On 18th May 1943, exactly 82 years ago, this German Messerschmitt 410A crashed into our nearby churchyard. It was returning from having killed people in London, and (I presume) was shot down before crossing The Channel, and heading for home.
The pilot was found hanging from a tree; dead. And his co-pilot landed in the sea and drowned. No-one from Brighton was injured. The church is about 500 metres from the sea, so how they managed to be found so far apart is a mystery.
This (below) is the very spot today. You can see the Stone Archway (top right) into the Rest Garden in both photos. It's the entrance to where I walk with Billy twice a day.
It certainly looks a lot more peaceful now than it did in 1943.
Just 3 months after Lingfield School was bombed
ReplyDeleteAnother plane returning from having bombed London.
DeleteIt is hard to believe it is 82 years ago.
DeleteTempus fugit!!!
DeleteSure does
DeleteIt looks like the damaged gravestones were never replaced. It's not too late to demand that The Nazis replace them. Someone should write to Nigel Farage about this.
ReplyDeleteI personally will want compensation. My mental health has been damaged, and I will require at least £10 million.
DeleteOnly £10 million? Having just read this blogpost, I feel that I need therapy.
Delete£20 Million then!
DeletePeople forget how much of England and Europe was bombed into oblivion, just a lifetime ago.
ReplyDeleteThe South was bombed mostly by returning bomber-planes after they'd dropped most of their load over London. If they had any bombs left, they'd drop them off on their way home.
DeleteThat is very interesting. I showed your post to my husband who is an aviation buff especially WW2 he knew about this crash, the pilot was Richard Pahl who had been awarded the Iron Cross 1st class for probably flying in the Polish campaign. There is a link with more information
ReplyDeletebut you may know this already https://sussexhistoryforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=1139.o Regards Sue H
Gosh; do thank your husband for the link. I didn't know any of those details. Very interesting!
DeleteDon't mention it. Apparently the body of the other crew member washed up at Cooden Beach along the coast to the east from Brighton just past Pevensy Bay. Regards Sue H
ReplyDeleteI probably shouldn't say it, but at least they weren't able to do any more damage.
DeleteI know just what you mean. War is so senseless and yet in the case of WW2 I don't see how it could have been avoided. Sue H
ReplyDeleteSo many Millions of us simply want to live peaceful lives, yet just a handful want nothing but killing. Sadly that few hold too much power!
DeleteI lived in Brighton for the first 22 years of my life and I always remember my Mother saying how she remembered seeing the Messerschmitts flying low past our house on their way back to Germany after their bombing runs. She remembers seeing the German pilots grinning as they flew past.
ReplyDelete