Woman recalls running from WWII pilot in Ipswich, aged six

The Second World War has weighed heavily on many people’s minds of late, with this year marking 80 years since peace was at long last declared.

As conflicts rage around the world, we often consider the impact on children. Greta Baldwin, nee Bailey, grew up in Cavendish Street in Ipswich.

Now 88 and living in Trimley, she can vividly remember being around six years old and running to the air raid shelter in Lavenham Road, looking up, and seeing a German plane flying overhead.

Greta Baldwin, née Bailey, grew up in Cavendish Street in Ipswich. (Image: Deborah Roberts) A young Greta pictured with her family. (Image: Deborah Roberts)

Later, Mrs Baldwin would tell her daughter, Deborah Roberts, that the pilot was so close that she could clearly see his face.

“He was a wicked man, but he had a sense of humour not to shoot us – he could have killed a lot of people,” said Mrs Baldwin. “He had his gun there, because I could hear it, but it wasn’t aimed at the street.”

While she ran into the air raid shelter, Mrs Baldwin said the pilot continued towards the power station at Cliff Quay.

Mrs Roberts shared her mother’s recollection to the Ipswich Remembers Facebook page, and the post quickly attracted more than 100 people sharing how their relatives had similar experiences, sharing memories of Gippeswyk Park, Dereham Avenue, Bramford Lane and Lindbergh Road.

Now 88, Greta has never forgotten her experiences as a child during the war. (Image: Deborah Roberts) Greta's daughter Debbie shared her mother's memories to the Ipswich Remembers Facebook page. (Image: Deborah Roberts)

Local historian Andrew Beal runs the Ipswich War Memorial project with Helen Ely. He, too, has heard stories such as these from over the years.

“Over 90 Ipswich people were killed in air raids in the town from German and Italian aircraft,” said Mr Beal. 

“Ipswich's main targets were the port and factories along the river. There were many small airfields surrounding the town, but the largest being Martlesham where famous fighter pilots flew from, like Douglas Bader and Prince Alex Obolensky, flying Hurricanes and Spitfires.

There is a memorial in Ipswich's Old Cemetery to the civilians who died in Rushmere as a result of enemy action. The inscription also mourns the loss of four children, 'Our darling little ones'. Pictured here with former mayor Lynne Mortimer. (Image: Ipswich War Memorial) “Their job was to patrol the area for enemy bombers. Most German bombers were small compared with the British Lancaster or Wellington Bomber. They flew low and fast to avoid detection during the day (probably why people could see them waving), and if not able to reach their objectives would look for targets of opportunity.

“Some gunners on the planes would fire too once the bombs were dropped.”

Were you a child in Ipswich during the war? To share your memories, write to abygail.fossett@newsquest.co.uk