Back BLACKSHAW Herbert John
d. 16 May 1943 CWGC
Service Number 111980 (1152371)
P/O 15 Nov 1941. (Gazette Issue 35398 published on the 30 December 1941. Page 5 of 32)
F/O 1st Oct. 1942. (Gazette Issue 35784 published on the 10 November 1942. Page 5 of 14)
F/Lt
DFC 05 Mar 1943. (Gazette Issue 35927 published on the 2 March 1943. Page 1 of 8)
Date A/C Crew Duty Up Down Details of Sortie or Flight
25-Apr-41 P.6970 Sgt H.J. Blackshaw Convoy Patrol 16:20 17:20 Convoy Patrol
03-May-41 P.6971 Sgt H.J. Blackshaw Interception Patrol 15:15 15:55 The section was on patrol.
04-May-41 P.6996 Sgt H.J. Blackshaw Convoy Patrol 06:30 07:45 Convoy Patrol
04-May-41 P.7003 Sgt H.J. Blackshaw Convoy Patrol 09:25 10:55 Convoy Patrol
04-May-41 P.6970 Sgt H.J. Blackshaw Convoy Patrol 12:55 13:15 Convoy Patrol
06-May-41 P.7002 Sgt H.J. Blackshaw Interception Patrol 07:50 08:15 The section also set out on convoy patrol but returned on account of bad weather.
08-May-41 P.7007 Sgt H.J. Blackshaw Convoy Patrol 14:30 16:05 Convoy Patrol
08-May-41 P.7006 Sgt H.J. Blackshaw Convoy Patrol 19:10 20:40 Convoy Patrol
09-May-41 P.7006 Sgt H.J. Blackshaw Convoy Patrol 10:25 11:55 Convoy Patrol
09-May-41 P.7006 Sgt H.J. Blackshaw Convoy Patrol 12:25 13:55 Convoy Patrol
10-May-41 P.6970 Sgt H.J. Blackshaw Convoy Patrol 14:20 15:10 Convoy Patrol
10-May-41 P.6970 Sgt H.J. Blackshaw Convoy Patrol 15:15 15:45 Convoy Patrol
12-May-41 P.6996 Sgt H.J. Blackshaw Convoy Patrol 06:15 08:00 Convoy Patrol
13-May-41 P.6990 Sgt H.J. Blackshaw Convoy Patrol 16:10 17:45 Convoy Patrol
13-May-41 P.6970 Sgt H.J. Blackshaw Convoy Patrol 18:50 20:20 Convoy Patrol
16-May-41 P.7013 Sgt H.J. Blackshaw Convoy Patrol 09:40 11:05 Convoy Patrol
16-May-41 P.7013 Sgt H.J. Blackshaw Convoy Patrol 12:25 13:50 Convoy Patrol
22-May-41 P.6996 Sgt H.J. Blackshaw Interception Patrol 18:55 19:15 The section was ordered on patrol but was almost immediately recalled
26-May-41 P.6996 Sgt H.J. Blackshaw Convoy Patrol 13:05 14:35 Convoy Patrol
28-May-41 P.7006 Sgt H.J. Blackshaw Convoy Patrol 10:55 12:25 Convoy Patrol
01-Jun-41 P.6996 Sgt H.J. Blackshaw Convoy Patrol 12:00 13:35 Convoy Patrol
07-Jun-41 P.7007 Sgt H.J. Blackshaw Convoy Patrol 15:30 15:45 Convoy Patrol
07-Jun-41 P.7007 Sgt H.J. Blackshaw Convoy Patrol 19:30 19:45 Convoy Patrol
11-Jun-41 P.7007 Sgt H.J. Blackshaw Convoy Patrol 14:20 15:55 Convoy Patrol
11-Jun-41 P.7007 Sgt H.J. Blackshaw Convoy Patrol 17:25 18:20 Convoy Patrol
11-Jun-41 P.7007 Sgt H.J. Blackshaw Interception Patrol 18:55 19:55 “A” Flight was put on patrol and after numerous “Vectors” was informed that there was an enemy aircraft ahead of them, with a fighter on its tail. Almost immediately afterwards a twin engine aircraft was sighted with Defiant on its tail, the flight gave chase P/O. Stein was just about to open fire when he recognised the machine as a Blenheim. He broke away, but Sgt King gave it a 2 seconds burst, happily not hitting it.
