Graham Hodge, of Loddiswell, wrtites:

Regarding John Coates article on the bombing of Aveton Gifford, I well remember it as myself and two other boys, Tony Hyne and John Wallbutton, were standing on the top steps of the village hall, which was then the infant school, when two Nazi planes came from the east of Loddiswell and left of the church.

They were at a very low level, not 50 yards away, and we could see the pilots looking at us. We were prime targets for a machine gun. Looking back, thank God our lives were spared.

Mrs Hyne, who lived next door, grabbed us by the scruff of our necks and we spent the rest of the raid under her dining room table.

I would like to know why two of the planes came over Loddiswell. Is there any mention of it in the Luftwaffe records of the names of the pilots and whether they survived the war?