Fred Fowler and the German Bomber Crash

Chilvers Coton January 1942

By Susan Hubbard

During WW2 my father, Fred Fowler was a well known local hairdresser in Chilvers Coton conducting his business from 99 Coton Rd, not far from Coton Arches. But at night time he was a war time Policeman, PC.PWR 339, stationed at Nuneaton Police Station Coton Rd. From here he policed the streets and was on duty through some of the worst bombing to occur over Nuneaton and witnessing at first hand the terrible aftermath.

One memorable event was when he was called to attend and guard the crash site of the German bomber which came down in flames over Nuneaton in January 1942. While there he retrieved a German belt buckle from the wreckage inscribed (HAMBURG NOW A 1938). It has remained in the family ever since as a memory to those terrible days.

An extract from his Police note book of 1939, mentions the first experimental blackouts to take place in Nuneaton, starting on July 13th 1939 near Coton Arches and others that followed on the 9th and 10th of August 1939, sometime before the first bombing raid on Nuneaton, which occurred on the 25th August 1940.

After the War, Fred continued as a hairdresser until the 1960’s, when homes and shops in Chilvers Coton were demolished to make way for the new road through Coton to Coventry.

The following account of the German bomber crash was written by Max Richards

On January 10, 1942 a German Dornier 217-E, nick-named the “Flying Pencil”, set off from Soesterburg, in Holland, to drop four 500 kilogram bombs on Liverpool docks. Flying North of Derby, the bomber was hit by heavy anti-aircraft (HAA) fire and damaged, causing it to abort its mission.

Shortly after heading for home, it was attacked by a Beaufighter from 456 Squadron and then a Spitfire, said to flown by the legendary “Cats-Eyes Cunningham”, based in the Derby area. The aircraft was severely damaged and heading South, way off course.The pilot decided to jettison the bomb load and lighten the aircraft in an attempt to gain more height, at this point they were flying over Cannock Chase at more than 1,500 feet.

A few miles further on the Dornier was picked up by searchlights and again hit by HAA fire from units of the air defences of Birmingham based In Sutton Park. By this time one engine was on fire and the aircraft was losing height, Sutton Coldfield is about 20 miles from Nuneaton, just a few minutes flying time. The position was hopeless and the decision to bale out was made. By now the aircraft was approaching Nuneaton via Hartshill.

The first man to jump was Herbert Leppien, the gunner/ flight engineer, who landed in the canal at Hartshill. The wireless operator, Hans Vacano was the second to jump, he landed in a wood near Chapel End. The third crewman was Willie Wieland, navigator/ wireless operator, who landed by the signal box at Weddington. The pilot, Paul Wolf, who had been injured in the leg, was the last to leave, he landed near the police house In Galley Common. He then woke the constable up, presented him with his Luger pistol and asked for treatment to his injured leg.

Wolf and Wieland had been captured straight away, but Leppien and Vacano hid until morning before giving themselves up. All were taken to Nuneaton Police Station, in Coton Road (now the Yorkshire Bank). Later the pilot was transferred to the Emergency Hospital (now George Eliot Hospital) for treatment to his wound. While in hospital, in Janet Ward, he was guarded by an armed member of Tamworth Home Guard. All four were eventually taken to Lichfield Military Hospital.

At 0115 hours on January 11, the crewless Dornier crashed in soft clay, just off Heath End Road (on the edge of the Glendale estate) and set on fire. Lots of people had seen it coming down with 50 to 60 yards of flame trailing behind it and came out to have a look at it. As was usual, the aircraft was guarded from souvenir hunters until it could be taken away for inspection. It was later said that the Dornier was carrying a new piece of equipment on trial which revealed much valuable information.

A young boy found a cannon shell from the aircraft and hit it with the result that he lost two fingers and a thumb.

HAA engaged targets over 1,500 feet and light anti-aircrat1 (LAA) below that level. HAA would usually be a 4.5 inch gun and LAA would be a 40 mm Bofors gun.