Aviation History > Airfields

Airfields

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grandarog:
Hi Dave Smith.
Just to put records straight. The Oak Lane Bridge Train crash  was caused by the Doodlebug V1 as you correctly say.


The V1 had been chased from the Dover area by a  Canadian Pilot ,Flt Lt John Alfred Malloy of 274 Sqdn from West Malling Flying his Hawker Tempest V.
He tipped the V1 expecting it to crash harmlessly in the many open fields. Unfortunately it struck under the bridge just as the downline train from London approached.
(The details are well documented and available on Google).
The bit about the pilot visiting is urban myth. In fact he was killed shortly afterwards in Jan 1945.
274 Sqdn had been formed specially to intercept and bring down V1,s and had not long reequipped with Tempests V.s from Spitfires.


There is an excellent resumee of John Malloy on this Link.




http://aircrewremembered.com/malloy-john-alfred.html

Dave Smith:
Very sorry grandarog," must read all details first"! Some useful links to Lashenden, thanks. I see that Mustangs were stationed there & wonder whether one of their's was the aircraft that " tipped" a V1 over the Kent countryside between Newington & Rainham in 1944. For those that don't know the- very open agricultural area, the railway runs more or less parallel to the A2, with road branches going North every few miles. Where they met the railway, there was a rail bridge & as the Coastal Express to London( crowded as usual), approached one, the V1 crashed into it! A terrible wreck, with many deaths & injuries. We heard that it was a Mustang & that the pilot visited the site afterwards, stricken with grief. No doubt someone will resurrect the local newspaper report- beyond my limited capability I'm afraid.

grandarog:
I refered to Lashenden WW2  Airfield at Headcorn ,which is now Headcorn Aerodrome.


Pretty Comprehensive history of the Airfield on this link.


https://www.headcornaerodrome.co.uk/history.html


There are some good photos on this link


https://www.airport-data.com/airport/photo/007113.html

Dave Smith:
Grandarog. Your mention of Lasham/Headcorn. I always thought that Lasham was the major centre for gliding/sailplane competitions & that it was in Hampshire?

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