Air Raid North of England

Discussion in 'United Kingdom' started by Andy Howells, Oct 13, 2020.

  1. Andy Howells

    Andy Howells New Member

    I'm wondering if anyone can help me with some details I've found on the Bombing Britain Spreadsheet regarding an air raid that took place in the north of England on December 30, 1941.

    Many years ago, my grandfather told me of a time when a bomb had been dropped on the outskirts of West Witton near Wensley, Leybuirn, North Yorkshire. He didnt go into too much detail except that it was in a farmers field and no-one was injured. But I wondered if there was any further details or if there were any casualties in neighbouring areas.

    Its something which seems to be lost in time now, but i wondered if anybody had any details, connected with the incident?

    Many thanks
     
  2. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad

    Details of the raid can be found here :
    NE Diary 1939-45; Incidents 27th December 1941 to 14th March 1942

    No direct mention of West Witton may have been jettisoned ? It appears they were targeting the North East (Ports?)

    Kyle
     
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  3. Andy Howells

    Andy Howells New Member

    Thankyou - thats a logical explanation as the bomb was dropped in a field, so possibly it was dropped on the way back?
     
  4. Robert-w

    Robert-w Banned

    In researching various aspects of the Home Front I have come across various reports of bombs dropped into empty fields. They are often ascribed as being jettisoned but looking at the locations and timings I suspect that many were simply from bombers involved in a raid on a city that had had a bomb hang up and come loose on the return flight, doubtless much to the relief of the crew.
     
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  5. Andy Howells

    Andy Howells New Member

    Thank you both. Its a relief in many respects that the bomb didn't harm anyone as I expect it could have done a couple of seconds either way if it had landed on the actual farm or indeed the village itself. I imagine it was a confusing time for the airmen and indeed a good bit of gossip for the villagers in the weeks after...
     
  6. Robert-w

    Robert-w Banned

    Indeed, the area I am looking at was used as a route for bombers attacking Manchester and Liverpool (the local rivers acted as navigation aids for one leg) and there were a number of incidents. No one was injured but in one case a couple of seconds could have meant a large village was hit. As it was a farmer found a large crater in one of his fields and people came from miles around to look at it, it's mentioned in at least three contemporary diaries I've seen and in various oral history collections but there is no mention in the local newspaper!
     
  7. Andy Howells

    Andy Howells New Member

    Yes there was a crater in West Witton - since been filled in many years ago - I recently read a piece about children playing in it from someones memory which then reminded me that my Grandad once mentioned it and that a local Policeman attended it but then disapeared (I assume to call the authorities). It was all rather sketchy but its nice to have a little more detail...
     

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