Stirling shot down August 1940
 

Hi guys

Mark has just sent me details regarding:

'Stirling Shot Down by Southampton A.A. "B" Battery RM (Royal Marines) 18th August 1940.'

The incident occurred at 1318 hours and the aircraft came down at U5576, which Mark believes may be Charlton, Wilts.

Who can help solve this 'mystery'?

Cheers
Brian

Re: Stirling shot down August 1940
 

Very early for a Stirling to be shot down - but not impossible as 7 Sqn was being equipped with Stirlings at this time!

So a serial number should not be that hard to find though Bomber Command Losses 1939-1940 has none on this date.

Could have been on delivery or perhaps pre service testing

Re: Stirling shot down August 1940
 

Brian

There are not many Stirlings to chose from, N3635 to N3684 is the only batch possible. I have gone through each and everyone and IF the incidence happened on 18.8.1940 as you say, that Stirling was not enough damaged to be SOC!

However there WAS on Stirling reportedly shot down by AA (it is not stated by which nation...) over Isle of Man, but that was on 29.9.40.
I quote from Air Britain's The Stirling File:
N3640 No 7 Sq hit by AA fire at 10000 ft over Isle of Man; crashed at Hodge Branding, Kirkby Lonsdale, Lancs 29.9.40

Cheers
Stig

Re: Stirling shot down August 1940
 

A War Office A.A. Army Signal confirms that this "Stirling" was shot down 18th August 1940. An Admiralty War Diary for the Royal Marines at Bishopstoke (Site 26) Southampton confirms they opened fire at 1305 hrs 18th August 1940 and that the Stirling had no right to be over the Inner Artillery Zone.

The grid reference square given by the later Army Signal for this A.A. engagement with the Stirling and "crash" / force landing at 1318 hrs, is Charlton, Wilts, (just North-West of Upavon).

The CFS Upavon ORB (marked "Original"), does not mention anything and the RAF Museum had no filmed AM1180 card.

I expect this was a forced landing after being engaged by our A.A., due to the Artillery zone violation / infringement.

A Library book in my Library stated the Stirlings were at Leeming in August 1940 and the N3640 incident occurred in September 1940, I also wondered if the aircraft was under trial / training.

Mark

Re: Stirling shot down August 1940 - A & AEE?
 

A & AEE BOSCOMBE DOWN
According to the August 1940 ORB of the Aeroplane & Armament Experimental Establishment (A & AEE) at Boscombe Down they have alloted two Stirlings on the following dates:-

19.8.40 "Stirling L7605 to Ringway"
20.8.40 "Stirling N3637 allotted to Worthy Down"

the A & AEE ORB also states 3.8.40 "S/L. P.I. Harris, P/O. A.E. Cooper, P/O. R.W. Cox and personnel of Stirling flight proceeded to R.A.F. Station, Leeming for formation of No.7 Squadron."

So the 18th August 1940 Stirling (friendly fire incident at Southampton) could have been an aircraft from Boscombe Down on charge with the D.T.D. (Director of Technical Development), which was attempting to get back after being fired at over Southampton.

According to an AIR 16 file regarding aircraft not under Fighter Command Control, Dowding was saying that there were some Units and also the DTD Air Ministry at Boscombe Down who had many types of aircraft flying.

Regards Mark