Hello I’m a new member, a rather old man living in Southern Finland, now in a middle of a blizzard, my principal interests are air war, tank warfare and naval operations. Now I have a problem with the AA defence of the Driffield airfield, in Yorkshire, on 15 Aug 40. I know that there was at least one AA battery, No. 295 Heavy AA Battery Royal Artillery, but possible two. Sources differ on whether the guns were 3” or then modern 3.7” guns. It seems that No. 295 Heavy AA Battery had just received a GL-radar, which IMHO suggests that the guns were 3.7” in but RAF documents say that they were 3” guns, AIR 2/1374: 17 July 39 Entitled for 4 3”, 4 2pdr and 8mgs at station and 4 at satellite and AIR 2/1376: 20 Aug 40 4 3”, 4 2pdr and 8mgs at station and 4 at satellite. So I would like to know the AA units defending the Driffield airfield during the BoB, and number and type(s) of the guns. If the info in RAF docus is correct and No. 295 Heavy AA Battery RA had four 3” guns which unit had the four 2pdr guns? TIA Juha
Hi Juha + Welcome All i can tell you is that 295 Bty HAA was part of 96 HAA Regt RA which at the time had 5 Bty's ; 186,287,294,295,296. I have looked for a war-diary at the NA Kew but can't find anything for 1940. Regards Rob
15th August 1940 - The Luftwaffe bombs RAF Driffield there is a strong campaign group in Driffield to restore the airfield and maintain the buildings 15th August 1940 - The Luftwaffe bombs RAF Driffield While most went on their daily business, how many of you were aware that yesterday marked the 60th anniversary of the bombing of RAF Driffield? 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 15th 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, along with Messerschmitt Bf11Q 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 "8attle 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 remaining 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 bearing 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. Alt 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 fig over land ready for harvesting. Further formations join us et 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 is 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 ail 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. Mow 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 go up in flames. Far out to sea we can still see smoke and flames over the Driffield Airfield. We have completed our mission. There once was an airfield at Driffield... Another extract from a German airman's account of the attack on Driffield airfield is given below. Oberleutnant Rudolf Kratz flying a Junkers Ju 88 of Stab/KG 30 stationed at Aalborg in occupied Denmark and it is taken from the book ’The Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain' by Armand van lshoven: The coast - the initial point. No time left for thinking - there lay England, the lion's den. But the eagles were going to attack the lion in his lair and wound him grievously. ”Fighters to starboard... " Three specks overflew us, disappeared to the rear, and after a diving turn, hung behind us. ”Your turn now". The words disappeared in the rattle of our machine guns. In short bursts the volleys few towards the first fighter. He turned away and the second one took his place. This one's fire is ineffective as well and both passed below and were shot at by our ventral gunner. Like hornets they swooshed through our formation, the roundels on their fuselage looking like eyes. "Five fighters to port above." reported the wireless operator calmly. "Dammit," the pilot said, but did not get agitated. We kept on flying towards our target. Staring before us we tried to locate the airfield, amidst the ragged Clouds. "There, the field, below us.”...... The target - at last - the fighters were beginning to be a real nuisance. The time had come now. I did not give a single Pfennig for the life of those below - drop the HEs, away with the blessing! The aircrew went into a dive, speed rapidly building up, and the wind roared and howled around us. The hangars grew and grew. They were still standing. The AA guns were firing away at us, but they were too late. A jolt - the bombs were free, the steel bodies out whistling down. Below all hell was let loose. Like an inferno, steel hit steel, and stones. Bomb upon bomb exploded, destroying and tearing apart what they hit. Hangar walls and roofs crumpled like tin sheets, pieces flying through the air. Aircraft were shattered by a hail of splinters. Barracks tumbled down, enormous smoke and dust clouds rose like mushrooms. Here and there explosions and flames shot up. The airfield and the hangars were already badly hit but bombs kept falling from the bombers that followed us, kept raining down in a horrible shower. Fire from exploding ammunition burst upwards like torches. The English AA artillery had been eliminated, their firing positions turned into craters. The sun shone into our cabin. The enemy fighters had been got rid of. Below us lay the wide sea. How beautiful the earth can be. Hands loosened their grip on the machine guns. What happened just a few minutes ago lay behind us and we relaxed. The engines were running evenly, we ware flying home. The airfield didn’t exist any more; that was the result... 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. Sixty years on and much that survived the onslaught of the German air force awaits redevelopment, and a fate far more destructive than the one experienced on that fateful day in 1940. Latest news is that the MoD will require six months to complete an onsite survey before the results are released to interested parties. It is likely that the site will be demolished and hundreds of new houses built on site. For many, myself included this can only be seen as nothing more than a disgraceful act of vandalism. This article (written by Phillip Rhodes) was originally published in the Driffield Times (on August 16th 2000), before the MoD announced plans to retain the camp
295 Bty was probably manning all the guns mentioned as a full HAA Bty should be 8 guns. My source also lists the guns as 3 in for the whole of that period. The early GL radars were not much more than an early warning device providing only bearing and range but not height. They could be used with both the 3 in and 3.7's.
Thanks a lot for your answers, Rob, Capt Bill and Derek. I had already seen Phillip Rhodes’ article on the attack, it is one of the sources speaking on 3” guns, on the other hand the station history, Simmonds’ and Abraham’s Strong foundations, on pp 62-63 says that the guns were 3.7”. But it seems to have been in error. I also drew blank at the NA, but I’m not familiar with the Army papers, there might be something at Woolwich. Station ORBs didn’t say anything on the calibre of the guns and only once mentioned that 295 AA Bty had opened fire (on 22/23.4.40), but the two RAF lists on airfield defences, Phillip Rhodes and now Derek all say that they were 3” guns, so I’m inclined to think that that was the case. The GL radar confused me because I tended to think that 3.7” gun batteries had priority on them and I was thinking that not all 3.7” HAA batteries had them at the middle of August 40. And thanks Derek for the info on the probably user of 2pdr guns Again Thanks a lot for your help Juha