13-Jun-41 P.7002 Sgt H.J. Blackshaw Convoy Patrol 10:35 12:05 Convoy Patrol
15-Jun-41 P.7013 Sgt H.J. Blackshaw Convoy Patrol 21:50 23:00 Convoy Patrol
19-Jun-41 P.7003 Sgt H.J. Blackshaw Convoy Patrol 17:45 19:10 Convoy patrol
19-Jun-41 P.7007 Sgt H.J. Blackshaw Convoy Patrol 19:45 21:10 Convoy Patrol
23-Jun-41 P.7007 Sgt H.J. Blackshaw Convoy Patrol 13:45 15:15 Convoy Patrol
10-Jul-41 P.7039 Sgt H.J. Blackshaw Convoy Patrol 16:00 17:30 Convoy Patrol from Exeter.
29-Jul-41 P.7007 Sgt H.J. Blackshaw Convoy Patrol 13:50 15:20 Convoy Patrol in the Bristol Channel.
29-Jul-41 P.7039 Sgt H.J. Blackshaw Convoy Patrol 16:50 18:05 Convoy Patrol in the Bristol Channel.
29-Jul-41 P.7004 Sgt H.J. Blackshaw Convoy Patrol 19:15 19:25 Convoy Patrol in the Bristol Channel.
30-Jul-41 P.7004 Sgt H.J. Blackshaw Convoy Patrol 12:45 14:20 Convoy Patrol in the Bristol Channel.
30-Jul-41 P.6970 Sgt H.J. Blackshaw Convoy Patrol 18:20 19:50 Convoy Patrol in the Bristol Channel.
11-Aug-41 P.6996 Sgt H.J. Blackshaw Convoy Patrol 15:25 16:45 Convoy patrol off Porthcawl.
12-Aug-41 P.6991 Sgt H.J. Blackshaw Operation No. 77 10:02 11:35 Escort of 54 Blenheims of No.2 Group to Antwerp to attack Knapsack and Quadrath power stations
17-Aug-41 P.6996 Sgt H.J. Blackshaw Offensive Operation 13:34 14:30 4 Whirlwinds fly from Ibsley to Maupertus at 15000 feet to draw the German fighters into the air, and that Spitfires and Hurricanes should follow and deal with them. The Hun, however, was not “playing”.
13-Sep-41 P.6990 Sgt H.J. Blackshaw Interception Patrol 18:30 18:50 The four aircraft were on patrol.
04-Sep-41 P.6991 Sgt H.J. Blackshaw Gudgeon No.6 14:12 15:35 Close escort to 6 Blenheims detailed to bomb an oil ship in Cherbourg Harbour.
08-Sep-41 P. Sgt H.J. Blackshaw Attack on convoy off Guernsey 16:37 17:55 Escort of 12 Blenheims attacking Convoy off Jersey
09-Sep-41 P.6996 Sgt H.J. Blackshaw Convoy Patrol 17:35 19:00 Convoy Patrol in the Bristol Channel.
02-Oct-41 P.7003 Sgt H.J. Blackshaw Scramble 12:30 13:15 Four Whirlwinds were ordered out to patrol base at 10,000 feet. There was a hostile raid in the vicinity but it faded before anything was seen of it.
06-Nov-41 P.7089 Sgt H.J. Blackshaw Rhubarb 56 10:40 11:53 Attack on road and railway West of Maupertus.
