Dorking (Surrey) Crash 21 September 1941

[Yeomans]

The War Incident Map for Dorking Urban District appears to show that an Allied aircraft crashed landed just west of Dorking Town (now Dorking West) railway station on 21 September 1941. It indicates a site close to and on the north side of the tracks. I have been unable to find any record elsewhere of any such incident. Can any other Forum member help?

[Yeomans]

Extract of plan showing location of crash site.

[Rick47]

I'm in touch with a Dorking historian - I'll see what (if anything) he knows.

Rick

[Rick47]

It seems that no-one knows of a specific crash at that time. One person does recall a Hurricane coming down in that area but thought it was 1940. Otherwise a German bomber crashing in Parsonage Lane Westcott (no date) and a V1 July 1944 near Pixham Lane. Sorry couldn't be more helpful.

Rick

[Rick47]

Is this any help? https://www.dorkingmuseum.org.uk/wartime-incidents/

Rick

[Yeomans]

Rick,

Many thanks for your efforts. It remains a mystery !

The extract from the plan I posted earlier (the plan itself is on display at the Dorking Museum) is generally regarded as being very accurate. The other two crash sites indicated are :

137 = Hurricane I (V6783) which was shot down by an Me109 at 14:30hrs on 22nd October 1940. The pilot was F/O John Archibald Milne a Canadian serving with 605 Squadron. Milne managed to crash land his damaged aircraft but suffered a broken hip. Returning to active service, he was promoted Sqn Ldr 21st May 1942 and survived the war.

144 = Hudson IIIA (FK763) coded MA-P of 161 Squadron which crashed on 11/12th April 1945. I believe the aircraft was returning from a Special Duties Operation when it suffered engine failure. The crew members all parachuted to safety although the pilot F/Lt D B Webb suffered a broken foot.

I am not sure if this is Denis Buckley Webb who was awarded the DFC for service with 161 Squadron (Gazetted 14th September 1945).

Any additional information from other Forum members would be most welcome.

Nick

[Larry]

Could it by chance be a Luftwaffe aircraft?

Interestingly I have a burnt and bent Iron Cross 1st Class (marked 1939) taken from from a Luftwaffe aircraft crash site said to have crashed near Leatherhead, as yet unidfentified.

[Chris Goss]

Unfortunately, all WW2 EKs were stamped 1939 so this will not be of any assistance in identifying the crash as there were a number in this area 1940-44

[Yeomans]

Larry,

No - all the Luftwaffe crashes in the area are indicated by a different symbol on the plan and details of these are widely known.

I have also checked "The Blitz Then and Now" (Vol 3) and no aircraft loss is reported for 21 September 1941.

Nick