I am looking for any information and especially photographs of a german bomber that crash landed in a field near to loughborough,close to the school at burton on the wolds. this bomber was a dornier and was reported to be the only one shot down killing all four crew during the coventry blitz on the night of 14th november 1940 anti aircraft fire hit it over derby and it circled loughborough in flames before landing in the field less than half a mile from RAF Wymeswold. if you have any information or photos please share with me thanks mick
Hello Mick and welcome to the forum. I hope this adds a little more detail to what you know; 6/KG3 Dornier 17Z-3 (2892) Shot down by AA fire and crashed at Pretswold Hall. Burton on the Wolds, Loughborough 10 p.m. Oberlt O Priess, Fw K Dilthey, Uffz G Kuhne and Obergfr W. Wellenbrock killed. Aircraft 5K+BP destroyed. The four crew members remain buried in Loughborough Cemetery. Site investigated by Peter Felix of the Derbyshire Historical Aviation Society, who recovered various surface fragments. Propellor blade taken at the time retained by the land owner. After The Battle: The Blitz Then and Now Vol 2
The HG view from the Brush factory: BBC - WW2 People's War - Home Guard in Loughborough - The Home Front Many a night the engine drone of enemy aircraft could be heard overhead, on a path from over the North Sea before turning off in the direction of their target areas, Birmingham, the Black Country, Derby and Coventry etc. There were only a few anti-aircraft guns in our area. On one particular night an enemy bomber came low over the factory, flying in a zigzag fashion, we could clearly see the German cross markings. Badly hit over its target and just clearing the factory chimney it seemed to be limping on in the direction of the fatherland but crashed into a clump of trees just up the hill from Prestwold Hall on the right-hand side. All the crew were found dead, the plane had been flying itself. The splintered clump of trees has recently been cleared. Apart from this incident nothing else of note happened, guard duties passed off peacefully and the threat of invasion receded. I see the Charnwood Museum (the one in Loughborough?) was planning some stuff on it for an exhibition. Missed that: Charnwood at War 1939-1945 | Forums | Loughborough Echo Anything to do with you Mick? I see mention that the story was in the Echo recently. Crew's grave photos: ]Midlands Air Crash Research (just recalled that I've seen those graves while mooching round the Cemetery, and have stopped and wondered, so cheers for that.) Someone else on the trail: Serching for Luftwaffe Crew & Relatives. - Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum Another recent article: Mystery of the only German plane shot down during the raid OF the 500-strong strike force which set out to blitz Coventry, only one was shot down. The final moments of the Dornier Do 17Z are still shrouded in mystery. What is known is that the aircraft, still laden with its bomb-load, was hit by a gun battery in Derby. As it attempted to get back home the crippled plane flew just a few feet above the rooftops of Loughborough, Leicestershire, before crash landing in a field at around 10pm on the nearby Prestwold Hall estate, at 10pm, killing all four crew. Many believe the crew battled to save civilian lives by keeping the aircraft from crashing into houses. Others say they were only trying to survive and land at the nearby Wymeswold aerodrome, then used as an RAF base. Eyewitnesses said the cockpit was aglow with fire and one of the engines was ablaze. Another said they could see the pilot’s face, the plane flew so low. In all events the four men, Wilhelm Wellenbrock, 21, Gunter Kuhne, 21, Oswald Preiss, 22 and Karl Dilthey, 32, were buried in Loughborough with full military honours. The funeral was organised by the RAF and a procession escorted the coffins through the town to the cemetery. Many lined the streets to pay watch. It was very respectful - there was no shouting or jeering. Once inside the cemetery, no public or press were allowed, but service included the sound of the Last Post and a firing party. Read More We found love among the ruins - Your Life - Relationships - Lifestyle - Coventry Telegraph So we have another public funeral of enemy fallen for this thread by the sounds of it: http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/war-cemeteries-war-memorial-research/16554-use-nazi-flag-burials-british-cemeteries.html Seems possible that despite the press being excluded from the cemetery, a trawl of local news archives might turn up a photo or report of the earlier part of such an event? Good luck, Keep us informed if you do find more. ~A
Hi Mick, I'm also interested in this event. I've always been fascinated with WW2 history, particularly aviation related and I'm a local guy (Loughborough) Have you done any research via the local museums or library? I think the Carillon War memorial museum may have some info. It might be worth having a look at local newspapers from the date too? Cheers, Bruce
Hi, I think I may have a photo of the plane at home I will up load it on my return home. I am form Wymeswold and my family was living there during the war and must have gone to have a look. I also remember stories of a Wellington crashing killing the pilot on its way back to RAF wymeswold. Regards. Danny
Hi, this it is must be the one http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=372&pictureid=3084 hi Danny Thanks for the reply but i cant see a photo any where could you poss try again or even email it to me at mick.wallis@talk21.com thanks Mick
ha its just appeared on the screen thanks would love to take a closer look at the original,are you still local as im in cotes.perhaps meet you in greyhound burton for a pint and a look at any other photos you may have Thanks Mick
Fantastic, thanks for uploading the picture Danny. Mick, have you done any research through the library or War Memorial Museum? I'm happy to go and take a look at what they have available and share the info with you but I won't bother if you've already been down that road. Cheers, Bruce
Hi Mick, I live in Nottingham and still visit Wymeswold as my Mum still lives in the family home. I'd be happy to meet you give me a call on 07xxxxxx. Regards Danny Edit: I obfuscated your phone # Danny, best to share such things by PM, rather than on the open interweb. Lot of odd people out there. ~A
Hi all, it is possible that the photo I have posted may not be the Dornier that crashed at Burton on the wolds. the reason I thought it was is that my Family was living in Wymeswold at the time and this picture happened to be in my Grandads collection. John H Collier who has researched this by the sounds of it in great detail and he understood the the Dornier in question broke up on impact. So the new question is if this is not the Dornier from Burton on the wolds were is it?. Can any one help????? Danny
Hello chaps, Are you sure this is the photo of the Burton-on-the-Wolds Dornier? This looks more like a Ju88 and the airmen look like German groundcrew?
From The Luftwaffe's Blitz by Chris Goss page 49. Coventry Blitz 14th November 1940 Pilot Officer Lionel Kells of 29 Sqn claimed to have damaged an unidentified aircraft near Swaffham.In reality,no German aircraft were damaged and the only loss was a Dornier 17 of 6/KG 3 flown by Obit Oswald Priess.,which was shot down by flak and crashed near Loughborough with the deaths of all of its crew.
