Hardwick

**PETERTHEEATER** · 16-04-2012, 08:14

The damaged fuselage and mid-upper turret of Avro Lancaster B Mark I, R5700 'ZN-G', of No. 106 Squadron RAF based at Elsham Wolds, Lincolnshire, after crash-landing at Hardwick, Norfolk, following an attack by a German fighter over Essen. R5700, was among 60 aircraft taking part in the first "Oboe" raid on Essen on the night of 13/14 January 1943, when it was twice attacked by a Focke Wulf Fw 190 "Wilde Sau" night-fighter shortly after bombing the target. The aircraft was severely damaged, the rear gunner was badly wounded and the mid-upper gunner, Sergeant J B Hood, was killed, but the pilot, Sergeant P N Reed, managed to fly the crippled bomber as far as the USAAF base at Hardwick before executing a successful crash-landing. Three weeks later, Sergeant Reed and his crew failed to return from a raid on Hamburg.

Courtesy of Imperial War Museum © IWM (CE 3)

**PETERTHEEATER** · 16-04-2012, 08:18

Looking at the 1946 aerial view of Hardwick on Norfolk E-Explorer site (the same image is used in the late Roger Freeman's 'Airfields of the Eighth' Page 117) I note that the two most easterly compartments of the northern bomb store are 'damaged' implying an explosion.

Does anyone have any record of an incident here?

Looks similar to the well known Metfield incident.

**REF** · 19-11-2012, 21:44

Four aerial views of Hardwick that I took yesterday, 18 November 2012.

1 - Airfield Farm, built on the former communal site.

2 - Airfield Farm in the foreground with Hardwich Airfield in the distance

3 - The remaining stretch of wartime runway, still in use

4 - A general view of Hardwick Airfield

**ranger** · 10-02-2013, 13:26

Hi Guys
Can anyone tell me if there is contact person for the 93rd BG in the Hardwick area.

cheers Ranger
Americans at RAF Ibsley

**SimonGee** · 10-02-2013, 14:45

Last information I had was for a David Woodrow in Topcroft; T - 01508 482263. These guys don't tend to update their details as often as they should, but it's a start for you - !