On the 13 June 1944 the first flying bombs [V1's] were launched against England, technical problems resulted in only 10 being launched, of which only four reached England. The first falling in Swanscombe near Gravesend in Kent, the others in Cuckfield Sussex, Sevenoaks Kent and Bethnal Green in east London where six people were killed.
After a short pause, on 15 June 1944 244 V1's were launched of which 73 fell on greater London. During the next few weeks England was hit by an average of 100 missiles a day, most fell in the London area, and there were heavy casualties, One and a half million people were evacuated from the capital.
For the people of London V1's rapidly became a familiar part of everyday life. The flying bombs would arrive at anytime, day or night, Londoners could never relax, people went about their business, but were always listening for the sound of the bomb, and even worse when the engine cut out, they knew then that they might become it's victim.
In many factories, because there might be as many as 16 alerts each day causing much dislocation, it was agreed by the workers that they would continue to work, until lookouts on the roof of the building sounded a klaxon, which meant danger overhead, take cover. There was much dislocation in schools with children allowed to drop to the floor under their desks if danger was imminent.
The last weapon of the war was the V2 rocket, aimed mainly against London, it was without doubt the most terrifying wartime experience for civilians during the whole war. The rockets travelled at a great speed 3.500 MPH, taking about three minutes from launching to reach their target, no advance warning was possible. This horror arrived unannounced, there was only one rule if you heard the explosion you had probably survived. The Rocket landed vertically creating a crater often as great as a bowling green.
The worst V2 incident took place at New Cross in south-east London, it was a Saturday and the shops were crowded, damage was vast and nearly 200 people were killed, 12 shops were estimated destroyed, including Woolworths, where many of the casualties occurred. The last V2's of the war hit a block of flats in Stepney east London on 27 March 1945, 134 people were killed, there was a further minor incident in Orpington Kent. On 29 March 1945, the last raid of the war took place, carried out by a V1.
In all 10.500 V1's and V2's were fired at England, the ones that got through caused over 33.000 casualties. From the first siren in September 1939, German bombers and missiles over Britain caused over 60.000 deaths and 80.000 serious injuries.
starrman
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