German bomber down 29Jan'44 near Bury St Edmunds

2nd left looks like a vintage Collis to me,

Hello

Just come across this thread, and I’ve a small snippet of info to add about L. W. Neal – this is from the Newcastle Journal, February 12th 1944:

Downed raider on practice flight
During a night practice flight, Flight-Sergt. Leslie W. Neal, whose parents live at 10, Havelock Street, Thornaby, destroyed a Ju-88.
The enemy plane’s fuselage was hit by four bursts, and it blew up after a second burst.
Flight-Sergt. Neal mentioned his “little episode” in a letter to his parents some days later, adding: “I was pleased to get him, seeing that he hadn’t dropped his bombs. They went down with him.”
Flight-Sergt. Neal attended the Arthur Head School, Thornaby, and was an operator with a Stockton cinema before joining up. He was married last year and his wife lives in Kent.

His full name is Leslie William Neal, born Thornaby-on-Tees, January 8th 1919.

Simon

Attached photo (copyright EADT) taken during visit to the site in the late Eighties when surface fragments were found.

Yes, I know Ian! Lovely items to us, now – but then, just Jerry junk.

So many of those trophies around then. So few now!

Nice pictures Andy. I wonder if the spar survives anywhere, no one could have been in any doubt to it’s origin, they have painted the details in big letters at the bottom.

Yes, bomb disposal in WW2 England is a fascinating topic. Chris Ransted’s book lists over 600 BD casualties in WW2 – an astonishing number of them in the UK.

I have just completed an article for ‘After The Battle’ on a bomb disposal incident in Eastbourne during October 1940 that killed two BD soldiers and a civilian Police Sgt, just three of many such deaths.

Had not even realised such a study was carried out to write a book. Thought mostly it was swept under carpet. Thank you I will pursue it for my own interest, old lady will not be reading.
I thank you for all the posts you make because it leads many of us down avenues we never knew about tku

Rochford – sorry that there are no images that I know of depicting the incident you are interested in.

BTW, have you seen ‘Bomb Disposal & The British Casualties of WW2’ by Chris Ransted? A fascinating read and insight.

Hi-I would just like to thank you guys for answering the query posed by elderly lady. Her husband had one of those very important/interesting jobs during the war which did not generate a huge orbituary in the Daily Splurge. Orbits seem to be only for Spitfire pilots! He was one of the huge FEW
TKU imc

You are welcome!

The two ATS privates are Phyllis Cross and Rose Chorley whilst Gunner Alfred Piggott looks on.

Thank you Andy. Appreciated. 🙂

As promised!

The gun crews of 627 (Heavy) AA Bty pose with their trophies.

And Clint….give me until this evening!

Much obliged! 🙂

Andy other loss was this the one in which Siegfried Zillmann was killed?

Paul – yes. And Clint….give me until this evening!

No pics, although some nice very ones relating to another loss that night a bit further south and over The Thames.

Lets have a peek then.. 😀

Andy other loss was this the one in which Siegfried Zillmann was killed?

Yes, Paul has filled in the missing detail I hinted at in #2.

Have just searched my photo archive. No pics, although some nice very ones relating to another loss that night a bit further south and over The Thames.

Shot down by Flight Sergeant L.W. Neal and Flight Sergeant E Eastwood in a Beaufighter MkVI of No 68 Squadron on their first operational flight.

I bet that cost them a fortune in the Mess afterwards 😀

Moggy

Thanks for that – checking with 92 year old wife of bomb disposal expert & what you found sounds good – MORE LATER -tku ian

Sure not 29/1/44?

been here before? http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?t=55278

From ‘The Blitz then & now Vol 3’ (Night of 29/30th January 1944)

‘3/KG54 Junkers Ju88A-4 (300228). Shot down by Flight Sergeant L.W. Neal and Flight Sergeant E Eastwood in a Beaufighter MkVI of No 68 Squadron on their first operational flight. Crashed half a mile south-west of Shrubland Hall, Codenham, Suffolk, 8.40 pm. Uffz H Goergen killed, Uffz J Sprenger injured, Uffz A Zehetner and Uffz W Bruning baled out and taken prisoner. Aircraft B3+AL destroyed.

Heinz Goergen buried at Cannock Chase