h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi Peter

I wonder whether you may be able to help with a query I have had, off and on, ever since the war. I know you have done some considerable research in different areas.
It involves the identity of a German airman, killed near Eastchurch airfield.

If I add some of the information I supplied to the Kent Battle of Britain Museum, you will have a grasp of the incident.

Briefly, the incident may have involved a crash, but if it did, I did not see it, so I have no information on the aircraft involved but I suspect it may have been a Messerschmitt Bf109. It occurred either during the first attack on Eastchurch airfield on the Isle of Sheppey, or an early one. I was then the Troop Driver of an AA S/L Troop, stationed at Scrapsgate. We had a searchlight site stationed on the airfield and I was returning from there to my HQ with several other members of our Troop, having dropped off stores at our site. We had not travelled far from the airfield when we became aware that an atack was developing. I stopped the vehicle and we got out to see what was going on. We thought we heard the sound of a bomb coming down, which landed in a field nearby, but without exploding. We went to investigate and found that the "bomb" was a German airman whose parachute had failed to open. From a photograph in his pocket of a lady and two children, we presumed he was married. We put him in my lorry and I drove him to what was then Minster Cottage Hospital. He was then taken in by the hospital staff. Before this when we were approaching the airman, we were buzzed by about half a dozen Bf109's in a straight line over a row of trees. We expected to be machine gunned, but they did not fire.

Over the years I have examined the Station Records for Eastchurch Airfield, but found no record. I have also contacted the Coroner's Office and the hospital, but with no success.
Had I been successful, I would like to have contacted any family he may have had to tell them that he had been treated properly and perhaps, if I could trace it, take a 'photo of his grave for them.

I don't suppose you can help, but I just wondered?

Sincerely

Ron Allen (Site ID 520694)

Dear Ron

I'm afraid I can be of very little help other than to give some broad outlines and a few possible names.

The first attack on RAF Eastchurch was early on the morning (0720 to 0750 Hrs) of Tuesday, 13 August 1940, when two vics, each of fifteen Dornier Do 17s bombed from east to west; they had no fighter escort. The problem here is that 47 German aircraft were destroyed on that day in south-east England.

The planes that attacked RAF Eastchurch were long-range bombers of Geschwader (Flight Group) of II.Fliegerkorps.Luftflotte 2, with headquarters and II.Gruppe based at Arras, I.Gruppe at Epinoy, and III.Gruppe at Cambrai. Unit codes U5. It was commanded by Oberst. Johannes Fink, this Geschwader was heavily committed throughout the Battle of Britain and casualties were particularly high on 13 August, the day of the first attack on RAF Eastchurch.

The following Dornier Do 17Zs of Stab 7/KG2 were shot down by Hurricanes of No 111 Squadron during the Eastchurch raid:

1. Shot down at 0710 Hrs during the Eastchurch attack and combat over the Thames Estuary. Three NCO's were killed with Oberleutnant (Wing Commander) von der Groben missing. The aircraft was lost.

2. Shot down at 0730 Hrs and crashed at Birchington. The crew, Feldwebel (Flight Sergeant) Dannich, Feldwebel Schwertfeger, Obergefreiter (Leading Aircraftman) Nitzsche, and Gefreiter (Aircraftman) Beck were all killed.

3. Shot down in combat over the Thames Estuary. Crashed in mudflats at Seasalter. Oberfeldwebel (Warrant Officer) Langer killed. Oberleutnant Muller, Oberleutnant. Morch, and Oberleutnant Hansgen captured.

4. A further possibility is Dornier Do 17Z3 of Stab 9/KG3 shot down by fighters over Eastchurch on Wednesday 21 August at 4.15 pm. It crashed at Capel Hill Farm, Leysdown. Feldwebel Rudiger was killed and three NCOs believed captured.

The site of this last one was excavated by Steve Vizard in November 1979 when he found and recovered the remains of the shattered engines and fuselage. You should be able to contact Mr Vizard via the Thameside Aviation Museum here http://homepages.tesco.net/~colin.wingrave/me110-pics.htm or via the Aviation Forum here http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=22762&page=2&pp=30

Good luck in your quest.

Peter

Hi Ron

Out of interest I looked up your Personal Page and saw that you sailed from Rangoon on the troopship Devonshire.

I sailed on the Devonshire in late 1949 bound for Hong Kong from Liverpool. It was then run by the RAF although when I sailed no RAF were on her. I still remember the deck I was on 'L4 Lower', deep in the bowels of the ship.

You will no doubt recall the long mess-tables and the hammocks; each mess-table leader had to go to the galley to collect the mess-table meal which he then dished out. The Devonshire was the very last of the old style troopships. Others, such as the Dunera, already had bunk beds and a canteen to eat in. The old Devonshire was more like a 19th century troopship in that respect. Still I have fond memories of my five weeks on her.

Peter

Hi Peter

Many thanks for your helpful reply to my query. By the way, this is the second attempt to reply to you. The first time I went back to check Mr Vizard's name, and lost the lot.

In reverse order, I think there may be a typo in the message about the Derbyshire. This vessel is mentioned in the heading of the message and is the one on which I sailed. In the message itself, however, the Devonshire is mentioned?

