First Air Raid of WWII – 45

Wreckage recovered

On 17 October, with a heightened state of tension, 603 flew daytime patrols. F/L Ivone Kirkpatrick was admitted to hospital for the removal of his tonsils. Sergeant Ronald ‘Ras’ Berry was posted to the unit for flying duties.  Paperwork completed in July which confirmed his commission had been lost and be had to wait until December to be confirmed as a pilot officer RAFVR.

That afternoon an excited crowd gathered along the harbour at Port Seton. A rumour existed that local fishing trawlers East Lothian and Andrina Falconer were heading back to port having salvaged one of the crashed German bombers.

Recovery of one of the Ju88 aircraft

A large contingent had left with the boats, including RAF officials, the Receiver of Wrecks and cameramen. The trawlers returned with wreckage including a wheel and undercarriage leg of a Ju88 which were taken to Turnhouse in the back of a truck.