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15 October 2014
WW2 - People's War

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A Railwayman's War: Part 3

by ERNIE CRUMP

Contributed by 
ERNIE CRUMP
People in story: 
Ernest Crump
Location of story: 
Shoeburyness
Article ID: 
A2061866
Contributed on: 
19 November 2003

On a lovely sunny day when coming home from 'Duty' from the Shoeburyness Locomotive sheds.
I was told when signing off, that the area was still on Red Alert (Air raid imminent) and be aware of this when cycling home.
All was well until I got to my front gate at No:8 Elm Road (altered to No:10 in 1950) I heard a droning noise getting louder and louder.
I looked upwards(I wished I hadn't) just a few feet above our council house and me, was this crippled Heinkel Twin engined bomber. I remember dropping my bike on the path, clinging to the house just like a limpet, trembling and screaming for fear of my life.
The bomber landed less than a mile away, just a few feet from the Great Wakering and Shoeburyness Road. All the crew, including 2 injured were taken to be P.O.W.
A Wakering man Mr. Cripps was one of the first on the scene, also a witness to the event.
Today the Cupids corner Sports Centre is very close to the this crash landing from World War 2.

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