Whilst walking down a valley to another geocache near a stream, I remembered the story of a wartime air crash in the area and decided to try and capture the same place.
It was 25th July 1940 when a Junkers 88 was making for an aircraft factory in Hucclecote near Gloucester. Two Hurricanes from either RAF Kemble or RAF Aston Downs took off to intercept it. Unfortunately in the air battle one of the hurricanes crashed into the tail of the Junker, unfortunately the British pilot died.
The German Junker also came down with the 4 man crew bailing out with parachutes. The plane just missed the chimney of the local school before crashing into this field near Oakridge, called Strawberry Fields. One parachute failed to open and the airman died, he was however buried with full military honours in Brimscombe cemetery. The remaining German crew were captured and ended up in a prisoner war camp, saying that they were grateful to the locals who did look after them after the crash.
It was such a major event during the war that many people visited the crash site with coaches bring sightseers from Stroud and beyond.
That was just another bit of local history, and a place I visited and captured.
Wow! Sounds like a story for a film. I have seen a couple of episodes from various series (mainly detective series) with German pilots fallen on British land. (Yes, I sort of enjoy Miss Marple)
And I always wondered how would I react: I mean, the German pilots were clearly not there to spread rose petals. Yet the locals took care of them. And also buried the enemy with military honours. It is very ... baffling (not sure if it is the right word). Maybe perplexing. I really don't know and nor do I wish to find out how I would react.
Fantastic piece of detective work. Great shots of the then and now.
Your accompanying story really pulls the heart in both directions and brings a small piece of the tragedy of war and human behavior into focus.
And I always wondered how would I react: I mean, the German pilots were clearly not there to spread rose petals. Yet the locals took care of them. And also buried the enemy with military honours. It is very ... baffling (not sure if it is the right word). Maybe perplexing. I really don't know and nor do I wish to find out how I would react.
Your accompanying story really pulls the heart in both directions and brings a small piece of the tragedy of war and human behavior into focus.