My grandfather, an American soldier, was wounded in the eye by a fragment from a V1 explosion in London in June 1944 a few weeks after D-Day. I have his Purple Heart medal.
My father told me the only injury he sustained during the war was when he was helping his mother to do the dishes when they heard a V1's engine stop looked out the kitchen window and saw it heading straight at them they both dived under the kitchen table meeting head on .Inexplicably the V1 turned almost 90degrees and destroyed a house at the other end of St Paul's Cresent
Yeah it still touches us today. At 54 now, my good friend's mum was orphaned when her parents were killed in the Blitz. Early this century I was working in an operating theatre where we removed some metal lodged in an old gentleman's spine. When I asked him how he occasioned the injury he replied " I was shot by a Nazi". The same operating theatre had treated pilots during The Battle of Britain.
Thanks fellas. another great show. My Nan was ARP and my Grandad in an ARP heavy rescue squad in Peckham/Camberwell, My Dad and his mate saw one of the first V1's fall when they were home on leave from Italy, They cheered because "we'd got one of the bast**s" little realising that the flames were the engine. Said engine then cut out and V1 began to fall. My Dad swore blind it was coming for him and his mate. They then did a tactical manoeuvre of running in circles around a large tree in a blind panic and then hiding behind it. Luckily the V1 fell about 4-5 streets away. I always keep an eye open for stretcher railings when in London
As I was 3/4 at the time, my memories are potentially a bit suspect: we had been evacuated to NW Kent after our home had been hit by an exploded bomb I remember quite clearly hearing a doodle-bug (as we called them) and hoping it would chug along a bit further before cutting out; also my younger brother racing towards the air-raid shelter ( an Anderson) with his little feet churning out the cinders of the pathway behind him; this one before the anti -aircraft (ack-ack) were moved as described to the south coast, but one was stationed in the field behind our home. The other thing was more recent, about 35 years ago: my kids had bought a device that played sound effects, one of which was a WW2 air raid siren ....... it sent shivers up my spine. Enjoyed the video muchly.
Wonderful show, gentlemen. I learned a great deal today including an offhand remark about "stretcher fences." It sent me down a wonderful WW2TV rabbit hole. Thank you both.
One factor that needs to be mentioned is the blast damage a V1 could cause - the initial explosion might kill and demolish a building or two, but the blast wave could take out doors and windows anything up to 400 yards away, roofing tiles might also get blown off and the interiors re-arranged. People needed to be rehoused from the worst affected buildings. They would eventually be patched up if the main structure was solid enough. (This happened to my mother's house in Kingston - she came back from work to find her younger brother standing in the front garden holding the front door.)
Great channel and video. My one complaint is the video’s title referring to V-1s as rockets. The V-1 was in fact powered by a pulse-jet, not a rocket motor. This simple jet engine pulsed 50 times a second, which is what created the distinctive buzz sound that gave it its nickname. The later V-2 ballistic missile was powered by a rocket motor. I nearly wasn’t here to pen this pedantic comment! My Father, who’d returned from evacuation to start work in London, was almost killed by a V-1 that landed in Forest Gate, East London. This flying bomb killed everyone on the bus that he just got off on his way home from work. Fortunately for him, and me, he suffered only minor cuts and bruises plus a perforated eardrum.
Yes, but it's an accepted phrase that the TH-cam algorithm will pick up on. Flying Bomb /Missile etc are maybe more accurate but won't work as well on TH-cam
The USA made copies of the V-1 and renamed it "Jet Bomb 2" or JB-2. There were 1391 built for use against Japan, but none were used before the war ended. Radar tracking and remote guidance by radio turned the JB-2 into a guided missile, with an accuracy of 0.25 miles at a ranger of 100 miles, or 400 meters at 160 km. If the Germans had such better electronics in 1944, then London would have been in much worse trouble, as large structures such as bridges or public buildings would have eventually been hit after prolonged attack.
I still amazed how the Brits kept their cool during the Blitz until the end of the V1 & V2's. And also the practical use of miners to dig out survivors.
