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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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RAF Crest
OTU Blenheim IV V5751 Sgt. Taylor

Operation: Training

Date: 23rd June 1941 (Monday)

Unit: No. 13 Operational Training Unit. 7 Group

Type: Blenheim IV

Serial: V5751

Code: -

Base: RAF Bicester. Oxfordshire

Location: Ambrosden, Oxfordshire

Pilot: Sgt. Leslie Morley Taylor 1180052 RAFVR Age 19. Killed

Obs: Sgt. Lesley Charles Botterman 929256 RAFVR Age 28. Killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. William Harvey Kenneth Annetts 922597 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

During a training exercise the Blenheim crashed at 12:50 hrs north of Ambrosden and then caught fire.

All three crew following what was thought to have been engine failure.

Burial details:

Sgt. Leslie Morley Taylor. South Stoneham Cemetery. Sec. M. 3. Grave 142. Son of William Morley Taylor and Ivy Taylor, of 45 Blenheim Gardens Highfield, Southampton. Grave inscription: 'We Thank God For His Life: It Was So Short But It Was Of The Greatest Beauty'.

Sgt. Lesley Charles Botterman. Potters Bar Church Cemetery (St. Mary). Grave 739.

Next of kin details not available - are you able to assist?

Sgt. William Harvey Kenneth Annetts. South Tidworth Church Cemetery (St. Mary). S.E. Corner. Attended Portsmouth Grammar School 1930-1935. Son of William Harvey Annetts and Marian Wells Annetts, of Hindhead, Surrey. Private family grave.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of these crew members, with thanks to Portsmouth Grammar School, Sussex History Forum, other sources as quoted below:

KTY 19-06-2021

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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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Last Modified: 19 June 2021, 17:27

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