South Tyneside History
| Title | Fallen enemy aircraft parts on Beach Road |
|---|---|
| Reference Number | STH0000166 |
| Photographer | Unknown |
| Town or Village | South Shields |
| Date | 15 February 1941 |
| Original Format | Black and White Photograph |
| Period | c1940s |
| Copyright | South Tyneside Libraries |
| Further Information | On 15 February 1941 at 23.08 to 05.55 on the 16 February, South Shields, along with most of the north east coast, from Hull to Berwick was under attack from enemy aircraft. At 00.25, on the morning of the 16th, a Heinkel 111 was hit by gun fire and collided with a barrage balloon cable on the North Foreshore. The plane crashed on Beach Road. At 00.50 a mine which had not been released from the bomb rack of the plane exploded with terrific force. The explosion was seen and heard from beyond Newcastle and windows were broken in Tynemouth and North Shields. Casualties included a police officer, one auxiliary fireman, two other A.F.S died in hospital. Seventeen members of the police force, fire brigade and A.F.S. were injured. The model yacht house in the South Marine Park was destroyed and parts of the plane, maps, papers and clothing were collected from the park and the lake. This photo shows some of the pieces of the German plane. |