Thanks Paul and Steve for your presentation. I recommend people see the 1943 film, "Fires Were Started" directed by Humphrey Jennings. It’s an incredible piece of work by Jennings who made some of the greatest documentary films during WW2. The film dives into the lives of the firefighters during WWII in London which captures their courage and camaraderie during the Blitz. It's a must-see for all you history buffs! ❤
I’d agree with that choice - we showed it last year at our local Free Film Festival and it was very well received. A beautifully made, slightly quirky semi-documentary film made by the master of British documentaries, Humphrey Jennings.
My mother, not long after her 13th birthday, during an outdoor school sports day, had to duck as one if these flew over. Like Steve she soon with everyone else learned to duck/seek cover when that engine cut out. 93 last week and Mum still vividly recalls them.
Caught up when i got home from work. As a Londoner, the blitz and the V1/V2 campaign has always been the subject of family folklaw. The height and speed these things flew at made it difficult to intercept, however as Steve explaind the success rate of 'hits' was relatively low in comparison to those launched. 'Apparently' the only V2 intercepted was by a B24, this is highly unlikely. V2 rockets were hypersonic, the introduction to the world of ballistic missiles, and at that time indefensible. Great show...Steve being from the 'dark' side of London gave a very good presentation
Thanks, Steve and Paul! Great presentation on a neglected area of study. I've done a bit of work on this topic - nothing like as in-depth! - whilst working at Dover Museum a few years ago, not least helped by the oral histories recorded in 1988-1991. A couple of points do spring to mind: if I remember rightly the various elements of ARP were reorganised from late 1941 onwards. This development did put the odd nose out of joint but was generally perceived as being necessary. As well as the occasional air-raid, some of which were carried out by bomb-carrying fighters which came in 'under the radar' and, via the valleys that are a part of the local topography, made their bombing runs from behind the town. And from August 1940 until late September 1944 the town and its environs were subject to shelling from heavy artillery - basically naval guns - on a random basis. The townspeople, service personnel and the Civil Defence all had to learn how to cope with these incidents. Not much time to prepare for a shell bombardment even if, as was quickly adopted, a flash-spotting regime was put in place. As regards the V1, the local ARP Logs recorded them as 'Divers', which did cause some confusion in the 1990s! A too-frequently misspelled 'Dover'?! Well, no! Another vague memory I have is of US Army Anti-Aircraft Artillery being stationed on the 'Coastal Crust' in 1944 as part of the Anti-Diver defences. Hope that the above is of some interest and maybe some use! Thanks again, Jon!😊 Edit: it was the 127th US AAA Battery that were stationed locally, their barracks were up at Swingate.
“Diver” was the RAF’s and Anti-Aircraft Command’s name for them. Local authorities initially called them “PAC” (for Pilotless Aircraft) and latterly “FLY” for Flying Bomb. Glad you enjoyed the presentation and I certainly enjoyed being asked to contribute.
@@jonathanmarsh5955 My pleasure. I’ll check out the American AA contribution later - I knew that they took part in the defence but didn’t know the unit details. Thanks for the info!
@@Blitzwalker Sorry, Steve! I just double checked on the unit's correct title: it is actually 127th US Army Anti-Aircraft Artillery Gun Battalion! I blame my age! 🤔😏😄
V1s were never out of range of London/southern England due to their ability to be launched from He 111 bombers. Clearly though, this method of launch could not deliver the volume and intensity of attacks that ground launch sites were capable of. We mustn't forget that when V1 ground launch sites (which by then were almost entirely mobile/portable) were pushed back out of range of London they were not a wholly defeated force as they quickly began an offensive against the port of Antwerp.
Yes both the V1 and V2 landing positions were suppressed in the British press, especially the London editions, so as not to give the Neutral embassies, and foreign press the opportunity to either directly or indirectly pass the information to the Germans. And a great effort was made to prevent German reconnaissance flights from flying over London and the South East. Both to prevent them from gaining information about the troop movements associated with Overlord, and how effective the V weapons were. Hence the significant pounding that Croydon suffered during this period, and wasn’t told of until long after the war. In addition various agents that had been turned and were working for 20 committee were sending back reports just like the British press that only mentioned strikes that landed north of the river or London. These actions combined with the very successful operations by AA Command against the V1’s, significantly reduced the effectiveness of the campaign.
