Local Aircraft Crashes during World War 2

An Epsom resident was working on the history of his wartime Squadron (78th RAF Squadron) and asked the Epsom and Ewell Local and Family History Centre if they had any details of a war time plane crash near 30 Acres Barn just over the borough boundary Ashtead. This request has lead a team of history centre volunteers to start researching local wartime plane crashes. Remarkably they have found firm evidence for 15 crashes, of which 9 occurred during the Battle of Britain period (10 July to 31 October 1940), and reports of a further one on Epsom Downs, which is proving difficult to verify.

Reports on two of these crashes and two of the pilots (see links below) have kindly been made available to this web site by Bert Barnhurst of Epsom & Ewell Local & Family History Centre (Opens in a new window). If you have any thing you can add to these reports or supply informaion on the other crashes please contact Bert at the History Centre.


AIRCRAFT CRASHES IN THIS AREA
DURING BATTLE OF BRITAIN : 10 JULY - 31 OCTOBER 1940
Date Type of Aircraft Number Squadron Pilot Reason for crash Outcome
18.8.1940 Hurricane P3399 111[Croydon] P/O P.J. Simpson Forced landing at RAC Club (Woodcote) after repelling attack on RAF Kenley. Pilot unhurt; aircraft repairable
18.8.1940 Hurricane R4187 111[Croydon] F/Lt. S.D.P. Connors DFC + bar Shot down by anti/aircraft fire whilst repelling attack on RAF Kenley and crashed at The Oaks, Coulsdon F/Lt. Connors killed, aircraft written off.
4.9.1940 Hurricane V6638 253[Kenley] F/o A.A.G. Truman Shot down by German aircraft over base and crashed at Tudor Close, Banstead Pilot killed, aircraft written off
9.9.1940 Hurricane R4084 310[Duxford] F/Lt. G. L. Sinclair Crashed after collision with F/O Boulton's aircraft. Aircraft came down at Purley Way, Wallington. Sinclair baled out over Caterham, spraining his ankle on landing - aircraft a write-off
9.9.1940 Hurricane P3888 310[Duxford] F/O Boulton Lost control following collision with F/Lt. Sinclair during attack on enemy aircraft over Croydon. Hit a Dornier 215 amidships and crashed in Woodmansterne Lane F/Officer Boulton killed - aircraft written off.
9.9.1940 ME 110 3298 15/LG1 Pfafflhuber & Kramp Shot down near 'Maori' sports ground, Worcester Park Crew killed - aircraft a write-off
9.9.1940 ME 110 3207 9/ZG76 Gefreiter Zimmermann & Feld/w Ostermuncher Shot down in combat with RAF fighter; crashed in Woodcote Park Avenue, Woodmansterne Crew killed - aircraft a write-off
30.9.1940 ME 109 3192 6/JG52 Gefreiter Stasser Crashed in flames on Tadworth Common nr. St. Andrew's Church. Pilot baled out over Dorking, seriously wounded. Aircraft a write-off.
5.9.1940 Hurricane * R4175 303[Northolt] Sgt. J. František (Polish Air Force) 1. Damaged in action against ME 109 over Rochford Pilot unhurt; aircraft repairable - see next item
6.9.1940 * Same plane   same pilot Damaged in action over West Kent Pilot unhurt; aircraft repairable see next item
8.10.1940 * Same plane   same pilot 2. Crashed in Cuddington Way, Ewell. Cause unknown Pilot killed ; aircraft a write-off.
* These three entries illustrate how uncertain the fate of airmen could be. Sgt. Frantisek accounted for 17 German aircraft during the Battle of Britain.

OTHER AIRCRAFT CRASHES IN THIS AREA
Date Type of Aircraft Number Squadron Pilot Reason for crash Outcome
13.6.1941 Spitfire N3125 53 OTU Not Known Forced landing in Chessington  
3.9.1941 Hampden AD 913 44 Not Known Abandoned mid-air - crashed on Headley Heath  
1942/43? [Questionable] ** Not Known Not Known Not Known Crashed on Epsom Racecourse Yet to be determined
4.7.1943 Halifax JD 203 78 [Breighton] Acting Squadron Leader Bunclark Forced landing - 30 Acre Barn aircraft caught fire and burned out Most crew bailed out over Southern Counties, Pilot & Flight Engineer escaped alive
31.5.1944 P38 -Lightning F-5C PR version 42-67105 USAAF 33rd. P.R. Sqdn./of 10 PR Group 2nd. Lt. A.L.Jackson DFC Crashed Banstead Golf Course after training mission Pilot killed - aircraft written off
1.2.1945 Warwick PN 777 Test flight from Weybridge Wing Cdr. M. Summers Crash at Ruxley Lane after spinning out of control Pilot and observer survived but two housewives killed
19.3.1945 B17G Flying Fortress 43-39035 USAAF 384th Bomb Group Lt. Robert S. Griffin Crashed into Colley Hill, Reigate Crew killed - aircraft written off
** Various reports including:
  1. Mosquito - ?
  2. Anson - crash report pinned to prop. and crew spoken to
  3. Oxford - ?
  4. JU 88 or DO 217 - crew seen to run away
  5. Even a Lysander said to have landed outside the Derby Arms!

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Air Crash at 30 Acre Barn
30 Acre Barn
František
František
František
Maori Plane Crash
Peter Simpson
Simpson
Tragedy on the Home Front
Tragedy
Stoneleigh War Remembered
War Memories
WW2 Maps
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