THAMESIDE AVIATION MUSEUM |
ON FRIDAY 15TH NOVEMBER 1940 AT 13.33hrs, ME 109 YELLOW "9" OF 111/JG26 WERK No6353 SHOT DOWN AFTER COMBAT WITH A HURRICANE OF 605 SQUADRON, FLOWN BY Sgt E.W WRIGHTTHE MESSERSCHMITT CRASHED IN THE VILLAGE OF HORNDON-ON -THE-HILL, ESSEX.THE PILOT BEING A YOUNG GERMAN FELDVEBEL CALLED, OTTO JAROS HE HAD BALED OUT AND SURVIVED AND NOW WAS TO BECOME A P.O.W. |
THE EVENTS 15/11/40
The Battle of Britain now over and the blitz just starting to take effect the skies over Britain werE still full of enemy aircraft, by day and night. Otto Jaros's aircraft had a 250lb bomb straped under its bellyready to do damage on the ground as well as protecting the bombers from fighter attack. as they neared London the RAF fighters had already been scrambled to intecept the incoming raiders, as they pressed home their attack the 109's let the bombs go so they could now become fighters once again, Ottos aircraft was hit and he decided to head for home but the engine started to run very rough and the temps and pressures rising it was time to leave the aircraft. As he started to bale out he was attaced by the RAF fighters once more, he rolled the 109 on to its back and fell from the cockpit into a near empty sky, he then watched as his 109 crashed into the ground , well he had survived that then his thoughts turned to what may happen when he lands in enemy teritory.
Otto Jaros landed in the garden of a house called SAN JOY, in Rothing Road, Laindon, Essex. As he came down a nervous member of the Home Guard took a shot at him but missed, Otto Jaros was arrested and taken to the local Police Station to be handed over to the military.
The Messerchmitt crashed 400m north of Spitfire R6625 which you can read about on this site also
THE DIG SUNDAY 29th SEPTEMBER 1985
On
the 29th september 1985 at 07.00hrs we arrive at Blackbush
Corner, Horndon-on-the-Hill, Essex. for what is to be a fantastic
days digging, this aircraft had already been excavated back in
1973 by David Campbell and Roger Pickett just before we formed
the Essex Historical Aircraft Society, (EHAS). later that year.
We started digging at around 8.am and small finds coming to light with every digger buckett full, Roger being present on the first dig knew that the STICK (control column) had not been found, so this was the big target for the day ahead.
ABOVE
THE EXCAVATION WELL UNDERWAY.
RIGHT
COLIN WINGRAVE, WITH THE 109's FUEL TANK.
The dig was going very
well, we had found the fuel tank that sits behind the
pilots seat, a compressed air bottle, flares, and
instruments, the radiator flaps, seat runners, Bosch fuel
pump, all in 1st class condition and then; there it was
the STICK in all its glory,
LEFT; A PROUD ROGER PICKETT WITH THE STICK JUST AS IT HAD COME OUT OF THE GROUND.
ABOVE; THE MAKERS PLATE.
Most of the items found on the dig are on display in the museum, the "STICK" is only on display on open days and is removed after each and every open day
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