Newspaper article says ‘On Saturday’

Newspaper printed ‘Friday 6th Sept’

So Sat August 31st 1940 ?

And to be pedantic it actually says ‘Suburb’ of London not actually mentioning Dagenham.

So could be anywhere, but due to ‘detail’ in story may be local!

Bingo!

31.8.40 Spitfire I X4271 603 Sqn Hereford Road, Wanstead, Essex P/O G. K. Gilroy

http://www.thesoutheastecho.co.uk/Pilots/Gilroy.htm

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Great to hear from ‘forum stalwarts’ like Paul & Andy & thanks for your additional input Scouse !

I may RARELY post on here, but am always browsing.

RIGHT; ONE FACT = I do know of………

As this appears to be “one & the same” a/c (with Paul’s details & Andy’s extensive knowledge on digs) = I’m sure both of you ‘hardcore’ plane nuts will be among the 1st to agree that although this a/c may well have come down at Wanstead, the distance involved in the ‘seperation’ of Pilot & plane is noticable !!!!!!!!!!!!
The Pilot (assuming it’s Gilroy)…. MOST CERTAINLY came down in Dagenham !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(I’m refering Paul, to your lifted quotes ‘pedantic’ & ‘could be anywhere’)

My Mum told me right from the start (late 1960’s) that she & other Dagenham residents had rushed to the scene where this ‘mobbing’ had occured………. near the (old, now long gone !) “Merry Fiddlers” roundabout in the centre of Dagenham, not too far from the Council Town Hall where my Dad used to work & very near to the actual scene of the V.1 incident some Four years later……..(12th July 1944).

It’s interesting to me that the rather large seperation in distance between X.4271 (if she’s the one) & Gilroy (assuming it’s him) landing at/next to the (then) busy “Merry Fiddlers” roundabout, is quite some distance & tho’ I don’t have the detail of the action you mention, I wonder if you guys would be good enough to explain at what kinda altitude P/O Gilroy & X.4271 parted company ????????? (I’m assuming it’s well over 18,000 ft ?)

Ironic that the actual Hospital mentioned in the link is the one & very same that I was born within :D:cool: (King George’s maternity ward).

Sadly, the dear ol’ King George V Hospital (on the Eastern Ave) has since been pulled down (sometime in the 1990’s)……I last went there in 1987 & spent a fortnight there:(.

Incidentally, I’m VERY suprised P/O Gilroy wasn’t taken to Oldchurch Hospital in Romford…….which WAS the other end of Wood Lane, not too far away.

As another (once) local ‘treat’ for me, it appears that Gilroy would’ve flown from my namesake that day, 603 Squadron having moved to Hornchurch only a few days earlier !

I’m glad now that I took the trouble to fish-out this newspaper (back in 1998) & would also like to thank the (then) curator at the Valence House museum with his enthusiasm & assistance.

Once again, many many thanks you guys Paul, Andy & Scouse for your input & thanks Paul for putting a “face” to the incident & I’m ASSUMING this is the ACTUAL same plane/pilot/incident……..my only misgiving being that P/O Gilroy went to King George V Hospital which is MUCH nearer to Wanstead flats, than the more obvious choice of the (old) Oldchurch Hospital in Waterloo Rd, Romford, which is was nr Rush Green = MUCH closer to the area in Dagenham where the incident took place & incidentally, also nearer to his 603/Hornchurch base.

(it’s coz Scouse mentioned TWO in his 3rd paragraph !)

p.s, I know of several 46 Sqdn/Stapleford Tawney Hurricane pilots who were admitted to Oldchurch during the conflict.

So, basically Andy/Paul, despite the geographical locations of the two Hospitals, you & Paul are 100% sure that P/O Gilroy “fits the bill” ?

The link Paul supplied seems that it is !

http://www.thesoutheastecho.co.uk/Pilots/Gilroy.htm

(still baffled by the Hospital choice, tho’ :D)

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