Read the forum code of contact
By: - 8th August 2018 at 09:28 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Given the Caterham, postmark, then one of the raids on RAF Kenley might also be a possibility?
By: - 8th August 2018 at 09:41 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
It'll be Kenley. The "Hardest Day" raid was Sunday August 18th during which the hangars were destroyed and the medical centre was damaged. The MO killed was Flt Lt Robert Cromie, along with two other medical staff.
By: - 8th August 2018 at 10:53 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Thanks very much for the replies, so Kenley it was on a most memorable day during the Battle.
I had a vague memory of reading a book about this and an MO being killed. It must have been in the book "The Hardest Day". I did have a copy but it was "borrowed" a few years ago. Must try and dig out another one!
Interestingly he also talks about his job building blast pen walls out of sandbags and only having done three out of twelve by the time the letter was written. One would have thought they might have attracted a higher priority!
Thanks Again
Ian
By: - 8th August 2018 at 17:26 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
So the letter is describing this is the raid described by wiki?
Confirming.
By: - 8th August 2018 at 18:34 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Yes, the evidence seems to be fairly conclusive that the letter was written by a contractor who was at Kenley that day
By: - 8th August 2018 at 19:10 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
[ATTACH=CONFIG]261976[/ATTACH]
Posts: 246
By: ian_st - 8th August 2018 at 08:42
I've come across a letter in a batch of correspondence which seems to describe an air - raid on an RAF base during the Battle of Britain. The letter has a Caterham stamp on it, though the date is not legible. There are mentions of that local area in the letter, so I assume the most likely candidate for this raid is Biggin Hill. Here are some relevant extracts from the letter:
“They made a most unholy mess of the place that Sunday. Swept away all the hangars except one & damaged other buildings
My fellows were in a shelter just outside the mess room. The trench was hit by bombs at both ends. One was badly cut in the thigh by corrugated & another was cut in the head. None of ours were killed but there were 4 airmen killed who were nearer the entrance
…they took him to the hospital. That was bombed and the MO killed and one girl orderly nearly had her leg severed”
I also note that the writer sent the letter to his son by the name of "Wheatland"
Any inputs welcome
Thanks
Ian