Object of the Week
The Bannial Flatts Model
Tomorrow marks the 75th anniversary of VE Day.
Bannial Flatts, just outside Whitby, was the site of the first enemy aircraft to be shot down on English soil during WW2.
Several Heinkel aircraft had set off on the morning of 3rd February 1940 with the mission of attacking shipping off the North East coast. The Heinkel in question was first picked up by radar at Danby Beacon at 09:03 whilst sixty miles out to sea. Allied fighters were scrambled to intercept the aircraft, the Heinkel had just made an attack on a trawler when it was intercepted by three Hurricanes piloted by F/Lt Peter Townsend, F/O Patrick Folkes and Sgt Jim Hallowes. The Heinkel was, by now, severely damaged and the pilot had no choice but to make a forced landing on land, coming to rest at Bannial Flatts Farm. Sadly, the incident resulted in the deaths of two of the German crew.
Our model of the incident was made and donated by Mr H L Catley in 1976.
The model forms part of a display entitled ‘One Day in Whitby’s War’ which describes this event; the German attack on Whitby steamer SS Kildale and the Belgian steamer Charles running aground at Saltwick Nab resulting in the loss of two of the Whitby lifeboat crew sent to save her and six of the crew of the Charles. The display is dedicated to the memory of all those who lost their lives that day.