|
|
|
5th September 1940On this day:
If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.
|
Remembering those who died this day.
- Hood Hilary Richard Lionel. Sqd Ldr. (d.5th Sep 1940)
- Webster John Terrence. F/Lt. (d.5th Sep 1940)
- Wright John. Sgt. (d.5th Sep 1940)
The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed,
please
Add a Name to this List
|
|
|
The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website.
Announcements
- The Wartime Memories Project has been running for 24 years. If you would like to support us, a donation, no matter how small, would be much appreciated, annually we need to raise enough funds to pay for our web hosting and admin or this site will vanish from the web.
- 27th April 2024 - Please note we currently have a huge backlog of submitted material, our volunteers are working through this as quickly as possible and all names, stories and photos will be added to the site. If you have already submitted a story to the site and your UID reference number is higher than 264001 your information is still in the queue, please do not resubmit, we are working through them as quickly as possible.
- Looking for help with Family History Research?
Please read our Family History FAQ's
- The free to access section of The Wartime Memories Project website is run by volunteers and funded by donations from our visitors. If the information here has been helpful or you have enjoyed reaching the stories please conside making a donation, no matter how small, would be much appreciated, annually we need to raise enough funds to pay for our web hosting or this site will vanish from the web.
If you enjoy this site
please consider making a donation.
Want to find out more about your relative's service? Want to know what life was like during the War? Our
Library contains an ever growing number diary entries, personal letters and other documents, most transcribed into plain text. |
|
We are now on Facebook. Like this page to receive our updates.
If you have a general question please post it on our Facebook page.
Wanted: Digital copies of Group photographs, Scrapbooks, Autograph books, photo albums, newspaper clippings, letters, postcards and ephemera relating to WW2. We would like to obtain digital copies of any documents or photographs relating to WW2 you may have at home. If you have any unwanted
photographs, documents or items from the First or Second World War, please do not destroy them.
The Wartime Memories Project will give them a good home and ensure that they are used for educational purposes. Please get in touch for the postal address, do not sent them to our PO Box as packages are not accepted.
World War 1 One ww1 wwII second 1939 1945 battalion
Did you know? We also have a section on The Great War. and a
Timecapsule to preserve stories from other conflicts for future generations.
|
|
Want to know more about the 5th of September 1940? There are:117 items tagged 5th of September 1940 available in our Library
These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War. |
|
Stories from 5th September 1940
|
Sergeant J. Bailey. RAF, 149 Squadron. I am looking for any relatives or friends who knew or served with the crew of Wellington bomber R3163 G for George of 149 Sqn:
Sgt. J Bailey 511887
Sgt. H G Barnes 652148
F/O H Burton
Sgt. A R Peacock 652031
P/O G M R Smith 42900
P/O D A McFarlane 79377
The plane was lost on the 5th of September 1940.
I have some information including that they were POWs at Stalag 3 but would be very greatful if anyone has any other information to share.
Dan Gardner
|
Sgt. John Wright. Royal Air Force, 79 Squadron. (d.5th Sep 1940) Sgt.Wright joined 79 Sqdn in July 1940 at Acklington. The squadron was posted to Biggin Hill on the 28th August 1940. At 1315 hrs on 4th Sept 1940 with Plt.Off.D.Stones DFC, (leading Blue Section) they made a head on attack against a formation of 20+ Me 110s approx 10 miles inland from Beachy head, on a northerly heading. Stones records a direct hit on one ME 110 and then chases the others. At 1325hrs Stones is in the area of Biggin Hiil - lands to refuel and rearm. At the same time, Sgt. John Wright is attempting an emergency landing in a sportsfield at Tolworth - 9 miles west of Biggin Hill. He aborts because children are playing. 2 mins later he crashes at the end of a cul-de-sac - Wentworth Close, Ditton Hill. There were no civilian casualties on the ground.
