buffnut453
Captain
Blenheim V6034 (YH-D) of 21 Sqn engaged on shipping strike on 16 June 1941 flown by Flt Sgt Leavers with Sgt Overheu and Sgt Joseph Phelps as crew. They took off at 1319 from their base at RAF Watton in Norfolk. Their operation was codenamed Beat17.
Three Blenheim bombers of 21 Sqn engaged a German patrol vessel near the Island of Borkum. This dramatic picture was taken during the attack on the ship by the third (and last) Blenheim. On the horizon you see the first Blenheim. On the left is the Flight Sergeant Leavers's Blenheim after it just bombed the ship.
It either hit the ship's mast or was hit by debris from the ship, which tore off a piece of the right wing. The Blenheim rolls over to the right to crash into the sea, just moments after this picture was taken. Flt Sgt Leavers is buried at Den Andel Protestant Cemetery. Sgt Phelps also washed ashore and is buried in Sage War Cemetery in Germany.
Sgt Overheu is still missing.