The information below relates to an accident on the 15th of October 1945 when a captured German plane took off from Heston Aerodrome on an evaluation flight and crashed in North Hyde Lane
The photograph above shows a captured German Junkers JU88 which was being operated by the RAF’s Enemy Aircraft Evaluation Unit that crashed on the junction of North Hyde Lane and Fern Lane after taking off from Heston Aerodrome on the 15th October 1945.
The British pilot who survived the crash phoned in from the phonebox in front of the bystander to report the accident.
A six month old baby who was reported to be asleep in the house was unharmed, as were all other residents.
The information below relates to an American airman called Gaston Riggs, who died in a training flight from Fowlmere on the the 26th of February 1945
The text below was taken from The Middlesex Chronicle
FATAL PLANE CRASH
An American airman was fatally injured on Monday afternoon when a fighter aircraft he was piloting got into difficulties and crashed in North Hyde Lane, Heston, opposite Grange Farm. In its descent the aircraft struck and demolished a corner of the farmhouse, which is in the occupancy of Woodason Aircraft Models. No one was in the demolished section of the building at the time. The aircraft caught fire on crashing. The pilot was extricated, badly injured and suffering from and died on the way to hospital. Contingents of the National Fire Service, wardens from a nearby headquarters and the Civil Defence Rescue Service were quickly on the scene.
