RAF Wattisham 29 Oct 40

[Chris Goss]

It is believed that an attack on Wattisham by a Do 17 of 6/KG 2 on the above date saw the first use of SD 2 Butterfly bombs and that two armourers, Flt Sgt Bill Fisher & Sgt George Birkhead, were killed trying to dispose of the bombs as well as a number of aircraft being damaged. Can anyone confirm or deny this and add anything to what happened? I

[BC]

First confirmed use of SD 2s was actually two days earlier on 27 Oct 1940 in the Ipswich area, where fatal casualties occurred.
There is a passing mention of the Butterfly Bombs at Wattisham in 'Wattisham Aerodrome At War' by Maggie Aggiss, who runs the Wattisham museum - she may have more detailed info in the museum's archive - I'll ask
HTH,
BC

[Chris Goss]

Most appreciated. Of interest, there was just one death in Ipswich 27 Oct 40 (PC Sam Doylend) but there were 6 deaths at the Waterside Works, Rapier Street on 28 October 1940

[BC]

Chris - Maggie reports Birkhead had previously been RN Mine/BDS but nothing else to add. Enquiries ongoing.
BC

[Col Bruggy]

Hello,

Whilst consultation of the following publication will not reveal a lot more, it does add a bit more detail:

Air Raid! The enemy air offensive against East Anglia 1939-1945.
Bowyer,Michael J. F.
Wellingborough:Patrick Stephens Ltd., 1986.
pp.103-110.

Col.

[Chris Goss]

Thanks both. Air Raid does make passing mention which confirms their use but that is all