February 1944. 164 squadron engaged in attacking V1 rocket sites.
Placed under 'Care and maintenance.'
A39's (fore runner to the Mustang) MKII with 'AVX' markings stationed at Fairlop.
Sketch of a Ju88, similar to the type shot down at fairview House Farm
24 March 1944. A Ju88AA (55059) of 4/KG6, was shot down by
3.7 inch AA guns of 26 Brigade from 15,000 feet The main body crashed near to
Fairview House Farm, Chigwell, in fields north of where Manford Way now stands.
The tail unit sliced through the fence of a bungalow in Walden Way. The police
were late arriving, too late to prevent local children playing with fully armed
machine guns! The ARP confiscated belts of ammunition, but the log book,
navigation lamps and flares were picked up by locals youths. The pilot Lt. H
Besser killed. Uffz. J Titz, Uffz. H Mette and Obergefr. H Wissell all injured,
baled out and were captured. Aircraft 3E + AM totally destroyed.
An impression of Balloons at Fairlop
June 1944. The No. 24 Balloon Centre with four squadrons as part of a balloon barrage around London under control of WAAF's. Estimated 19 V1's brought down by fairlop balloons.
13 June 1944. Thunderbolt lands at Fairlop.
15 June 1944. Spitfires with invasion strips seen flying low over Fairlop.
German POW's in camp in Forest Road by the junction with Hainault Road.
Italian POW's in a camp in Beech Grove. These POW's are set to work digging the
road beneath the Hainault Station Bridge to enable double decker buses to pass
beneath. POW's are set to work on the preliminary construction of Hainault
Estate.
25 June 1944. Flying Bomb explodes in Tunstall Avenue.
Little damage - deep hole in a garden, cracked wall in a house but the window
glass left intact. Garden soil, greenery and fences onto neighbouring houses.
7 July 1944. Flying bomb explodes near to airfield.
One can only imagine the terror this sight would have caused to civilians
31 August 1944. Doodlebug in field by airfield.
14 October 1944. V2 explodes on an onion patch in the allotments in New North
Road north of airfield. Levelled the cottages by allotments, and took out the
frontages of houses facing the allotments in New North Road. ARP post destroyed
and there is a smell of burnt onions in the air.
Click here to email David Martin