80 years ago, on March 4th 1945, the last German aircraft to be brought down over British soil in World War II crashed at Elvington near York. The Junkers JU88 Night Fighter had been attacking the nearby RAF bomber base – now the site of the Yorkshire Air Museum – when it struck a farmhouse, killing the Junkers crew and three people in the house. Now the Museum is preparing a new display, telling the story of what happened that night, beginning with an attack on British bases by German aircraft, called “Operation Gisela.” The museum is also holding a service of remembrance and reflection to remember those killed on both sides.
On March 4th, 1945, the Luftwaffe sent 200 night fighters to attack Allied bombers when they were most vulnerable, as they landed at their home bases. A number of bombers were brought down, including three from RAF Elvington (operated by French aircrew). One of these had diverted all the way to Norfolk and belly landed in a field, killing two crew members. Closer to the home, another Elvington Halifax came down at Sutton on Derwent. The pilot stayed at the controls while his crew mates safely bailed out. He did not survive. At Elvington, one of the German aircraft, piloted by Johan Dreher, was circling the airfield for another attack when it crashed into Dunnington Lodge (now the site of York Maze and a nursery). The farmer, his wife, and daughter-in law-died, as did the German crew. The farmer’s son survived, carrying his own child to safety from the burning building.
The Yorkshire Air Museum now stands on the site of RAF Elvington, and is marking the 80th anniversary of Operation Gisela with a new display board and an animation telling the story of the attack that will play in the museum’s cinema. The display in the museum’s Bomber Command building includes the remains of a JU88 propellor, recovered from the North Sea near Filey in 1987, possibly from one of the Operation Gisela attackers. There will also be a Service of Remembrance and Reflection in the museum Chapel on Sunday 2nd March at 1pm. Guests will include Ross Oliver, the nephew of Flight Lieutenant Jack Laffoley of No.10 Squadron, RAF Melbourne, who was shot down and killed during Operation Gisela on his last (33rd) mission, aged just 22. Ross is attending from Canada, along with his daughter Tanya and her husband from the United States.
For more details on Operation Gisela, visit the Yorkshire Air Museum website.