Whichever it is, I certainly remember the accomodation etc. as being as you mention even though, by that time, I had reached the dizzy heights of WO1 and was, for my sins, Draft Conducting Warrant Officer.

Have you encountered the other ships which it took to get me out to India ie. Strathmore, Oronsay, Nieu Holland and Ruys. The two latter were Dutch vessels operated by P&O.

Regarding my query. Again thanks for the trouble you have taken.

It does seem, from the information you have, that it could not have been the first raid on the airfield. It would seem that the source of your information is completely reliable. Is it German?

On that day there were definitley Bf109's involved, as these were the aircraft that buzzed us when we were approaching the German airman. They came over us, very low and fast, in line abreast and over a boundary line of trees behind us.

It looks as though I need to find the first time (or few times) that Bf109's were involved in raids on Eastchurch airfield. Or is it just possible that these were not involved in the airfield attack, but were making there way back from somewhere else? Although this happened 65 years ago, I formed the impression at the time that they were looking to see what had happened to their compatriot and this has always been my memory of the incident. Of course, my original interpretation may have been wrong. There is also the possibility that records may not be complete. I had a 6 year battle after the war with the then War Office over missing records of a promotion. Also my article on the site - Phoney War? What Phoney War?? A2720558 - in which I mention that I was dive-bombed by Stuka's during this period when it is thought nowadays that the German attacks were on shipping only.

Your information is so detailed, though, that I think I need to check, if I can, raids after this first one, to see if they were by, or included Bf109,s. The only clues I have are that it was an early raid and we were buzzed by Bf109's.

I will certainly try to contact Mr Vizard.

Thank you again for your help.

Ron (A)

Hi Ron

I was on several troopships after the war but none of those ships you mention.

On the main issue of your enquiry. Unlike Allied bombing raids (until the advent of the P-51 Mustang), the Luftwaffe nearly always had fighters to accompany and guard their bombers.

It just so happens that on the first raid on RAF Eastchurch the Dornier DO 17s were unaccompanied, providing their own defence with their six 7.9mm machine guns in nose, windscreen, side windows, dorsal, and ventral positions. In fact, at this stage they were being fazed out for more modern bombers; all were withdrawn in late 1942.

On 13 August 1940 (if that was the date) thirteen Messerschmitt Bf 109s were destroyed over Britain, but only one pilot, Oberfw. Trutwin, was killed; he was shot down in combat over the Channel.

There were further raids on RAF Eastchurch on 20 August, 1, 2, and 4 September. On these four raids the bombers had fighter escorts.

The source of my information, scant as it is, is completely reliable and is from two outstanding books: "Battle over Britain", second edition, by Francis K. Mason (Amadeus Press, 1990) and "The Battle of Britain - Then and Now", fifth edition, edited by Winston G Ramsey (After the Battle Publication, 1989).

In "Battle over Britain", at page 188, there is a photograph which might be pertinent. The caption reads "A police sergeant, a soldier and civilian wardens wade through the mud of the Thames Estuary at low tide on 13th August with the body of a Dornier crewman from III/KG 2, killed in the raid on Eastchurch", in the background there is also a helmeted soldier in shirt sleeves with slung rifle.

Regards,
Peter

Hi Peter

Once again, many thanks.

Regarding the provenance of the information - I hope you understand I had no intention of questioning your helpful information, but I do know, as I imagine you do, that records are not always completely accurate. (I note you have read some OU degrees, as have I - BA in 1974 and BSc (Hons) in 1994) These taught among other things, that one should establish the accuracy of information.

My only reason for looking for Bf109's involved is that we were buzzed by them, as I have said. The airman may have come from a bomber. If he was, the bomber may or may not have crashed although the former is more likely. If he came from a bomber, since there were fighters around on 13th August, it may be they that buzzed us. More likely, though, it was a subsequent raid.

The photograph in "Battle Over Britain" could indicate the date. It would not be the airman photographed, since "my" man came down near Eastchurch, which is inland. But he could be another crew member who drifted towards the Thames estuary. The Eastchurch man I seem to remember was an NCO. The only other things I remember were the photograph of a lady and children and the fact that he had a Mauser pistol.

By way of interest, I have a copy of "The Battle of Britain, Then and Now" although mine is a revised edition 1982. Also, I have ordered a copy of "Battle Over Britain" - the author and title are right, but the publisher is different.

I would, by the way, be interested to know whether it was the Derbyshire or the Devonshire on which you sailed

Regards

Ron

Ron

I didn't know that you had a copy of "The Battle of Britain - Then and Now". Look at the extensive section titled "The Luftwaffe", in my 5th edition it runs from page 534 to page 715. I realise that it is a secondary source, but it would be quite impossible for me to check all the primary sources. One assumes that in a reputable publication, by edition five, nearly all errors would have been detected and sorted out. What I usually do is cross-check with other publications. None is ever 100% accurate and many German Luftwaffe records were simply destroyed.

On the other matter, I sailed on the Devonshire. Of that I am 100% certain.

Peter