Junkers Ju88 5J+ER at Duggleby, Yorkshire Wolds.
On 27th October 1940 a number of airfields in the north of England were attacked by a large force of German aircraft, damage to the airfields
was reported to have been not severe although some personnel were injured. One of these enemy aircraft flew over a searchlight battery near
Fimber after attacking Driffield and began to bank around to turn back for the coast. The assumption was that the Lewis gunner at the search
light battery, Matt Young, opened fire on one of two Junkers Ju88's and damaged it. A short time later a Ju88 crash landed close to Duggleby
Howe, Duggleby, and Matt Young was given part credit in shooting this aircraft down, the other share
was given to Driffield's anti-aircraft battery. One of the crew of the aircraft was found trapped under the aircraft's tail
section, although freed by members of his crew and local Home Guard he died later of his injuries.
For many years it has been thought that Matt Young was responsible for shooting down this Ju88 which crashed at Duggleby,
however Bill Norman's research for his book "Broken Eagles 1" suggests that it may have actually been damaged by Linton's
defencive positions. An aircraft was seen flying towards Malton from Linton with an engine stopped and on fire. If this is
the case than Matt Young's aircraft got away.
Pilot - Oblt Friedrich-Franz Podbielski, PoW. Possibly died of injuries.
Observer - Uffz Hans Heier, PoW.
Wireless / Operator - Uffz Karl von Kidrowski, PoW.
Gunner - Uffz Oskar Piontek (Luftwaffe). Died of injuries on 15th November 1940. Initially buried Driffield Cemetery. Buried Cannock Chase Cemetery, Staffordshire.
Uffz Piontek's grave at Cannock Chase.
The photograph above shows the crash site being guarded at the time.
I looked up this incident in the local Malton Gazette newspaper, a couple of weeks after the crash a second report appeared stating the "James Ellison, a private in the Army, was fined £2 for stealing an electrical signalling lamp from a German aeroplane which recently came down on the East Yorkshire Wolds." And that "when the aeroplane came down the Home Guard took charge of it, and then the military. Certain articles were missing from the aeroplane. Ellison was on duty from 8pm till 8am, and later went on leave. He was arrested and the lamp was found in his possession."
A member of ground crew with 303 Squadron at Leconfield AC1 A Rossochaki PAF (P/793457) was killed by enemy action on this date.
