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Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.
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600 squadron crest
08.08.1940 No. 600 Squadron Blenheim IF L8665 BQ-A F/O. Grice

Operation:Defence Patrol

Date:8th August 1940 (Thursday)

Unit: 600 Squadron

Type: Blenheim MK IF

Serial: L8665

Coded: BQ-A

Location: English Channel, Ramsgate, Kent

Pilot: F/O. Dennis Neve Grice 70266 RAFVR Age 28. Killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. Francis John Keast 801399 RAFVR Age 31. Killed

Obs: AC 1. John Benjamin William Warren 628804 RAF Age 19. Killed

Update April 2024: This Archive Report has since received a comprehensive update by Roy Wilcock - further details here.

REASON FOR LOSS:

Based in Manston. The Blenheim L8665 was shot down by Obl. Sprick of III Group of JG26 at 11.55hrs over Ramsgate.

The pilot managed to continue to fly clear of Ramsgate town but later crashed in flames 50 yards from Ramsgate Harbour. All the crew were killed. The body of AC1 Warren was later washed ashore in Calais.

Sgt. Ian Walker (RCAF) was the normal Air Gnr. on this crew but was detailed to relieve the Duty Air Gunner. Sgt. Keast was a last-minute replacement Air Gnr.

Above L-R: Pilot F/O. Dennis Grice, Air Gunner AC 1. John Warren (archives)

Burial Details:

F/O. Dennis Neve Grice. Charing Crematorium. Son of Neve J. and Ethel Agnes, husband of Margaret of Ealing, Middlesex.

Sgt. Francis John Keast. Whitstable Cemetery Sec. 4A. Grave 16. Son of Arthur and Ann of Swalecliffe.

AC 1. John Benjamin William Warren. Calais Southern Cemetery. Plot O. Grave 32. Son of Jeffery and Maud Ethel of Chelmsford, Essex

With thanks to the following: Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses', Martin Middlebrook - 'Bomber Command War Diaries', the CWGC. Additional details are taken from the book 'From Battle of Britain Airman to PoW Escapee' by Angela Walker, the daughter of Sgt. Ian Walker (RCAF).


RS 16.05.2019 - Additional detail for Sgt. Ian Walker added

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Acknowledgements
Sources used by us in compiling Archive Reports include: Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vols. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vols. 1 and 2', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries', Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Tom Kracker - Kracker Luftwaffe Archives, Michel Beckers, Major Fred Paradie (RCAF) and MWO François Dutil (RCAF) - Paradie Archive (on this site), Jean Schadskaje, Major Jack O'Connor USAF (Retd.), Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses', Stan D. Bishop, John A. Hey MBE, Gerrie Franken and Maco Cillessen - Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces, Vols 1-6, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiton - Nachtjagd Combat Archives, Vols 1-13. Aircrew Remembered Databases and our own archives. We are grateful for the support and encouragement of CWGC, UK Imperial War Museum, Australian War Memorial, Australian National Archives, New Zealand National Archives, UK National Archives and Fold3 and countless dedicated friends and researchers across the world.
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