LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Percy BLANCH
Service No: 411853
Born: Merewether NSW, 30 September 1914
Enlisted in the RAAF: 21 June 1941
Unit: No. 9 (Observer) Advanced Flying Unit (RAF), RAF Station Llandwrog
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 9 (Observer) Advanced Flying Unit Blenheim aircraft V6067), Wales, 19 February 1943, Aged 28 Years
Buried: Pwllheli Borough Cemetery, Caernarvonshire
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Percy and Sophia Edith Blanch, of Granville, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Parramatta NSW
Remembered: Panel 119, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: The Capt. Clarence Smith Jeffries (V.C.) and Pte. William Matthew Currey (V.C.) Memorial Wall, Sandgate NSW
On 19 February 1943 Blenheim V6067 was detailed to carry out a non-operational day camera gun exercise. After take-off, the Pilot was gaining single engine flying speed as taking off necessitated climbing over rising ground. The port engine failed before the Pilot had gained single engine speed, and the aircraft stalled and hit high ground in an over the vertical position and burst into flame and all on board were killed. The aircraft crashed occurred near Penrhos, Caernarvonshire, Wales.
The crew members of V6067 were:
Sergeant Percy Blanch (411853) (Instructor Air Gunner)
Leading Aircraftman John William Frank Newcombe (1003478) (RAFVR) (Student Air Gunner)
Leading Aircraftman Alfred Newsham (1670758) (RAFVR) (Student Air Gunner)
Flying Officer Reginald Hathway George Phillips (110846) (RAFVR) (Pilot)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/5/53
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line