Junkers Ju88 M2+DK at Idle, Bradford.
On the night of 4th / 5th May 1941 the crew of this aircraft are believed to have been tasked with laying mines in the Irish Sea off Belfast (though
off Barrow in Furness has also been quoted, sources vary). Over the North of England they were intercepted by a Beaufighter which made an attack, one of
the Ju88's engines was damaged over the Bradford area and after loosing height and releasing the bombload, two of the crew baled out. The aircraft was
attacked again which further damaged the aircraft and the two remaining crew left by parachute, the aircraft crashed into a woodyard and an ajoining
row of houses centred on 13-15 High Street, Idle near Bradford at around 00.45hrs. Sadly at least three civilians were unfortunately killed and four
others injured with one succoming to his injuries afew weeks later. One of the fatalities was a twelve month old baby girl. The Luftwaffe airmen
landed across the North-Leeds area; in the Guiseley, Otley and the Farnley districts and were taken prisoner. This incident is well documented in
Bill Norman's "Broken Eagles" book and while he does not credit the allied aircraft or crew that shot the Junkers Ju88 down, another book "Mother
Worked at Avro" by Gerald Myers states the Beaufighter was a 25 Squadron aircraft flown by P/O Kenneth Hollowell and Sgt Richard Crossman. The houses
were never re-built and today the site of the crash has a simple seat with two raised flower beds marking it. There is a possibility that one of the
engines remains buried at the crash site.
Pilot - Oblt Ernst Jurgens, PoW.
Observer - Oblt Reinhold Metzger, PoW. Broke ankle on landing on the roof of the Ings Hotel, Guiseley.
Wireless Operator - Obfw Hans Beeck, PoW.
Gunner - Fw Heinrich Janichen, PoW.
Civilians....
Mr Herbert Jowett, aged 64, of 15 High Street, Idle. Died at St.Lukes Hospital, Bradford on 5th May 1941 - burial location unknown. Possibly Bowling Cemetery, West Bowling.
Miss Elsa Primrose Green, aged 1, of 13 High Street, Idle. Died at St.Lukes Hospital, Bradford on 5th May 1941. Burial location unknown.
Mrs Sarah Boyd, aged 27, of either 9 or 11 High Street, Idle. Died at St.Lukes Hospital, Bradford on 5th May 1941. Buried Idle Parish Churchyard, Yorkshire.
Mr John Arthur Boyd (Home Guard), aged 27, of either 9 or 11 High Street, Idle. Died at St.Lukes Hospital, Bradford on 10th June 1941. Buried Idle Parish Churchyard, Yorkshire.
Others injured or possibly injured.
Mrs Ethel Green, of 13 High Street, Idle, mother of Elsa Green, almost certainly injured.
Mrs Eliza Clayton, of 11 High Street, Idle, mother of Sarah Boyd, possibly injured.