Hornchurch
Airman
- 38
- Jul 3, 2020
Figured as it's an astounding 80-yrs ago, Eight-decades THIS summer, that we may as well have a discussion thread
Maybe, just maybe you guys might wanna discuss 'events/markings/insignia/heraldry/individual-tales, etc ?
It's often said that the chronological 'span' of the Battle of Britain Timeline was : 10 July 1940 – 31 October 1940
Whatever, it's indisputable that it caused some of the greatest & most significant air-combat of the war.
Fact remains that 'D-Day' 6th June 1944 could NEVER have been launched from England, had it "fallen" in 1940
Even that single factor alone kinda states it's importance, not just that of a nation, but of the West - and 'The Free World'
Plus it also meant that Adolf Hitler & his (previously), "All Conquering Armies", would be tied-down on a war on TWO fronts.
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I'd like to kick this thread off, with an interesting tale about a Hornchurch Spitfire pilot, who got savagely beaten-up by his own side !!!!
I first learned of this 'local' event, because my own Mother was one who attended, shortly AFTER the poor guy was assualted.
Just by the turn of events what happened, you CAN see just how 'incensed' London folks were by German Bombing & yet another war, so soon.
She'd just mentioned, "This poor guy parachuted down & they beat the living $h-t out of him, before someone finally intervened"
My own Mother, along with other neighbours, hearing that "A German Pilot has parachuted-in/baled-out, just down the road..." ran to see it.
It's one of those (previously unsubstantiated), stories/tales that you hear of (war-stories), that just BEG for further investigation.
Having heard this "London Civilian Beatings" tale, I took-up the reins & went to 'Valence House' in Dagenham, Essex.
I spoke to the archive AND museum curator, who was most very obliging in helping me track both THIS, plus a 12th July 1944 'V.1' incident.
Having explained the tale, in full (of what I knew), he set me onto a microfische-machine, then EVERY local-newspaper headline-page.
Finally having traced it, he went to get the folder, containing an ORIGINAL Sept' 1940 actual physical copy itself, so, I got to see it & photocopy it.
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Here's the actual 603 Squadron Hornchurch Spitfire that was involved in the 'shoot-down' (& Assault) incident.
Spitfire coded, 'XT-N' - serial number 'X.4271', flown on 31st August 1940, by Plt/Off George Gilroy
And HERE below, is the 6th Sept' edition of 'The Dagenham Post', relating to the 31st Aug' incident, just a week-earlier.
The incident which took-place, involving Plt/Off Gilroy, is the column over on the far-left-hand-side of the newspaper, below.
Here are some of the salient points that I'd learned/acquired over the last five-decades, from both witnesses & reports.
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31st August 1940 ; Pilot Officer George Gilroy, flying Spitfire X.4271, coded 'XT-N'
Shot down over London by an attacking Messerschmitt.Me.109-E, Gilroy then bails-out from his Spitfire.
"X.4271" crashes at Wanstead-flats, vast London grasslands & playing-fields, whilst separation is around 18,000ft
Gilroy's parachute is caught in the prevailing westerly wind, causing him to land many miles away from 'X.4271's impact.
Gilroy lands in Dagenham, Essex, near the "Merry Fiddlers" Public-House/Pub, near Becontree, approx' 5 miles due East
It's a busy junction, heavily populated, not far from Dagenham's HUGE 1930's stylish & modernistic "Art-Deco" Town Hall
Incensed Dagenham & London residents then set about attacking Gilroy, mistakenly thinking that he IS a German pilot !!!!!
(Remember, it's still only August 1940, the 'Blitz' is yet to take place - But this is the 2nd war w/Germans in quick succession)
Gilroy gets punched in the face, mistaken for a '109 pilot (!)
Whilst the baying 'mob' continue to punch & attack him.... his parachute flung over a wall, limiting his defensive movement (& injured
He shouts "Don't shoot me, I'm British" - (He's Scottish, IIRC) = Classic 'War-movie' lines, but in this instance, it's "Real"
Clearly the mob had arrived, armed & not just with pitchforks - Hence the 'Don't shoot me' line.....
A fight (it seems) then broke-out; Those defending & attacking him.
A Bus Driver (local 25 route), broke-up the attacking crowd
It's also claimed that the Bus driver said/yelled/shouted.... (witnesses), "Don't you recognise one of your own ?"
Ironic, as Gilroy was a Hornchurch Spitfire pilot (603 Sqdn), who, were based quite literally in a neighbouring town along the A.13
Dagenham & Hornchurch ARE only separated by "The Chase" (It's a small stretch of open farmland/wasteland with a Pub & Cemetery)
Another rather puzzling thing is this.....
Gilroy IS taken to the 'old' Hospital in Ilford - King George's Hospital is by Newbury Park (A.12/A.127), next to RAF Fairlop.
(Not to be confused with the modern/rubbish/Barley Lane equivalent, thereof !)
Meanwhile, whilst only yards down the road, is the equally large "Oldchurch Hospital" (Romford, close to 'incident' & 603's base)
The equally major "Oldchurch Hospital" (demolished 2004) is by far the nearer of the two
RAF Stapleford Tawney's 46 Sqdn Hurricane pilots WERE admitted there, at this time, so, it WAS in use, during summer 1940
Gilroy's injuries keep him out of action for nearly a month He isn't released (from King George's Hospital), until 17th September 1940
He does then, return to RAF Hornchurch & his own 603 Sqdn flight.
An interesting point of note is this ; Gilroy's Spitfire, X.4271 has LESS than 4-hrs flight time
It was delivered to 603.Sqdn only the day before he got shot-down & beaten-up by angry civilians. (Previously at an 'M.U.')
So, the next question invariably will be, "How comes you know so much?"
Well, My Mother attended the incident & told me as a child - kinda like a family 'war-story' ya hear, every once in a while.
I'd contacted Valence House Libraries Archive-Section-Museum, purely to 'corroborate' what I'd been told, over the years.
The curator was beyond FANTASTIC, only too keen to help - In fact, he helped MORE on the V.1 'Doodlebug' inquiry**
**( but that's another separate story, in itself !)
He put me onto a 'microfiche machine' & I went researching.
Within 15-20mins, I'd hit the "Eureka" tab, finding the incident as a headline, photocopying it, onto an 'A3' sized sheet**
** (back in the day, 1940, this WAS a broadsheet newspaper)
I have the copy & it ties-in nicely with everything what I'd been told/heard, by witnesses who were there !
In addition, the Aviation Incident Network entry further info' ' CLICK TO READ LINK ENTRY ; HERE
Later, hopefully in some more detail, I'd ALSO like to discuss the AMAZING combat involving 249 Sqdn Hawker Hurricane pilot, Percy Burton**
I've been beside his gravestone, in a pure 'chance encounter' (unexpected visit), having already known about the combat & his death - A brave lad indeed.
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