Aberdeen Blitz of 1940
Many years ago I met a man who had worked in the Hall Russell Shipyard during the almost forgotten Aberdeen Blitz of 1940. It was a bloody affair and shocked the city to the core.
Several dozen shipyard workers were killed and many more injured when the Luftwaffe bombed the city. The Neptune Bar was destroyed as was the School of Domestic Science in King Street.
Seemingly one of the bombers was shot down over the city by a Spitfire from the local Fighter Station and I have often wondered about the episode. Today, quite by chance I came upon four German graves in Dyce Churchyard.
The official record of the episode reads:
"9./KG26 Heinkel He 111H-3. Sortied to attack Leuchars airfield with harbour installations at Broughty Ferry, Dundee, as alternate. Shot down by Yellow Section No. 603 Squadron (Pilot Officer J. R. Caister, Pilot Officer G. K. Gilroy and Sergeant I. K. Arber) over Aberdeen 1.10 p.m. Crashed and burned out at the skating rink in South Anderson Drive. (Ff) Lt Herbert Huck, (Bf) Gefr Georg Kerkhoff, (Bm) Uffz Paul Plischke and (Beo) Fw August Skokan all killed. Aircraft 1H+FT a write-off.
This crew was buried in Graves 155, 150, 149, and 152 in the Old Churchyard at Dyce on July 16, 1940."
What an absolute waste.
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