9th of Sept 1940 Hurricane/He111 collision Alton Hants

I have the following in that area on that date (most of this from assorted Air Britain publications…)
09-09-40 P2765 Hurricane 1,605 Sq,shot down over Farnborough.cr at Straits, Kingsley.
09-09-40 L2057 Hurricane 1,605 Sq,Shot down and cr near Alton.
09-09-40 L2059 Hurricane 1 ,605SQ,mid air collision with HE111 over Farnborough.
crashed Farnborough.pilot killed
09-09-40 2630/A1+ZD He111 H-2,StabIII/KG53,mid air collision with 605Sq Hurricane,
cr Southfield Farm, Chawton

The action was (generally) in the Odiham/Alton/Bordon/Petersfield area.

Portland and East Sussex certainly didn’t figure in things, although there WAS an action going on in the Mayfield area at that time which involved 607 Squadron rather than 605 Sqn. Maybe this is where the confusion with some authors, many years ago, may have originated?

Thanks Martin.
I too have seen this incident reported as happening over Farnborough but concluded that it actually happened over Alton. I stand to be corrected but Alton newspapers reported it and local people witnessed it but no one seems to have taken pictures. The Hurricane crash site had a marker placed by an RAF team not long ago.
Richard

Maybe the incident started over -or flew past – Farnborough and finished over Alton, although looping round to both East Sussex and Portland does somewhat stretch the imagination beyond credible.

The best source of readily available information on this incident can be found in ‘The Luftwaffe Bombers Battle of Britain’ by Chris Goss. (Crecy Books)

Yes. It is well-documented but I don’t have time at the minute to dig it all out.

From memory, the Hurricane fell at Southwood Farm near Shalden and the He 111 at Southfield Farm, Chawton. A very long way from Mayfield.

Which would put it very close to Alton then…

The collision with Forrester’s Hurricane was certainly nowhere near Mayfield, but something like 80 miles to the west of there and not too far from RAF Odiham.

It is mentioned here for 9 September 1940: “605 Sqn: Hurricane L2059 G.M.Forrester who was killed after being caught in enemy crossfire and collided with another He111 losing part of wing at 1730hrs over Mayfield, East Sussex”

Only one other He111 (WNr.5713, V4+BL of 3./KG1) came down on that day at Sundridge in Sevenoaks which is much closer to Mayfield than Alton. Although at 10,000 feet perhaps the He111 (A1+ZD) could have travelled a distance whilst spiralling down?

Mentioned here: 09-09-40, L2057, Hurricane MkI, 605 Sq, Shot down and crashed near Alton.

Although the above Hurricane is mentioned by Mason as being shot down off Portland 11.08.40, P/O W. G. Dickie killed…

Mentioned here for the 8 September:

“1730hrs: 607 Squadron Tangmere (Hurricanes) were one of the first squadrons to make contact. A leading formation of He111s and Do17s with Bf109 escort were just to the east ofGuildford heading towards Weybridge and Brooklands. They lined up the formation and went in before the escorts could get down at them. Coming in just in time was 605 Squadron Croydon (Hurricanes) who also commenced an attack on the bombers. One Do17 was brought down by 607 Squadron, but one of theHurricanes of 605 Squadron collided with a He111 shearing off a portion of wing while taking evasive action in trying to avoid gunfire from both the 607 Squadron Hurricanes and the bombers and Bf109s. The Heinkel was believed to have crashed at Alton in Hampshire. Another Hurricane of 605Squadron was hit by crossfire and the pilot baled out safely. The German raid was aborted.”

According to A.I.1.(K) Report No.493/1940 the crash is located as Southfield Farm, 1 1/2 miles South by East of Alton, Hants, 9.9.40, 1750 hrs.

The surviving crew do not mention a collision: “At 18,000 feet, this aircraft was suddenly attacked by what the crew thought were fighters – they said it was definitely not A.A. One wing came off, and the aircraft went into a spin. Those who could baled out, and the remainder were killed when the aircraft crashed.”

Three crew dead, pilot and observer survived.

The Curtis museum is a good start, as oldironside said. The person to speak to there is Jane Hurst, who I think may be part time.

Interesting stuff. I happen to be from Alton, and I’d never heard of this. I even took a trip to the Curtis Museum a couple of years ago to ask about Alton being bombed, and was shown the Home Guard maps of where the various bombs fell (mostly in open country).

Thanks Martin.
I too have seen this incident reported as happening over Farnborough but concluded that it actually happened over Alton. I stand to be corrected but Alton newspapers reported it and local people witnessed it but no one seems to have taken pictures. The Hurricane crash site had a marker placed by an RAF team not long ago.
Richard

As you may know Nigel Parker records the incident in Luftwaffe Crash Archive volume 3 but with no photograph. He does not mention a collision with the attacking fighter. He only refers to the Heinkel losing a wing and going into a spin then exploding when it hit the ground probably detonating the bomb load. As you surmise the severed wing must have fluttered down and survived intact.

It seems that there was a similar incident on the same day over Farnborough.