Dornier 17 WW2 crashes near Norwich

Not got a lot for you, Yak 11 Fan.
As Pimpernel says the man to see is Bob, Robert J Collis as he is the man who has assisted Neil Storey with the book Norfolk in the Second world war from which I am getting the information from. It is a great book full of information about the people of Norfolk ,what they did and went through etc. Including who got bombed and when.

In Fact the same day as the plane we are talking about.
Bombs fell on Banham 5 incendries IB, Bircham 4 High explosive. HE, Carlton Rode 2 IB, Catton 7 HE, Cranwich 2 HE, Horning 2 HE, Hoveton 2 HE, Matlaske 10 HE, Pulham ST Mary 17 HE, St Faiths 2 HE, Snetterton 4 IB, Sprowston 2 IB, Thorpe 12 HE, Watton 13 HE, West Caister 3 IB and Wickmere 9 HE.

21st Aug 1940 Do. 17Z-3 From 2/KG2 was shot down by blue section of no.242 sqd (Flt .Lt G Powell-sheddon, sub –Lieut R E Gardner and Pilot Officer J B Latta) during a sortie over Norfol. Attempted a forced landing but overshot and ploughed into a wood and exploded at Conifer hill Starston at 11.52 pm. approx.
Crew: 1 Killed, 2 wounded.
Lieut H. Ermecke was killed, Uffz. G-D Wulf, H Herman and war correspondent Sonderfuhrer Lt Kurst Rashe (of Lw. Kr. Ber. Komp. Mot.3) bailed out and were captured severely wounded. Aircraft U5+FK was a write off. This was the only German aircraft shot down on land in Norfolk during the battle of Britain.

Thanks for the information Richard, it’s very interesting :).

I’ve been to West Green farm many times with my children because it now has a childrens indoor play area, yet I never knew about the crash there

Found this Yak11fan?

Look here

You could try asking Bob Collis at the Lowestoft Aviation Society, he is a local historian on aircraft.

Hi Richard,

Many thanks for the reply, would you have any more information on the first aircraft that came down at Starston?

Many Thanks

9th May 1942 Do 217E-4 (5375) from 1/KG2 Hit a balloon cable at 3,500ft over Lakenham. Norwich. Dived to low altitude and was Shot down by LAA at Stoke holy cross, situated at chain home radar site, crashing on a field at West Green farm , West Poringland at 1.20 am. Aircraft U5+EH disintegrated.
All crew Killed. Oberlt. W. Bollert, Oberfw. R. Bucksch, Uffz. M. Speuser, Uffz. A Otterbach.
All crew share communal grave, Earlham cemetery.
A memorial service was held at the crew grave in 1986 at the request of the widow of the pilot, and the CWGC subsequently added more details to the headstone, which up to until then had carried only the initials and surnames of the four crew.

9th May 1942 Do 217E-4 from 1/KG2 Hit balloon cable over Lakenham. Norwich. Shot down by LAA at Stoke holy cross Norwich crashed at West Poringland 5 miles.

Do you have any more details about that particular incident ? I live in the area but hadn’t heard of it until I read your post and would like to know more about it

Can only find 3 Do17s which crashed in Norfolk none close to Norwich, several 217s though.
Dornier crashes in Norfolk 1939 – 45.
From, Norfolk in the second world war by Neil R Storey.

21st Aug 1940 Do. 17Z-3 From 2/KG2. Conifer hill Starston approx. 15mls from Norwich.
21st Aug 1940 Do. 17Z – 3 6/KG3 crashed in sea off Scolt Head Brancaster. Approx. 40 mls.
7th March 1941 Do. 17Z -2 of 2/KG3 ditched into sea off Gorleston approx. 20 miles.

24th Feb 1941 Do 217E – 4 from Stab111/KG2 crashed into sea off Cromer. Approx. 21 miles
9th May 1942 Do 217E-4 from 1/KG2 Hit balloon cable over Lakenham. Norwich. Shot down by LAA at Stoke holy cross Norwich crashed at West Poringland 5 miles.
15th May 1942 Do 217E – 4 from 4/KG40 in sea off Happisburg. Approx. 40mls
16th May 1942 Two Do217s from 3KG2 believed shot down by Spitfires of 412 sqd off Gt Yarmouth . Approx. 30mls.
30th July 1942 Do217E – 4 from 6/KG2 Crashed Salthouse Marsh. . Approx. 26mls
23rd Aug 1942 Do217E-4 2/KG2 Crashed East Walton. . Approx. 40mls
17th Sept 1942 Do217E-4 7/KG2 crashed at Church farm, Fring. . Approx. 40mls
18th March 1943 Do217 shot down 2mls N of Kings Lynn crashed into River Ouse. Nothing ever found to Identify aircraft. . Approx. 45mls
6/7th Nov 1943. Do217K-1 KG2. AA direct hit over Beccles crashed Winston hall farm, Gillingham. . Approx. 16mls