Can anyone kindly point me in the right direction to find out about a possible WW2 German aircraft crash in Stanhoe, Norfolk? The nearest airfields were Docking and Bircham Newton. I’ve heard the story from two sort-of witnesses who lived in the village, but one is now dead and in any case there’s very little detail. The surviving witness says it was German “because of the sound of the engines”, was carrying chaff (Düppel? The main attraction to the village kids, at any rate), and that she remembers only one crewman, who was killed.
I’d previously assumed this was Beaufighter T3351, which crashed in 1941 less than a mile away. As far as I understand the Beaufighter would have been a novelty around here at that time, and I thought the radial engines might have sounded like a German aircraft. But I’m now fairly convinced that this one was different. I guess the use of chaff puts it at 1943 or later, and our witness agrees because in 1941 she would have been aged only 4.
All very vague, I know, but on previous occasions I’ve been amazed by the depth of expertise here. All suggestions appreciated.
By: Chazzo - 20th July 2017 at 09:29
Many thanks, but it isn’t that one. Fring is 5 miles from Stanhoe, and our witness is certain that whatever she saw was near the middle of her home village.
My page on Stanhoe crashes is at http://stanhoe.org/history/notes/crashes. In the last few days Bob Collis has been most helpful with details of Beaufighter T3351 and Blenheim L9262. I’d previously assumed that the “German” aircraft was the Beaufighter, but am now convinced it was a separate incident, later in the war and much nearer the village.
By: Kiteflyer - 20th July 2017 at 08:21
Probably the Do217 down at Fring. At work at the moment so nothing to hand for more details.
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July 19, 2017 at 9:43 pm