Crash site of a WWI aircraft, Gotha GV/938/16, at Frierns Farm (EHER 48172)

The crash site of GV/938/16 of Bogohl 3, a World War One German Gotha twin engine biplane bomber aircraft, at Frierns Farm, Wickford (now built over). This is believed to be one of the first German aircraft to have crashed on English soil. It was shot down on the night of 28th-29th January 1918 en route to a bombing mission over London, by two Sopwith Camels of number 44 HD Squadron, stationed at Hainault Farm.

The crash site of GV/938/16 of Bogohl 3, a World War One German Gotha twin engine biplane bomber aircraft, at Frierns Farm, Wickford (now built over). This is believed to be one of the first German aircraft to have crashed on English soil (slightly predated by a crash of a Gotha bomber in Kent). It was shot down on the night of 28th-29th January 1918 en route to a bombing mission over London. The British aircraft that brought the Gotha down were two Sopwith Camels of number 44 HD Squadron stationed at Hainault Farm, Essex, and they intercepted it at 10,000 feet above Romford. The Gotha crashed at Frierns Farm, situated off London Road. The three German crew were killed. Frierns Farm no longer exists, and the crash site has been destroyed by building development. It is thought to have been close to the present Friern Gardens. Status: Casualty <1> OS Sheet TQ 79 SW shows Friern Gardens to be at TQ 738 930. <2> Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import and NRHE summary description.