Dogfight over Blackfen - September 1940

During a daylight raid in the Battle of Britain a dogfight was overhead and suddenly we saw an aircraft starting to fall. I was sure it was enemy; my father had different opinions. It turned out to be a Me109 with a yellow nose, on fire and falling. As it got lower something left the aircraft, which apparently was the pilot, but unfortunately he was too low and his chute failed to open.

The aircraft crashed on Plumstead Common; I believe it hit a row of shops.

By Eric

'WW2 People's War is an online archive of wartime memories contributed by members of the public and gathered by the BBC. The archive can be found at bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar'