Lytham WW2 crash… anyone shed any light?

There are some of the remains of the Ju88 shot down by Defiant N3445 at Hangar 42, Blackpool Airport, Squires Gate Lane, Blackpool FY4 2QY. The personnel there will show you the remains and explain what they are as well as the story of the shoot down and finding the wreck on Bank Marsh.
Part of the recovered bomb rack from the Ju88 can be seen top left of the model photo.

Hangar 42 will be open to the Public every Sunday and Tuesday from the 18th April 2017 until Tuesday the 26th October 2017. The Hangar opens from 10:00 am until 16:00, last entry 15:30. Entry Fee’s apply. Telephone C/O John Coombes FEC – Mobile: 07967 724588.

Thanks for looking.

The Air Intelligence report gives the survivors as Oberleutnant Gunter Klemm (Pilot)(severely injured) and Leutnant Heinrich Ooester (Obs)(injured).

My mother and many of my elderly relatives still live in Lytham and we were talking about this incident at the weekend. Apparently one of the crew’s parachutes failed to open properly, or was too low to be effective, and he crashed into the brick wall at Blacoe’s Farm just outside Lytham on the Warton road, breaking his neck. He was buried in the cemetery (where today’s crematorium is) with full military honours, the gun carriage being draped with a swastika. The surviving pilot, or crew member, was kept under armed guard in Lytham Hospital. He had to have his arm amputated due to bullet wounds. He was treated by Dr. Milligan. They established a friendship which continued long after the war had ended. There was also a Dr Wagner, of German origin, who worked at the hospital and apparently he was able to communicate with the patient in his own language. A further twist in the story suggests that a group of Lytham housewives formed themselves into a vigilante group and were keen on lynching the hospitalised crew-member.

I hope this has been helpful and largely accurate.

Tim17

Thanks for looking.

The Air Intelligence report gives the survivors as Oberleutnant Gunter Klemm (Pilot)(severely injured) and Leutnant Heinrich Ooester (Obs)(injured).

I’ve just had a look in the album and there isn’t a name. There used to be a letter with it but I assume my aunt kept that as a souvenir and I’m afraid she is no longer with us.

I’ve taken it from the No.256 Sqn ORB, Fighter Command Intelligence Summaries and AI(k) report on the wreckage that was examined.

Corrected

(I am assuming your information to be accurate)

Moggy

Moggy, the Ju88 at Banks was the 7th April. The aircraft which was abandoned on the same night was http://laituk.org/Defiant%20N1694.htm, it was abandoned about half an hour before the Ju88 was shot down. Like you say, not far from the later interception but the aircraft involved in that shoot down was N3445 being flown by Flight Lieutenant West and Sergeant Adams.

The night of the 7th/8th May was also a busy one for the North West with a number of Luftwaffe aircraft being intercepted by Defiants from No.256 and No.96 Sqns. No.256 lost one of theirs to return fire from a Ju88.

Ozplane, do you have the airman’s name? There were only two survivors from the Ju88, the pilot and observer. The other two went in with the aircraft, though may already have been killed during the interception.

… the only German aircraft in the area is on the other side of the Ribble on Banks Marsh and that was shot down.

7th April 1941, No. 256 Squadron based at Squires Gate was flying night patrols against German raiders – one Defiant shot down a Ju88 over Banks Marsh that night and many locals both sides of the Ribble estuary witnessed its fiery demise.

Interesting to see that a different Defiant was abandoned due to mechanical problems on the same night in the same general area – this could have given rise to the collision myth.

Moggy

I’m a bit late to this thread but perhaps I could add a little anecdote which might be of interest. My aunt was a nurse at Lytham Hospital during the war and was out for a walk on the promenade when a German aircraft was shot down. Apparently when a crew member, who had swum ashore, was trying to get out of the water the Home Guard kept shoving him back in. This didn’t appeal to my aunt, who was quite a formidable lady, and she eventually persuaded them to desist and she got him off to hospital. Thinking that was the last she’d hear of him, she was most surprised to receive, after the war, a very nice stamp collection with thanks for saving his life. It’s on my shelf as I write.

Many thanks chaps for all the replies, most appreciated

Steve

I think the collision you are looking is that between two A-26s, http://laituk.org/Time%20Team.htm, they came down on Warton Marsh but were closer to Lytham than Warton.

There were a number of other crashes off Lytham though in that time period. Certainly no collisions between British and German aircraft, the only German aircraft in the area is on the other side of the Ribble on Banks Marsh and that was shot down.

Many years ago, I recall reading an article in Flypast which relates to the crash of a German Bomber off Lytham, however have no further details…

I think I read somewhere that there was a mid air collision between a Defiant and Botha over Blackpool. Could this be the incident?.