Local Aircraft Crashes during World War 2
An Epsom resident was working on the history of his wartime Squadron (78th RAF Squadron) and asked the Epsom and Ewell Local and Family History Centre if they had any details of a war time plane crash near 30 Acres Barn just over the borough boundary Ashtead. This request has lead a team of history centre volunteers to start researching local wartime plane crashes. Remarkably they have found firm evidence for 15 crashes, of which 9 occurred during the Battle of Britain period (10 July to 31 October 1940), and reports of a further one on Epsom Downs, which is proving difficult to verify.
Reports on two of these crashes and two of the pilots (see links below) have kindly been made available to this web site by Bert Barnhurst of Epsom & Ewell Local & Family History Centre (Opens in a new window). If you have any thing you can add to these reports or supply informaion on the other crashes please contact Bert at the History Centre.
| Date | Type of Aircraft | Number | Squadron | Pilot | Reason for crash | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18.8.1940 | Hurricane | P3399 | 111[Croydon] | P/O P.J. Simpson | Forced landing at RAC Club (Woodcote) after repelling attack on RAF Kenley. | Pilot unhurt; aircraft repairable |
| 18.8.1940 | Hurricane | R4187 | 111[Croydon] | F/Lt. S.D.P. Connors DFC + bar | Shot down by anti/aircraft fire whilst repelling attack on RAF Kenley and crashed at The Oaks, Coulsdon ** | F/Lt. Connors killed, aircraft written off. |
| 4.9.1940 | Hurricane | V6638 | 253[Kenley] | F/o A.A.G. Truman | Shot down by German aircraft over base and crashed at Tudor Close, Banstead | Pilot killed, aircraft written off |
| 9.9.1940 | Hurricane | R4084 | 310[Duxford] | F/Lt. G. L. Sinclair | Crashed after collision with F/O Boulton's aircraft. Aircraft came down at Purley Way, Wallington. | Sinclair baled out over Caterham, spraining his ankle on landing - aircraft a write-off |
| 9.9.1940 | Hurricane | P3888 | 310[Duxford] | F/O Boulton | Lost control following collision with F/Lt. Sinclair during attack on enemy aircraft over Croydon. Hit a Dornier 215 amidships and crashed in Woodmansterne Lane | F/Officer Boulton killed - aircraft written off. |
| 9.9.1940 | ME 110 | 3298 | 15/LG1 | Pfafflhuber & Kramp | Shot down near 'Maori' sports ground, Worcester Park | Crew killed - aircraft a write-off |
| 9.9.1940 | ME 110 | 3207 | 9/ZG76 | Gefreiter Zimmermann & Feld/w Ostermuncher | Shot down in combat with RAF fighter; crashed in Woodcote Park Avenue, Woodmansterne | Crew killed - aircraft a write-off |
| 30.9.1940 | ME 109 | 3192 | 6/JG52 | Gefreiter Stasser | Crashed in flames on Tadworth Common nr. St. Andrew's Church. | Pilot baled out over Dorking, seriously wounded. Aircraft a write-off. |
| 5.9.1940 | Hurricane * | R4175 | 303[Northolt] | Sgt. J. František (Polish Air Force) | 1. Damaged in action against ME 109 over Rochford | Pilot unhurt; aircraft repairable - see next item |
| 6.9.1940 | * | Same plane | same pilot | Damaged in action over West Kent | Pilot unhurt; aircraft repairable see next item | |
| 8.10.1940 | * | Same plane | same pilot | 2. Crashed in Cuddington Way, Ewell. Cause unknown | Pilot killed ; aircraft a write-off. |
* These three entries illustrate how uncertain the fate of airmen could be. Sgt. Frantisek accounted for 17 German aircraft during the Battle of Britain.
** The precise site of this crash has been called into question. Operational Records say, ..reported to be near to Wallington. Battle of Britain, Then and Now says, 'The Oaks' Coulsdon as quoted here. It has also been suggested that it might be 'Oaks Park' Woodmansterne. Or, Leaves Green near Biggin Hill. N.B. The truth may never be known.
** The precise site of this crash has been called into question. Operational Records say, ..reported to be near to Wallington. Battle of Britain, Then and Now says, 'The Oaks' Coulsdon as quoted here. It has also been suggested that it might be 'Oaks Park' Woodmansterne. Or, Leaves Green near Biggin Hill. N.B. The truth may never be known.
| Date | Type of Aircraft | Number | Squadron | Pilot | Reason for crash | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13.6.1941 | Spitfire | N3125 | 53 OTU | Not Known | Forced landing in Chessington | |
| 3.9.1941 | Hampden (see box below) |
AD 913 KM-K | 44 based at RAF Waddington | Sgt Knight. Pilot, Crew=Sgt's Churchill, Spanner and J. Stephens or Stevens KIA | Abandoned mid-air - crashed on Headley Heath after returning from Frankfurt on one engine. See also "the Hampden File" by Harry Moyle. |
J Stevens, 751652, the W/Op, is buried in Eastbourne. (Above as stated in CWGC.) |
| 1942/43? | [Questionable] ** | Not Known | Not Known | Not Known | Crashed on Epsom Racecourse | Yet to be determined |
| 4.7.1943 | Halifax | JD 203 | 78 [Breighton] | Acting Squadron Leader Bunclark | Forced landing - 30 Acre Barn aircraft caught fire and burned out | Most crew bailed out over Southern Counties, Pilot & Flight Engineer escaped alive |
| 31.5.1944 | P38 -Lightning F-5C PR version | 42-67105 | USAAF, 10 PR Gp., 33 P.R. Sqdn. | 2nd. Lt. A.L.Jackson DFC | Crashed Banstead Golf Course after training mission | Pilot killed - aircraft written off |
| 1.2.1945 | Warwick | PN 777 | Test flight from Weybridge | Wing Cdr. M. Summers | Crash at Ruxley Lane after spinning out of control | Pilot and observer survived but two housewives killed |
| 19.3.1945 | B17G Flying Fortress | 43-39035 | USAAF, 384 Bomb Gp, 547 Bomb Sq | Lt. Robert S. Griffin | Crashed into Colley Hill, Reigate | Crew of nine killed - aircraft written off |
** Various reports including:
- Mosquito - ?
- Anson - crash report pinned to prop. and crew spoken to
- Oxford - ?
- JU 88 or DO 217 - crew seen to run away
- Even a Lysander said to have landed outside the Derby Arms!
More on the Hampden Crash
Flight of Hampdens of 44 Squadron
Image source The Hampden File by Harry Moyle
Hampden AD913 KM-K of 44 Squadron was airborne from Waddington at 20.45 on 2/9/1941, crewed by Sgts Knight (pilot),Spanner, J Stephens (sic) and Churchill, destined for Frankfurt. Over the target-area the port engine failed (hit by flak?) and the aircraft struggled to return to base. It was abandoned over Dorking at 02.45 on 3/9/1941 and all but Sgt Stevens reached the ground safely. Stevens, W/Op & Air Gunner, who may have been killed earlier failed to leave the plane and his body was found close to the wreckage. See 'Short after midnight' - http://www.geiger-roland.de. Aircraft written off.
The death was registered locally 9/1941 Surrey Mid E - James Stevens aged 33 - and he was reported KIA in The Times 10/10/1941. CWGC 751652 Stevens Sgt J RAFVR buried Eastbourne (Ocklynge) Cemetery. Parents George & Florence E Stevens of Eastbourne.
With thanks to Brian Bouchard for providing additional information
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