Sgt Wright was pulled from the wreckage of his Hurricane but died from his injuries the next day. The Hurricane certainly had 'engine damage' before the crash. It is assummed that he was 'shot up' by one of the Me 110s as they forced their way north. He must have 'headed' on a fast descent - on a north westerley course to 'escape' - taking him to Tolworth where he was probably lost? Reports suggest that Sgt. Wright was wounded before the crash, but I have been unable to confirm this. It was a brave decision to abort the landing at Tolworth with a damaged aircraft which only stayed airborne for another couple of minutes. But it may have saved the lives of several children
Ironically the assumption made was that Sgt. Wright was part of the squadron attacking another raid on Brooklands (7 miles west) at the same time. But that squadron was No 253 from Kenley.
David Morgan
|
Sqd Ldr. Hilary Richard Lionel "Robin" Hood. Royal Air Force, 41 Squadron. (d.5th Sep 1940) The events leading to Squadron Leader HRL Hood DFC being officially listed as Missing are complex; contemporary records are now incomplete, contradictory and vague. By assembling the facts available, supplemented by eye-witness accounts and tangible relics, a clearer picture emerges which could possibly explain Squadron Leader Hoods true fate.At 1500 hrs on Thursday, 5 September 1940, Squadron Leader Hood led 12 Spitfires of 41 Squadron from Hornchurch with orders to patrol Maidstone at 15,000ft. Hood flew as Blue 1 of B Flight, rearguard cover being provided by A Flight, led by Flight Lieutenant Norman Ryder. The scramble was a hurried affair and, as the squadron climbed away from Hornchurch, a large enemy formation was encountered flying up the Thames Estuary towards London: He111s, Do17s and Ju88s escorted by Me109s. Other Fighter Command squadrons had been vectored to intercept this raid; the Hurricanes of North Wealds 249 Squadron, Debdens 17 and 73 Squadrons, Northolts 303 Squadron and Staplefords 46 Squadron. 41 Squadron Pilot Officer Wally Wallens recalls: "As usual I was flying Number 2 on Robin Hood leading B Flight and, being unable to gain height advantage and position in time, Robin put us in line-astern and open echelon port and attacked head-on, a desperate manoeuvre that could age one very prematurely. Within seconds all hell broke loose and, as the action developed, B Flight was overwhelmingly attacked by the 109s. Only four Spitfires from 41 Squadron failed to return this engagement. Pilot Officer Tony Lovell had parachuted out of his burning aircraft over South Benfleet and returned to Hornchurch. Pilot Officer Wallens had force-landed, near Orsett, with a cannon shell through his leg and had been taken to hospital. One pilot was confirmed killed in action. His body was identified as that of Flight Lieutenant Webster DFC. Squadron Leader Hood was officially recorded as Missing." Reg Lovett of 73 Squadron Another casualty of this interception and relevant to our investigation was Flight Lieutenant Reg Lovett DFC of 73 Squadron. That units Intelligence Report states that: A and B flights took off from Castle Camps at 14.55 hrs with orders to orbit North of Gravesend. At 1510 approx. enemy formation sighted about 1 mile to south being engaged by A/A at 19,000ft. E/A flying westwards in 3 vics, in line astern. A Flight led by F/Lt Lovett DFC attacked the rearmost formation. Leader commenced quarter attack, but as E/A travelling very fast it developed into astern attack at 350 yards. Leader experienced considerable cross fire and was hit by MG fire on the port side. Closed to 300 yards, but hit on starboard leading edge by cannon shell, and in breaking away a Spitfire came upwards almost vertically and they collided. Leader baled out and landed near Rochford, uninjured after a delayed drop." Throughout this engagement, numerous aircraft fell to the earth below, observed by many military, police and ARP personnel, in addition to the general public. The majority of aircraft fell in the Nevendon area of Essex, adjacent to the A127, the main arterial road between London and Southend-on-Sea. The ARP telephone messages recorded: "At 15.30 approx. at Nevendon 0.25 mile SE Nevendon Hall. Machine Wrecked. Spitfire. Pilot baled out unhurt. At 15.30 approx. Wickford. Fuselage, part body and one wing fell Cranfield Park Road 400 yards SW Tye Corner. Wing bears marking K, believed British." Further details were recorded in the War Diaries of local military units. The aircraft losses noted in the ARP records were also present in these diaries, but the following additional information was noted: "312 Searchlight Battery RA: A wing apparently belonging to a British fighter was recovered at M177010. One British pilot picked up dead on the Arterial Road at M1710.
|
|
