, Karl Heinz Oblt 9/9/1914 Schwiebus Schlesien 55 Stab II/JG-27 (9/41), JGr Süd, Schuljagdgeschwader JGr-104 Instr., Stfkpt 5/JG-27 & 2/JG-104 Bf 109E, F & G (Trop.), Bf 109G-6 RK(12/30/42), DK-G(10/15/42), EP(9/18/42), EK 1 & 2, Fighter Operational Clasp w/Pendant All victories in the West, 36 in No. Africa. 9 bombers. 610 combat missions. His first victory, a Blenheim north of Rotterdam, 12 May, 1940 while in 4.JG-27. His 2nd, also in 4/JG-27, a Morane 406 at Forte de Villers, 9 June, 1940. His 3rd, a Spitfire W of Portland on 11 August, 1940. His 4th & 5th, both Spitfires, one at Rochester, the other over the Thames, on 3 September, 1940. A double Desert victory on 8 June, 1942; both Hurricanes over Bir Hacheim. His 46th victory, a P-47 S of Meppel on 11 January, 1944. His 47th, same day, a B-24 N of Leek. His 50th, a B-17 W of Coburg on 8 March, 1944. Bowers/Lednicer, 54 victories. Deceased 16 July, 1983 in Oldenburg. Photo

Schacht, Arthur Lt 5 4/JG-27 (5/40) Bf 109E & F EK 1 & 2, Fighter Operational Clasp One known victory, his 1st, a Blenheim north of Rotterdam, 12 May, 1940. Another victory was a Soviet DB-3 bomber shot down on 22 June, 1941, at the start of Operation Barbarossa. A 2nd Soviet victory, a SB-3 on 26 June, 1941. Another, a Hurricane southwest of Sidi Barrani, on 3 October, 1941, and another on 30 October, 1941.

Reckel, Fritz Fw 1 4/JG-27 Bf 109E EK 2, Fighter Operational Clasp One known victory, his 1st, a Blenheim north of Rotterdam, 12 May, 1940.

Typo??

Rockel, Fritz Ofw 3 4/JG-27 (8/40) Bf 109E & F (Trop) EK 1 & 2, Fighter Operational Clasp POW 8 December, 1941 after being shot down by a Hurricane of RAF No. 80 Sq in the El Adem area. One known victory, his 1st, a Blenheim N of Rotterdam on 12 May, 1940. His 2nd, a Spitfire 10 km W of Selsey Bill on 18 August, 1940. A 3rd, a Blenheim, southeast of Ain-el-Gazala on 22 November, 1941.

PLANE

About 60 Mk IVs were equipped with the gun pack as the Mk IVF and were used by Coastal Command to protect convoys from German long-range bombers.

Bristol Blenheim IVF: Bomber Bristol Blenheims adapted to serve as long-range fighters, primarily with Coastal Command squadrons in 1940, carrying a pack of four fixed forward-firing 0.303-in (7,7-mm) guns under the fuselage.

Max speed, 266 mph (428 km/h) at 11,800 ft (3,597 m). Cruising speed, 198 mph (319 km/h). Initial rate of climb, l,500ftlmin (7.82 m/sec). Service ceiling, 27,260 ft (8,309 m). Max range, 1,460 mis (2,350 km) at 169 mph (272 km/h). Empty weight, 9,790 Ib (4,445 kg). Gross weight, 14,500 Ib (6,583 kg). Span, 56ft 4 in (17.17 m). Length, 42ft 7 in (12.98 m). Wing area, 469 sqft (43.57 m²).