Simon Glancey has submitted the following:
Sgt. Bligh was killed when Avro Lancaster I PD737 of 1662 H.C.U. (Heavy Conversion Unit) was lost on a training flight. It crashed in a field near Woodbeck, near Retford, after hitting a tree 25 feet from the ground, whilst on a nigh navigation exercise from R.A.F. Blyton. All seven crew members were killed.
Royal Air Force Bomber Command Losses: Vol. 8; Heavy Conversion Units and Miscellaneous Units, 1939-1947;W.R. Chorley; 2003; Midland Publishing; ISBN 1 85780 156 3, page 163
The C/O of R.A.F. Blyton stated “The accident may have been due to faulty or misinterpreted altimeter readings,” The AVM of No 7 Group stated : “the accident was due to bad instrument flying. Existing orders state that the Station should remind pilots of safety heights.”