United Kingdom got rid of its Civil Defence Organisation completely in 1968. U.K. is the only Country to done this , if you go to Countries such as Portugal, or Ireland they have modern, professional C.D. Organisations.
It was done 13 years after a, in the Cold War, secret internal study (The Strath Report), indicating that with the recent introduction of the much more powerful Hydrogen Bomb, any attempt to do real civil defence in the UK, one of the most heavily urbanized nations in the world, was really futile. Without the space or geography outside these areas and even if an effort was tried, the costs would be staggering and the public would not be prepared to pay for them, certainly without massive cuts elsewhere. Way beyond from defence. So the ARP organization was slowly and quietly run down.
A late Uncle told me the V1 made a noise like a two stroke motorbike! He lived in North Lincolnshire and said that a large raid took place over Christmas 1944 the target being Manchester. They were launched from over the North Sea from Heinkell 111 bombers, representing a stand off weapon back in 1944. Many went off track landing well off course and most came down short of the City itself, many landing in the Oldham area as well as South of the Humber during the early phase of launch.
Thank you for this fascinating presentation Steve and Paul. I know you have hundreds, if not thousands of other topics to cover Paul, but I hope that at some point you might find the opportunity to do a more detailed show or series of shows about the V1 and V2 threat, from development to deployment to the process of counteraction both by bombing as well as by deception and anti-aircraft measures. In the meantime, I'm looking forward to listening to the Meteor vs V1 show next!
Just watching now on a rerun, a very interesting subject. I know it’s not connected with the subject, why didn’t the Germans use the V1/V2’s on the Allies in Normandy/ France etc? Thank you Steve and Woody, an excellent presentation
They did later in the War with attacks on Paris and Antwerp. They even tried to use V-2's on tactical targets like bridges. The weapons were so inaccurate that they were militarily next to useless.
Woody/Steve. Brilliant presentation on a subject that is not normally found easily in books. Learnt a lot today. Thanks. Bob
My grandfather, an American soldier, was wounded in the eye by a fragment from a V1 explosion in London in June 1944 a few weeks after D-Day.
I have his Purple Heart medal.
My father told me the only injury he sustained during the war was when he was helping his mother to do the dishes when they heard a V1's engine stop looked out the kitchen window and saw it heading straight at them
they both dived under the kitchen table meeting head on .Inexplicably the V1 turned almost 90degrees and destroyed a house at the other end of St Paul's Cresent
Yeah it still touches us today. At 54 now, my good friend's mum was orphaned when her parents were killed in the Blitz. Early this century I was working in an operating theatre where we removed some metal lodged in an old gentleman's spine. When I asked him how he occasioned the injury he replied " I was shot by a Nazi". The same operating theatre had treated pilots during The Battle of Britain.
Thanks fellas. another great show. My Nan was ARP and my Grandad in an ARP heavy rescue squad in Peckham/Camberwell, My Dad and his mate saw one of the first V1's fall when they were home on leave from Italy, They cheered because "we'd got one of the bast**s" little realising that the flames were the engine. Said engine then cut out and V1 began to fall. My Dad swore blind it was coming for him and his mate. They then did a tactical manoeuvre of running in circles around a large tree in a blind panic and then hiding behind it. Luckily the V1 fell about 4-5 streets away. I always keep an eye open for stretcher railings when in London
As I was 3/4 at the time, my memories are potentially a bit suspect: we had been evacuated to NW Kent after our home had been hit by an exploded bomb I remember quite clearly hearing a doodle-bug (as we called them) and hoping it would chug along a bit further before cutting out; also my younger brother racing towards the air-raid shelter ( an Anderson) with his little feet churning out the cinders of the pathway behind him; this one before the anti -aircraft (ack-ack) were moved as described to the south coast, but one was stationed in the field behind our home. The other thing was more recent, about 35 years ago: my kids had bought a device that played sound effects, one of which was a WW2 air raid siren ....... it sent shivers up my spine. Enjoyed the video muchly.
