Ju88 4D+DR near Bridlington waterworks.
On 15th August 1940 many Luftwaffe aircraft were in the process of attacking Driffield airfield
when this aircraft was attacked in the coastal area off Bridlington. Having sustained serious damage
the aircraft was seen to overfly the town from the south heading north and it was force-landed in a field
north of Bridlington near Bridlington waterworks. Allied fighters attacked and claimed to have shot down
many more aircraft than infact crashed on this date probably because of the confusion of the battle, as to
who had got which aircraft in some cases is difficult to record. Some aircraft were claimed by more than
one Allied pilot. In this case it was Sgt James Hopewell of 616 Squadron based at Leconfield that shot down this
Junker Ju88.
Of the Ju88's crew of four, three became PoW's and one; the Wireless Operator, was seriously injured and was
pulled from the crashed aircraft by his crew. Military personnel were soon at the crash site and the airmen were captured.
The injured airman was taken to be treated at Sledmere House at Sledmere which was being used as a hospital by the
Headquarters of No.6 Brigade Field Ambulance but his injuries were too severe and he died at Sledmere House.
Some older accounts quoted Sledmere as the crash location because the airman's death was registered as having occured
at Sledmere. He was buried in Bridlington Cemetery with the bodies of four other Luftwaffe airmen who died in
Yorkshire on this date. The other three survivors were taken to Hunmanby Hall which was being used by the
Army at the time. In other older accounts of this incident Hunmanby (and "Hornby") are also quoted as the
crash location, probably because this was where the three PoW's were initially taken to.
Pilot - Oblt Werner Bachmann, PoW.
Observer - Uffz Werner Evers, PoW.
Wireless Operator - Fw Georg Henneske (62756-60), aged 25. Seriously injured and died at Sledmere House. Initially buried Bridlington Cemetery, now at Cannock Chase Cemetery, Staffordshire.
Gunner - Flgr Robert Walther, PoW.
Fw Henneske's grave at Cannock Chase.
Two accounts of this incident are to be found in Bill Norman's "Broken Eagles" book and in Paul Bright's "Air War over
East Yorkshire in World War II". Both include photographs of the crashed Ju88 near Bridlington Waterworks. The aircraft had sustained
minor damage prior to it crashing near Bridlington, it was known to it's unit as "Dora Richard", the name being derived from its 4D+DR coding.
James Hopewell RAF (516702) later flew with 66 Squadron and was awarded the DFM on 24th June 1941. He was
sadly killed on 21st January 1942 serving with 151 Squadron. He is buried in Bingley Cemetery, Yorkshire.
The citation for his DFM reads.. "This airman has been employed on day and night fighting operations,
often under difficult weather conditions. During day operations he has destroyed at least five enemy aircraft.
Sgt Hopewell has shown courage and determination, and has set an excellent example."