May 24th Luftwaffe attack on West Raynham
 

I own a chunk of shrapnel that has;
"Dropped on West Raynham May 24th 1940" inscribed onto it.

This is quite early in the air war against Britain, does anyone have any details on what Luftwaffe units attacked West Raynham on this date?

Re: May 24th Luftwaffe attack on West Raynham
 

Sorry I can't help with the unit of the aircraft involved, but it looks like your piece of shrapnel was dropped during the first German raid of WW 2 in Norfolk. The Chief Police Constable, in his June 1945 report on Police activity in the county 1939-1945, recorded that the first bombs fell at West Raynham on the night of 25-26 May 1940, followed by others at Aylsham, Raveningham and Burgh St Peter.

They were the first of 6,722 HE bombs in the county, the very last in the UK falling in that county on RAF Swanton Morley on 20 March 1945.

Hope this helps a little.


BC

Re: May 24th Luftwaffe attack on West Raynham
 

Thanks for the response.
I got it way back in the early 1980's from an old Airgunner who said the bomb blew him threw a hanger window.
Sadly this was before i appreciated getting his squadron details etc..he is now long dead.
Regards
Jon