Adapted from an article originally written by Phillip Rhodes and published in the Driffield Times newspaper on August 16, 2000.
For those too young to remember the 1940s, the perception of war in rural England has been corrupted by endless repeats of Dad‘s Army, in which no one was ever killed or injured. This romantic perception that 'Driffield’s War' must have been idyllic is not shared by those who remember August 15 1940, when a warm summer's day was dramatically interrupted by the reality of war.
At approximately mid-day, some 50 German Junkers Ju88 bomber aircraft attacked Driffield’s aerodrome - killing seven RAF personnel, six Army personnel and a civilian worker. The 169 bombs dropped caused extensive damage to the airfield, with many buildings including all five hangars being damaged or destroyed. Twelve Whitley bombers were also destroyed.
Earlier that morning, a force of Heinkel He111 and Junkers Ju88 bombers, escorted by Messerschmitt Bf110 fighters, took off from bases in Denmark and flew at low level, across the North Sea to attack RAF airfields in the North of England. However, due to inaccurate navigation and strong resistance from RAF fighters from Leconfield and Church Fenton, many German aircraft failed to reach inland, with some bombers jettisoning their bombs over Bridlington. The only aircraft to reach the intended target area was the formation of 50 Ju88 aircraft, which bombed RAF Driffield.
Steward Cooney from Leeds wrote of that fateful day. He was then a gunner with No.295 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery, East Yorkshire Regiment. "Just before the raid, our Commanding Officer, Major Passmore was in the airfield operations room watching a plot of German aircraft as they passed a convoy off the coast. He said they were coming for the airfield and advised that the sirens be sounded and for RAF Driffield to take cover. The RAF said ‘Wait'. Nevertheless he ordered 'his' gunners to man their guns and our Battery HQ staff to take cover."
Mr Cooney added, “Rightly so, as things turned out. The first lot of bombs dropped hit the BHQ and destroyed it! The RAF sounded their sirens when the bombs were falling and a lot of people were caught out in the open. A young WAAF, who had just made a delivery to our site, was killed as she left her vehicle to take shelter." A.G.W. M Hudson is remembered for being the first WAAF to be killed in action during the Second World War.
During the war, RAF Driffield boasted a number of defences against air attack. Buildings were camouflaged and air raid shelters erected in large numbers. The aerodrome was protected by a number of .303 Lewis light machine gun posts and two 3in anti-aircraft gun sites, one situated on the north side, the other on the south side of the airfield. Mr Cooney, who was in the Command Post manning the height finder said: "We also had a RDF (Radio Detection Finder) set, an early form of radar, consisting of a transmitter and receiver.
"Geoffrey Turner, the transmitter operator, as soon as the alarm sounded dashed to put the transmitter on the air and made sure it was working, then went for his steel helmet. He was returning when a stack of bombs fell and exploded. Shrapnel practically severed his hand from the wrist and badly cut his thigh.
"In spite of his injuries, he returned to the transmitter trailer and carried out his duties. Before collapsing, he sent a message through to the command post saying he was hurt. The raid over, I was called to give first-aid and was shocked by the extent of his injuries and frankly could do little for him except try and stop the bleeding.
”I have never seen such bravery and calmness, as he instructed us as to the best way to get him out of the trailer and into the waiting ambulance. Unfortunately, he died that evening."
The anti-aircraft fire directed against the bombers resulted in one being brought down. Altogether, six Ju88s were shot down, representing about 10% of the force sent over. A Blenheim from No.219 Squadron based at RAF Catterick in North Yorkshire was hit by return fire from enemy aircraft engaged off Scarborough, but managed to crash-land at Driffield. One of her crew, Sgt 0 E Dupee was wounded in the right arm.
As Driffield's personnel left their shelters, the sight that greeted them must have been unbelievable. In every direction burning wreckage sent plumbs of black smoke billowing into the air.
Hangar five, which received a direct hit was all but demolished; while the west wing of the officer's mess was so badly damaged it was later demolished. There are many who still remember that day, and although it was not the only air raid on RAF Driffield that Battle of Britain summer, it was the most fierce. A few weeks later the remaining aircraft from the two resident squadrons departed, leaving Driffield to repair the damage, which remained non-operational for the remainder of the year.
Following the attack, the German High Command wasted no time in turning RAF Driffield's misfortune into propaganda. Written by Hans E. Seidat, a German war correspondent who flew with the Luftwaffe that day, the following report was published two days later:
'For three days we have been reading and hearing about the great air battles over England. Airports, harbours and armaments factories are being destroyed by our squadrons. Our fighters are having unbelievable success in downing enemy planes. We wonder how long it can go on. We are eager to get into action, and almost fear that the victory will be over before we get to do anything.
But when we least expect it, the orders come. After a short talk with the crew, fully-loaded trucks take us to the planes. All around, the yellow swim vests and colourful scarves of the eager crew are evident. Soon, plane after plane takes off toward England. Our target is Driffield Airfield on the east coast of central England, one of the most important bases of the enemy air force. Our mission is to destroy it.
The sky is blue as we fly over land ready for harvesting. Further formations join us at the coast. Soon we are over the water. There are planes as far as the eye can see. We have been waiting for this day! We sing the England Song and others. We near the English coast, and can be attacked at any moment by enemy fighters. We watch the skies. There they are! Fighters to the left! Keep calm! I am behind a machine gun, and keep a careful eye on the enemy. Now they attack. Our planes manoeuvre to make the attack difficult. We start shooting. Now there is a second fighter. It goes around us in a wide curve. Before he dares attack us, I fire a burst across his nose. The warning is enough. Tommy does not seem to feel comfortable in the midst of all our planes, He is being fired at from all sides. Our comrades are defending themselves. Five of the enemy are shot down within a few minutes. An intense defence is not enough to stop our attack on the air base.
A tongue of land extends into the sea. We are over England. Several clouds kindly give us cover. A few minutes more and we are over Driffield Airfield. What an attack! We dive through an opening in the clouds directly above the base. We dive toward the ground. We can see the details clearly. We see airplanes, buildings, and there, that is the large hangar. That is our target. We release our bombs, which plunge rapidly to the ground. They seem to be magnetically attracted to the target. Now I cannot see them any more. l watch the ground; there have to be explosions soon. Will they hit the target? Four huge clouds rise into the air. Yes! Direct hits! Nothing is left of the hangar. Powerful clouds of smoke billow up.
We were the fourth plane to attack. Plane after plane follows us, bomb after bomb brings destruction down below. They hit the rows of two-engined planes, the hangars and barracks, and tear huge holes in the runways. Thick smoke is everywhere. To the right down below, l see a heavy flak battery. But their fuses are set too low. I've long since exchanged the machine gun for a camera, to capture the complete destruction of the airfield. As we leave, we see the munitions depot goes up in flames. Far out to sea we can still see smoke and flames over the Driffield Airfield. We have completed our mission.'
The air raid was not the only tragedy bestowed on RAF Driffield that day.
Earlier that morning Whitley P5044 crashed at Eastleigh after colliding with a barrage balloon while returning from Ambes in France. The crew were pilots F/O W. A. Stenhouse and P/0 R. B. McGregor, observer Sgt C. L. G. Hood, and wireless operators Sgt J. Burrow and Sgt H. Davies. All died in the crash, which was later overshadowed by the raid on Driffield.
Thanks again to Phillip for allowing the reproduction of his article.
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