Junkers 88 A-1
Nationality: German
Serial number: Wnr 3173
Unit: Stab III / KG77
Call sign: 3Z + ED
Date of loss: 18/09/1940
On the 18 September 1940, this aircraft was disabled in attacks by Red Section of No. 19 Squadron (F/L W.G. Clouston, P/O W.J. Lawson, P/O W. Cunningham, and Sgt D.E. Lloyd) following bombing of Tilbury Docks. With both engines put out of action, the Ju88 eventually crashed and burned out close to Millbank Cottages at Eastry Mill, near Sandwich at 6.30 p.m. John Rolfe, a resident of 1 Millbank Cottages, was an eye witness to the crash.
"Dad and I had been watching the dog-fights from the house. We saw one enemy bomber with its port engine on fire and flying below the level of the tree-tops. Suddenly it turned left, straight towards us, and then Dad grabbed both Mum and me, and pushed us both under the table. The Junkers roared over the top of the roof; then we heard an explosion and the whole bungalow shook. A great pall of black smoke and flames rose from the field behind our garden. There were bits of wreckage everywhere and ammunition and Very cartridges were exploding in the wreckage. I spotted some pink lumps in the fire, and at first thought that some of Mr Kemp's pigs had been killed, suddenly I realised that they were the limbless torsos of the crew. Later on Mr Kemp found part of a hand and an arm by his greenhouse"
Nationality: German
Serial number: Wnr 3173
Unit: Stab III / KG77
Call sign: 3Z + ED
Date of loss: 18/09/1940
On the 18 September 1940, this aircraft was disabled in attacks by Red Section of No. 19 Squadron (F/L W.G. Clouston, P/O W.J. Lawson, P/O W. Cunningham, and Sgt D.E. Lloyd) following bombing of Tilbury Docks. With both engines put out of action, the Ju88 eventually crashed and burned out close to Millbank Cottages at Eastry Mill, near Sandwich at 6.30 p.m. John Rolfe, a resident of 1 Millbank Cottages, was an eye witness to the crash.
"Dad and I had been watching the dog-fights from the house. We saw one enemy bomber with its port engine on fire and flying below the level of the tree-tops. Suddenly it turned left, straight towards us, and then Dad grabbed both Mum and me, and pushed us both under the table. The Junkers roared over the top of the roof; then we heard an explosion and the whole bungalow shook. A great pall of black smoke and flames rose from the field behind our garden. There were bits of wreckage everywhere and ammunition and Very cartridges were exploding in the wreckage. I spotted some pink lumps in the fire, and at first thought that some of Mr Kemp's pigs had been killed, suddenly I realised that they were the limbless torsos of the crew. Later on Mr Kemp found part of a hand and an arm by his greenhouse"
The relic on display is part of the exhaust system of one of the Jumo 211 engines which still retains much of the original green paint finish. It was recovered from the crash site in the 1980s.Crew: Pilot - Major Max Kless (Gruppenkommandeur) killed, Observer - Oberleutnant Fritz Lauth (Gruppe Ia) believed baled out but later found dead in Knowlton Wood, Radio Operator – Fw. Friedrich Himsel baled out and captured wounded, Flight Engineer – Uffz. Franz Pröbst baled out and captured unhurt; one landing at Heronden and the other at Felderland.
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