Humbie Heinkel: Dramatic photo reveals first Nazi plane downed over Britain
THIS is the first German plane shot down over Britain during the Second World War, 75 years ago this week.
The historic black-and-white photograph shows crowds gathered to see the crumpled Luftwaffe Heinkel He 111 wreckage after it was downed during a tense fight.
Two surviving German crew, the plane's wounded pilot and navigator, stumbled out of the wreckage and surrendered to a local policeman – one of the first people to arrive at the crash-site.
The downed aircraft quickly became known as the 'Humbie Heinkel' after crashing down outside the small village of Humbie, which sits 15-miles south of Edinburgh.
This was significant. It was the first time that the Germans had attempted to attack anything within British airspace
This was the first casualty of the first time Nazi forces attempted an attack within British airspace.
The Humbie Heinkel was flying with the Nazi Luftwaffe squadron who had been dispatched to destroy Royal Navy vessels in the Firth of Forth.
The RAF sent Spitfires from 602 and 603 squadron to meet the Luftwaffe head-on, over the fields of East Lothian in Scotland.
Flight lieutenant Archie McKellar was among those on board and he was tasked with peppering the enemy plane with gunfire.
The 25-year-old was successful and the German plane fell out of the skies above Humbie, on October 28, 1939.
Flying ace McKellar died just a few hours after the official end of the Battle of Britain at the age of 28, after he had become known as the 'Forgotten Ace'.
William Simpson, co-author of the book Greatest Squadron of Them All, believes the pilot responsible for the historic 'Humbie Heinkel' crash deserve more credit.
He explained: "So many people don't seem to realise this happened. This was significant.
"It was the first time that the Germans had attempted to attack anything within British airspace.
"They were trying to attack Royal Navy ships anchored in the east of the Forth Bridge and were intercepted by two squadrons flying Spitfires.
"These squadrons weren't regular air force flying the latest Spitfires, but auxiliaries or reservists.
"A lot of people think they don't get the credit they deserve. People have heard about the Battle of Britain, but these guys, who started the whole thing, are virtually unknown."
