The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. F Blenkharn

Frank Blenkharn was born on 28th April 1920 in Carnforth and joined the RAF in May 1940. After a short radar course he was posted to 25 Squadron at Martlesham Heath in September. He flew three operational sorties in October.

In the evening of 7th December 1940 Blenkharn was one of the crew of Blenheim L1235 which was detailed to check the blackout over Peterborough. During the patrol the weather deteriorated and a bad storm developed. The pilot lost control and the aircraft came down near the village of Elton in Huntingdonshire (now Cambridgeshire).

Sgt. JR Friend and the pilot, F/Lt. JMcCM Hughes, were both killed and Blenkharn was seriously injured.

Blenkharn spent three weeks in Peterborough Hospital and then four months in the RAF Hospital Rauceby. He did not fly again but went on to Flying Control duties, serving in various parts of Britain.

Blenkharn spent his last six months at Dum Dum in India. He was released from the RAF in early 1947.

He died in 1996.