D-day To Ve Day

Discussion in 'Veteran Accounts' started by spidge, Oct 12, 2005.

  1. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    Reading up on V1, V2 rockets & V3 cannons, I came across this personal story on BBC the peoples war and a piece was for the 12th of October.




    an extract:

    A lot of V1 Flying Bombs passed over us while we were here, many fell on Antwerp, trying to stop us using the docks. In fact the first V2 rocket fell on Antwerp on 12th October and the first V1 on the 23rd of October. In all 1 ,214 rockets landed in the city, and 302 more in the dock area. All together over 15,000 civilians were killed or wounded, later on, on the 12th of December the "Rex Cinema" was hit, 242 soldiers on short leave were killed and over 250 civilians also lost their lives.


    http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/A2051119
     
  2. Gnomey

    Gnomey World Travelling Doctor

    Interesting stuff spidge. I enjoyed reading that.
     
  3. Gerard

    Gerard Seelow/Prora

    Excellent Post Spidge!! Great Reading
     
  4. 51highland

    51highland Very Senior Member

    My father was on leave in Antwerp at the time of the cinema being hit. He and a couple of his mates had been sent for R&R. Dad said he reckoned he was sent because he was going a bit "bomb happy".
    They were going to the cinema, but decided to get a beer first ( thankfully)He told me that a MP on point duty directing traffic took a direct hit and they only found one of his white gauntlets. He returned to his unit next day, he reckoned it was better to be with the "Family" (Camerons) if he was going to be bombed. Couple of days later he got his MM off Montgomery.
     
  5. Kitty

    Kitty Very Senior Member

    Has anyone seen that shot of a Mustang hunting down a V1 over Britain taken from a returning fighter? Breathtaking.
    Thanks for the post Spidge, i hadn't realised the V bombs were falling all over Europe.
    Kitty
     
  6. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    It's the numbers of the things that amazes me. I used to think there were a few hundred V weapons launched. How wrong I was.
     
  7. Kitty

    Kitty Very Senior Member

    I've read about 617's efforts to destroy the V suites, and how they were sent after the V2 (I think) sites because they were underground and built of ferrous concrete. A whole squadron to get one site using Tallboy and Grandslam bombs. Scary thought what might have happened if they hadn't been targeted.
     
  8. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    Always amazes me when you stand next to a V2 that people still alive (my girlfriends father for one) actually spent time in a London where things that size were crashing out of the sky on a regular basis. (or in V2's case roaring straight downwards at hundreds of MPH.)
    Surely the Guards Chapel was one of the V weapons most 'successful' hits as well.
     
  9. Gage

    Gage The Battle of Barking Creek

    More than 9,000 flying bombs were launched, which is a fantastic figure. I know they were also launched from the Heinkel 111.
    May 16th 1944: Hitler's offical order to attack England with flying bombs.
    June 13th 1944: First V1 lands in Swanscombe, Kent.
    June 18th 1944: 121 killed during Sunday service in Guards Chapel, 141 injured.
    September 8th 1944: First V2 lands in England.
    November 25th 1944: V2 explodes in New Cross and kills 160.
    Hopefully post more info when I have time.
     
  10. sapper

    sapper WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    While on the Market Garden offensive we had to watch the V2s being fired at Britain from behind the enemy lines and nothing we could do about it.
    Sapper
     
  11. sapper

    sapper WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Many years ago I wrote a book with the title of "Cameos of War" IT was written for my family. In that tale five men started out on Sword Beach, only one reached Bremen. All the others fell by the wayside
     
  12. plant-pilot

    plant-pilot Senior Member

    Many years ago I wrote a book with the title of "Cameos of War" IT was written for my family. In that tale five men started out on Sword Beach, only one reached Bremen. All the others fell by the wayside

    No offence Sapper, but don't you think the phrase "fell by the wayside" implies failure? At least that's the way it is used nowadays and I'm sure that's not how it was intended.

    To 'fall' in battle or for your country is in no way a failure, even if the actual operation is said to be a failure.

    Like I say, not intended to be a real criticisum, but I did think you might want to know my immediate thoughts on reading your post.
     
  13. sapper

    sapper WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Thanks for that. I do see your point, it is English usage and how it changes with meaning. fell by the way side does sound wrong in todays usage,.

    Ok.. they all got clobbered! Bless their cotton socks! And I was one of them. Of the five, only Captain Edwards RE got to Bremen, and survived the war intact. He died a few years ago after suffering a severe stroke. RIP. all of them. Our comrades burials are spread out on the long road from Sword Beach to Bremen.
    Sapper
     

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