07-Nov-41 P.7084 Sgt H.J. Blackshaw Rhubarb Reconnaissance 13:30 15:00 Reconnaissance of distillery targets in or near the Cherbourg Peninsula
08-Nov-41 P.7003 Sgt H.J. Blackshaw 10 Group Rodeo 5 13:45 14:20 Sweep of Channel Islands area
15-Nov-41 P.7003 Sgt H.J. Blackshaw Rhubarb 61 12:40 14:30 Attack on Distillery targets. Blue Section (S/Ldr. Pugh and Sgt. Blackshaw) Target 206 Cerences.
02-Nov-41 P.7003 Sgt H.J. Blackshaw Attack on Whitchurch Aerodrome 07:55 08:20 Ten Whirlwinds co-operated in this large scale Home Guard Tactical Exercise. In the first phase Whitchurch aerodrome and the three Avon bridges on the South side of Bristol were beaten-up in low level attacks by four sections of aircraft. In the second phase the Southern approaches of Bristol were again attacked by three sections of aircraft.
02-Nov-41 P.7003 Sgt H.J. Blackshaw Attack on Whitchurch Aerodrome 09:00 09:35 Ten Whirlwinds co-operated in this large scale Home Guard Tactical Exercise. In the first phase Whitchurch aerodrome and the three Avon bridges on the South side of Bristol were beaten-up in low level attacks by four sections of aircraft. In the second phase the Southern approaches of Bristol were again attacked by three sections of aircraft.
23-Nov-41 P.7039 Sgt H.J. Blackshaw Beat up of Home Guard 11:45 12:20 Three sections of aircraft co-operated in this Home Guard Exercise. The village of Charlton immediately to the West of Filton Aerodrome was repeatedly attacked from a low level.
07-Jan-42 P.7011 P/O H.J Blackshaw Scramble 10:55 11:30 Scramble, patrol base 15000. Two photographic ME.109.Fs were patrolling between Plymouth and Ibsley.
12-Feb-42 P.7061 P/O H.J Blackshaw Convoy Patrol 08:20 09:10 No Incident.
12-Feb-42 P.7011 P/O H.J Blackshaw Convoy Recco. 10:40 11:00 No Incident.
12-Feb-42 P.7011 P/O H.J Blackshaw Convoy 11:10 12:35 No Incident.
13-Feb-42 P.6990 P/O H.J Blackshaw Dusk Patrol 17:05 18:25 Ordered to patrol Linney Head – Sincalls.
16-Feb-42 P.7004 P/O H.J Blackshaw Convoy 13:35 14:55 No incident.
16-Feb-42 P.7039 P/O H.J Blackshaw Convoy 16:40 17:55 No incident.
22-Feb-42 P.7011 P/O H.J Blackshaw Convoy 14:55 16:05 No incident.
14-Mar-42 P.7051 P/O H.J Blackshaw Convoy Patrol 15:10 16:30 Nothing Seen.
14-Mar-42 P.7051 P/O H.J Blackshaw Evening sweep 18:35 18:50 Nothing Seen.
15-Mar-42 P.7011 P/O H.J Blackshaw Scramble 10:40 11:55 Cloud spoilt interception. Landed at Pembrey Fuel shortage.
18-Mar-42 P.7011 P/O H.J Blackshaw Convoy Patrol 16:50 17:30 Nothing Seen.
20-Mar-42 P.7117 P/O H.J Blackshaw Sweep to sea 17:20 18:50 Nothing Seen.
22-Mar-42 P.7051 P/O H.J Blackshaw Sweep of Irish Sea 11:00 12:20 Nothing Seen.
28-Mar-42 P.7112 P/O H.J Blackshaw Convoy Patrol 15:00 16:35 Nothing Seen.
27-Apr-42 P.7116 P/O H.J Blackshaw Convoy 17:20 18:40  
05-Apr-42 P.7011 P/O H.J Blackshaw Scramble 17:40 18:20 2 Spitfires from Llandow, misplotted owing to temporary absence of I.F.F. from all Spit. V's.
08-Apr-42 P.7011 P/O H.J Blackshaw Convoy 14:20 15:40  
08-Apr-42 P.7052 P/O H.J Blackshaw Convoy 18:30 19:55  
15-Apr-42 P.7011 P/O H.J Blackshaw Salter sweep 09:25 10:40  
16-Apr-42 P.6990 P/O H.J Blackshaw Convoy 15:40 17:15  
16-Apr-42 P.7000 P/O H.J Blackshaw Convoy 18:45 20:05  
17-Apr-42 P.7011 P/O H.J Blackshaw Scramble 07:30 08:45  
20-Apr-42 P.7011 P/O H.J Blackshaw Convoy 15:40 16:20  
27-Apr-42 P.7016 P/O H.J Blackshaw Convoy 17:20 18:40  
27-Apr-42 P.7011 P/O H.J Blackshaw Convoy 20:30 21:35  
13-May-42 P.7011 P/O H.J Blackshaw Irish Sea sweep 15:15 16:10 Irish Sea Sweep. Another determined effort to intercept the elusive 1/123
13-May-42 P.7011 P/O H.J Blackshaw Irish Sea sweep 18:05 19:05 Irish Sea Sweep. Another determined effort to intercept the elusive 1/123
14-May-42 P.7011 P/O H.J Blackshaw Scramble 09:55 10:45  
21-May-42 P.7011 P/O H.J Blackshaw Scramble 11:30 12:00  
31-May-42 P.7014 P/O H.J Blackshaw Sweep to Cainrov. 09:55 10:55  
31-May-42 P.7014 P/O H.J Blackshaw Hust Escort. 14:15 15:40 Hust Escort.
26-May-42 P.7014 P/O H.J Blackshaw Rhubarb 54 06:15 06:56 Rhubarb 54 to attack Railway objective in Landivisiau. No cloud cover so returned
05-Jun-42 P.7011 P/O H.J Blackshaw 10 Group Ramrod 19 15:20 16:40 Attack on Lannion aerodrome
27-Jun-42 P.6991 P/O H.J Blackshaw Scramble 13:45 14:40 No incident
27-Jun-42 P.7120 P/O H.J Blackshaw Scramble 21:55 22:45 No incident
01-Jul-42 P.7020 P/O H.J Blackshaw Scramble 18:35 19:40  
06-Jul-42 P.6979 P/O H.J Blackshaw Scramble 13:20 14:00 No incident.
08-Jul-42 P.7007 P/O H.J Blackshaw Scramble 07:50 08:55 No incident.
12-Jul-42 P.6979 P/O H.J Blackshaw Scramble 14:00 14:10  
01-Aug-42 P.6979 P/O H.J Blackshaw Scramble 14:05 15:10 Plots 40 miles West of Lundy, infrequent and fading.
04-Aug-42 P.6979 P/O H.J Blackshaw Convoy 12:10 13:15  
05-Aug-42 P.7014 P/O H.J Blackshaw Convoy 17:35 19:00  
10-Aug-42 P.7014 P/O H.J Blackshaw Scramble 12:45 13:10 No incident
13-Aug-42 P.6079 P/O H.J Blackshaw Convoy 14:25 15:50  
17-Aug-42 P.6979 P/O H.J Blackshaw Convoy 12:35 14:05  
17-Aug-42 P.6979 P/O H.J Blackshaw Scramble 15:10 15:45  
24-Aug-42 P.7057 P/O H.J Blackshaw Scramble 17:20 18:15  
08-Sep-42 P.7014 F/Lt H.J Blackshaw Roadstead Operation 07:45 09:20 Roadstead to attack tanker near Channel Islands. Not found.
09-Sep-42 P.7014 F/Lt H.J Blackshaw Roadstead Operation 14:35 15:20 Roadstead to attck a large ship reported by a shipping recco near Cap de la Hague.
10-Sep-42 P.7014 F/Lt H.J Blackshaw Roadstead Operation 18:25 20:05 Searched the Sept Islands – Brehat Shipping lane. Target not found.
15-Sep-42 P.7014 F/Lt H.J Blackshaw Escort A/S/R launch 18:55 19:25 H.S. Launch escorted to 20 miles South of Warmwell
16-Sep-42 P.7014 F/Lt H.J Blackshaw A/S/R Search 07:20 08:15 Search for Typhoon pilot who bailed out about 20 miles North of Cherbourg after engine failure on the previous day's operation. Nothing seen.
03-Oct-42 P.7062 F/Lt H.J Blackshaw 10 Group Roadstead Operation 18:15 19:00 Attack a 3000 ton M/V in Alderney harbour
08-Nov-42 P.7094 F/Lt H.J Blackshaw Convoy 14:30 15:55 Large convoy escorted without incident from Isle of Wight towards Portland.
10-Nov-42 P.7094 F/Lt H.J Blackshaw Convoy 13:00 14:25 Convoy of Floating Dock from Needles, Westward.
20-Nov-42 P.7094 F/Lt H.J Blackshaw Roadstead Operation Whirlibombers 08:45 09:50 This was the first all-Whirlwind Roadstead Operation. 4 “A” Flight Whirli-bombers were escorted by 4 “B” Flight Whirlwinds antiflak. No incident.
15-Jan-43 P.7094 F/Lt H.J Blackshaw Air Sea Rescue 12:20 13:10 F/Lt Blackshaw and Sgt MacAulay actually sighted the missing pilot in his dinghy about 20 miles South of Portland. Owing to the failure of R/T communication, which is normal and well known in this area, this pilot was not picked up.
15-Jan-43 P.7094 F/Lt H.J Blackshaw Air Sea Rescue 12:20 13:10 F/Lt Blackshaw and Sgt MacAulay actually sighted the missing pilot in his dinghy about 20 miles South of Portland. Owing to the failure of R/T communication, which is normal and well known in this area, this pilot was not picked up.
15-Jan-43 P.7094 F/Lt H.J Blackshaw Night Recco 22:15 23:35 First 263 Night Operations. These extensive shipping reccos of the Channel Island area were uneventful.
14-Feb-43 P.7117 F/Lt H.J Blackshaw Rhubarb 08:00 08:45 Attack on Carentan-Valognes Railway abandoned owing to lack of cloud cover.
15-Feb-43 P.7057 F/Lt H.J Blackshaw Night Off. Ops 20:30 22:10 Abortive Shipping Recco round Channel Islands.
16-Feb-43 P.7094 F/Lt H.J Blackshaw Night Off. Ops 20:05 21:40 F/Lt Blackshaw, DFC, bombed a bridge S.E. of Carentan.
16-Feb-43 P.7094 F/Lt H.J Blackshaw Night Off. Ops 22:45 23:45 Returned to above locality but too dark for accurate observations
26-Feb-43 P.7094 F/Lt H.J Blackshaw 10 Group Circus 16 16:00 17:00 Attack on Maupertus. Landfall made at Cherbourg. Hits were observed on aerodrome, dispersals and buildings.
27-Feb-43 P.7094 F/Lt H.J Blackshaw Diversion to 10 Group Ramrod 13:30 14:30 Attack on Maupertus. Landfall made at Pointe du Barfleur. Hits were again observed on aerodrome, dispersals and buildings.
28-Feb-43 P.7094 F/Lt H.J Blackshaw 10 Group Circus 17 14:40 15:40 Attack on Maupertus. The veteran dive-bombers of “A” Flight went in for the third time.
19-Mar-43 P.7094 F/Lt H.J Blackshaw 10 Group Roadstead 52 18:10 19:10 The large convoy which had been reported South of Guernsey could not be located in thick black haze in the Channel Island area.
