London Air Raids

Discussion in 'United Kingdom' started by BrianP, May 4, 2005.

  1. BrianP

    BrianP Member

    I was wondering if anyone knew of a listing of dates of all air raids that occured on London during the war? I have found some stuff for the Blitz of 1940 and 41, but I am looking mainly for 1942 until the end of the war (including V-1 and V-2)

    Thanks for your help,
    Brian
     
  2. angie999

    angie999 Very Senior Member

    Regarding V1s and V2s, between June 1944 and April 1945, thousands were launched against London at all hours of the day and night. Most of those which caused significant damage or casualties are recorded, but I don't know of any single source and I would not guarantee that every one is listed in published sources.

    Not all the V1s fired at Britain, by the way, were aimed at London. Southampton was also a target and some aircraft launched V1s were aimed at East Coast towns.

    There will also be discrepancies between German and British records for both conventional bombers and V weapons. Significant work has been done on bombing in the Bristol area from which it is clear that the Germans were frequently off target and sometimes recorded having bombed on target, whereas they actually bombed miles away.

    Same with V weapons. British deception methods caused the Germans to aim progressively off target.
     
  3. Paul Johnson

    Paul Johnson Member

    Brian,

    Try the excellent series of books by After The Battle publications called, The Bltiz - Then & Now. There are 3 volumes covering the entire period and listing every raid on the capital. You can usually find these at or via your local library as they are quite expensive to buy but are full of excellent detail and photographs.

    Regards

    PAUL JOHNSON
     
  4. BrianP

    BrianP Member

    Thanks everyone for the info!

    I'll try and search for those books.
     
  5. jamesicus

    jamesicus Senior Member

    Originally posted by angie999@May 5 2005, 10:18 AM
    .......... Not all the V1s fired at Britain, by the way, were aimed at London. Southampton was also a target and some aircraft launched V1s were aimed at East Coast towns ..........[post=34014]Quoted post[/post]

    On Christmas Eve 1944, a formation of specially configured HE-111 Heinkel bombers flying over the North Sea launched a number of V1 Flying Bombs (Doodle Bugs) aimed at Manchester. Most missed the city -- impacting in sparsely populated outlying regions -- but one hit a row of terrace houses in nearby Oldham killing 37 people, including some evacuees from London, and seriously wounding many others. The blast damaged hundreds of nearby homes.
     

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