John M Lister

November 1st 1940… 7-40am…. RAF Wattisham. Leading Aircraftsman Wilfred Gooch was heading back to his barracks after having breakfast in the airmen’s mess. The siren had sounded earlier, but nothing had happened and everyone had carried on as normal. Suddenly Wilfred heard a distant explosion and the sound of an unfamiliar aircraft, seconds later another huge bang as another bomb fell; as the aircraft got closer and closer a third bomb exploded and Wilfred realised he had to make a move, as men were either running or throwing themselves to the ground with their heads covered. Wilfred turned to see the walls of the barrack block cave in, and the roof collapse inside where many personnel were still at breakfast; Wilfred ran to the scene which he described as “the most horrible sight”. Twelve men were killed, and a further twenty-seven seriously injured in this raid on the airfield carried out by a lone Dornier 17 aircraft. Wilfred Gooch was a family friend and relayed this story to me not long before he passed away. We both agreed that we should always remember those personnel who were killed in these type of raids, as well as those who flew. Eleven of the men were buried at All Saints church Hitcham. The images show the damaged barracks, the cortege leaving the airfield, and the burial in a mass grave. Lest we forget.