[Harry Ree]

I am just wondering if the "Bristol" aircraft incident reported occurred before the war and was a Hemswell based aircraft. There were a number of prewar crashes from Hemswell causing aircrew deaths which are not covered by CWGC remembrance and official wargrave.I would think that the aircraft incidents were due to the squadrons converting to new aircraft over a short period of time.

The first resident squadrons at Hemswell from when it opened in January 1937 were :

No 61 Squadron who had the Bristol Blenheim 1 on strength from January 1938 until March 1939 and were converting to the Hampden from February 1939. (The Blenheim I was the third different type of aircraft for the squadron from when it reformed at Hemswell on 8 March 1937)

No 144 Squadron who had the Bristol Blenheim 1 on strength from August 1937 until April 1939 and were converting to the Hampden in March 1939. (The Blenheim I aircraft was the fourth different type of aircraft for the squadron from when it reformed at Bicester on 11 January 1937, relocating to Hemswell on 9 February 1937)

I think I can trace some of these incidents which are not included in publications covering wartime losses but should give a date of the associated incident.

Will post later