21-Mar-43 P.7108 F/Lt H.J Blackshaw 10 Group Night Rhubarb No. 23 (Morlaix Viaduct) 00:30 01:40 Target not found. Jettisoned bombs over sea.
22-Mar-43 P.7108 F/Lt H.J Blackshaw 10 Group Night Rhubarb No. 24 00:35 01:50 Port engine u/s.
23-Mar-43 P.7094 F/Lt H.J Blackshaw 10 Group Night Rhubarb No. 25 (Ponthou Viaduct) 01:00 02:15  
16-Apr-43 P.7094 F/Lt H.J Blackshaw Bomb Mondeville Industries (Night) 22:49 00:25 Finding a (heavily) armed trawler N of Ouistreham, he bombed it but thinks that in evading flak, he missed.
17-Apr-43 P.7094 F/Lt H.J Blackshaw Night Armed Shipping Reccos and Rhubarbs 22:59 23:47 Intending to bomb Granville – Folligny he returned from the Casquets with exactor trouble.
18-Apr-43 P.7094 F/Lt H.J Blackshaw Night Recco 22:45 23:50 Night Recco of Channel Islands Barfleur area
21-Apr-43 P.7094 F/Lt H.J Blackshaw Night Roadstead 02:00 03:40 The Channel Islands convoy which F/O Coyne had attacked was sought for, but not found. It had probably berthed in Alderney.
27-Apr-43 P.6974 F/Lt H.J Blackshaw 10 Group Roadstead 59 16:35 17:50 Attack on convoy of 9 ships S. of Jersey.
28-Apr-43 P.6974 F/Lt H.J Blackshaw 10 Group Roadstead 60 10:15 12:50 Attack on convoy of 8 ships N. of Sept Isles
28-Apr-43 P.6974 F/Lt H.J Blackshaw 10 Group Roadstead 62 14:22 15:45 This operation did not find the depleted convoy in its estimated position south of Jersey.
29-Apr-43 P.6974 F/Lt H.J Blackshaw 10 Group Roadstead 63 13:10   Attack on shipping near Isigny. Found to be fishing vessels
30-Apr-43 P.6974 F/Lt H.J Blackshaw       Attack on shipping off Ushant. No shipping sighted
02-May-43 P.6974 F/Lt H.J Blackshaw Roadstead 64 12:10 13:15 Roadstead to Channel Island area. Mistaken report of tanker at Casquets
03-May-43 P.7074 F/Lt H.J Blackshaw Armed Ship Recco 14:25 16:15 Swept Guernsey, Sept Iles, Ile de Batz, where W/Cdr Dolezal and 310 Squadron became involved in combats with 6 F.W.190s.
05-May-43 P.6974 F/Lt H.J Blackshaw Roadstead 17:15 19:00 Search for a minelayer reported steaming East from Brehat. Between Sept Iles and Ile de Batz. They found fishing vessels, probably misreported
06-May-43 P.6994 F/Lt H.J Blackshaw Roadstead 65 17:15 18:10 Attack on tanker with 5 small escort vessels reported W.N.W. of Alderney. The Casquets were indeed found in this position.
14-May-43 P.7094 F/Lt H.J Blackshaw Roadstead 67 21:00 21:45 Attack on two destroyers alongside the Quai Maritime alternatively a medium M/V in the Basin Napoleon in Cherbourg docks
15-May-43 P.7094 F/Lt H.J Blackshaw Night Roadstead 2 01:05 02:35 Attack on convoy off Barfleur. S/L Warnes and Sgt Simpson couldn't find it. F/Lt Holmes bombed one ship of it but did not see whether he hit it (Cat 4). F/Lt Blackshaw returned to orbit Exeter, Harrowbeer and Exeter again, without lights or R/T and then crashed fatally near Exeter. F/Lt Blackshaw KiA
 See also the Summary Jun-Jul 42 tab