This is my first post.
I am a volunteer at Sherborne Museum. Whilst sorting out the photographs we have of the bomb damage in Sherborne after the raid of 30th September 1940, I came across a poor photograph of a parachute in the village of Longburton, about 3 miles to the south, which appeared to have been taken the same day.
The web page http://dorset.hampshireairfields.co.uk/dorcrash.html has a Hurricane of 87 Squadron crashing on Oborne Road. No other information is given. No other aircraft is recorded as crashing in the area that day.
I have also found a reference to 87 Squadron (http://www.worldnavalships.com/directory/aircrewprofile.php?AircrewID=7923) which showed that on the 30th September Sergeant H. Walton bailed out of Hurricane V7307 and was injured, but no location is given..
On the back of the photograph of the parachute is a note that the pilot spent 3 weeks in Sherborne Hospital and the parachute was recovered by an officer from either Exeter or Taunton.
Is anybody able to confirm if the two incidents above are related and, if so, was Walton shot down by the attacking aircraft? Any help would be much appreciated as the Museum has a piece of cockpit glazing (I haven’t seen it yet) which was recovered from the crash site and it would make a useful exhibit if properly captioned.
Thanks
gbend
By: Sabrejet - 15th August 2015 at 10:34
Thanks for that Sabrejet.
Oborne is a couple of miles to the east of Sherborne. The Hurricane crashed in Oborne Road on the outskirts of Sherborne. I will arrange to have the glazing taken out of our store so that I can tell you more. It won’t be for a few days though.
I would be interested in the details and photograph of O’Callaghan – thanks for the offer. I will see if anybody, locally, knows any more.
I have only just started looking into this aspect of Sherborne’s history and it will be interesting to see what comes to light. I know the Museum also has some minute fragments said to be from the crash site of an He 111 which was shot down by a Beaufighter and crashed at Oborne on the 7th May 1941.
You have a PM.
By: gbend - 15th August 2015 at 09:09
Thanks for that Sabrejet.
Oborne is a couple of miles to the east of Sherborne. The Hurricane crashed in Oborne Road on the outskirts of Sherborne. I will arrange to have the glazing taken out of our store so that I can tell you more. It won’t be for a few days though.
I would be interested in the details and photograph of O’Callaghan – thanks for the offer. I will see if anybody, locally, knows any more.
I have only just started looking into this aspect of Sherborne’s history and it will be interesting to see what comes to light. I know the Museum also has some minute fragments said to be from the crash site of an He 111 which was shot down by a Beaufighter and crashed at Oborne on the 7th May 1941.
By: Sabrejet - 15th August 2015 at 08:40
gbend,
Welcome. I hope I don’t muddy the waters, but as soon as I saw your post, I thought, “I know that one” – but on looking at your details I see it appears to be a different accident!
So in case your cockpit glazing is Spitfire and not Hurricane, maybe maybe your crash piece comes from a 25th June 1944 crash? – Flt Lt O’Callaghan ‘Blue 1’ was killed whilst flying Spitfire Vb AB975 AV-A of 277 Sqn. The ORB for that date says,
“Weather dull with tendency to rain. It was with deep regret that news was received in late afternoon stating that Fg Off FGD O’Callaghan was missing from operations and it transpired later that his aircraft crashed at Oborne near Sherborne, Dorset resulting in his untimely death. Fg Off FGD O’Callaghan was most popular and was held in high esteem by his fellow pilots and crews in the squadron. The squadron has lost not only a conscientious pilot but an officer of highest ideals”.
Serendipitously my family are from Longburton, and though I’ve been there, I can’t recall how close Oborne might be to the locations you talk about.
I have a photo and other details of O’Callaghan if you’re interested.
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August 14, 2015 at 6:32 pm