First-hand accountof family folklore

For Worthing historian Graham Lelliott, it was a moment which soon entered family folklore. His late grandfather was among the first on the scene, and Graham fondly remembers his grandfather talking about it, sparking an interest which resulted in Graham’s first book five years ago, A German Bomber On Worthing Soil.

Now Graham is wanting to take his researches further, perhaps with a view to an exhibition at Worthing Museum.

His hope is to bring together as many souvenirs from the crash as he possibly can: “I would gladly pay for any item no longer wanted to be kept and would guarantee that the item would be preserved and kept safe for future generations to appreciate.

“The incident caused quite a stir and word got around exceptionally quickly. Many travelled from across West Sussex to visit the plane which had crash-landed largely intact. Many of those who had visited were able to obtain pieces of the plane as souvenirs.

“It is my intention to collect as much information, eyewitness accounts, photographs and souvenirs to record further what happened all those years ago, which I hope may be displayed in the near future.”

Graham also intends to visit the crash site (a field owned by Worthing Borough Council, adjoining the car park right at the top of High Salvington) on August 16 2011. He will be inviting others to join him to learn more about this incident 71 years to the day.

“My grandfather witnessed this plane go down and had come away with some pieces of the plane including armoured cabling and two pieces of metal as souvenirs. My grandfather first told my brother and me about this plane crash many years ago when we were small children. “When we visited our grandparents we would often look at the aircraft pieces, as for some reason it always excited us that our granddad had witnessed a German plane get shot down.

“While visiting my grandparents in March 2004, having forgotten about the story for many years, the Heinkel incident suddenly came up in conversation.”

Returning home, Graham began contemplating the idea of researching the incident fully. His book was the result.

Two airmen died; three survived - their survival testament to the skill of the pilot.

“It landed at the top of the field and slid down the hill and came to rest in the line of hedges at the bottom. The RAF had shot at one of the engines. The pilot showed great skill in bringing the plane in.”

Graham has tried - without success - to trace the survivors who may well still be alive.

“A lot of the plane was salvaged like machine guns and ammunition. There was a company in Brighton that were the contracted people to come and retrieve a lot of these downed aircraft during World War Two.

“The military would have cut it up into manageable pieces and then it was taken up to just outside Horsham where all British and German aircraft were taken to like a scrap yard.

“It was then taken by rail to various part of the country to be melted down for the war effort.”

n If anyone can help Graham with his researches, they should contact him on 07793 435428.