Wonderful show, gentlemen. I learned a great deal today including an offhand remark about "stretcher fences." It sent me down a wonderful WW2TV rabbit hole. Thank you both.
One factor that needs to be mentioned is the blast damage a V1 could cause - the initial explosion might kill and demolish a building or two, but the blast wave could take out doors and windows anything up to 400 yards away, roofing tiles might also get blown off and the interiors re-arranged. People needed to be rehoused from the worst affected buildings. They would eventually be patched up if the main structure was solid enough. (This happened to my mother's house in Kingston - she came back from work to find her younger brother standing in the front garden holding the front door.)
Great channel and video. My one complaint is the video’s title referring to V-1s as rockets. The V-1 was in fact powered by a pulse-jet, not a rocket motor. This simple jet engine pulsed 50 times a second, which is what created the distinctive buzz sound that gave it its nickname. The later V-2 ballistic missile was powered by a rocket motor.
I nearly wasn’t here to pen this pedantic comment! My Father, who’d returned from evacuation to start work in London, was almost killed by a V-1 that landed in Forest Gate, East London. This flying bomb killed everyone on the bus that he just got off on his way home from work. Fortunately for him, and me, he suffered only minor cuts and bruises plus a perforated eardrum.
Yes, but it's an accepted phrase that the TH-cam algorithm will pick up on. Flying Bomb /Missile etc are maybe more accurate but won't work as well on TH-cam
The USA made copies of the V-1 and renamed it "Jet Bomb 2" or JB-2. There were 1391 built for use against Japan, but none were used before the war ended. Radar tracking and remote guidance by radio turned the JB-2 into a guided missile, with an accuracy of 0.25 miles at a ranger of 100 miles, or 400 meters at 160 km.
If the Germans had such better electronics in 1944, then London would have been in much worse trouble, as large structures such as bridges or public buildings would have eventually been hit after prolonged attack.
Fascinating. Thank you for the research and the e wonderful presentation!!
My Grandma, Mum, and Aunt lived in Portsmouth, a V1 crashed into Grandma's allotment it failed to explode.
I still amazed how the Brits kept their cool during the Blitz until the end of the V1 & V2's.
And also the practical use of miners to dig out survivors.
Thanks Paul and Steve for your presentation.
I recommend people see the 1943 film, "Fires Were Started" directed by Humphrey Jennings. It’s an incredible piece of work by Jennings who made some of the greatest documentary films during WW2. The film dives into the lives of the firefighters during WWII in London which captures their courage and camaraderie during the Blitz. It's a must-see for all you history buffs! ❤
I’d agree with that choice - we showed it last year at our local Free Film Festival and it was very well received. A beautifully made, slightly quirky semi-documentary film made by the master of British documentaries, Humphrey Jennings.
My mother, not long after her 13th birthday, during an outdoor school sports day, had to duck as one if these flew over. Like Steve she soon with everyone else learned to duck/seek cover when that engine cut out.
93 last week and Mum still vividly recalls them.
did the BBC radio mislead the location of the V1 impacts hoping the Germans would change the headings to steer the V1 towards the suburbs.
It was a big effort involving various methods, including Eddie Chapman, the triple agent
Caught up when i got home from work. As a Londoner, the blitz and the V1/V2 campaign has always been the subject of family folklaw. The height and speed these things flew at made it difficult to intercept, however as Steve explaind the success rate of 'hits' was relatively low in comparison to those launched. 'Apparently' the only V2 intercepted was by a B24, this is highly unlikely. V2 rockets were hypersonic, the introduction to the world of ballistic missiles, and at that time indefensible.
Great show...Steve being from the 'dark' side of London gave a very good presentation
amazing watch,thank you
Thanks, Steve and Paul!
Great presentation on a neglected area of study.
I've done a bit of work on this topic - nothing like as in-depth! - whilst working at Dover Museum a few years ago, not least helped by the oral histories recorded in 1988-1991.
A couple of points do spring to mind: if I remember rightly the various elements of ARP were reorganised from late 1941 onwards. This development did put the odd nose out of joint but was generally perceived as being necessary.
As well as the occasional air-raid, some of which were carried out by bomb-carrying fighters which came in 'under the radar' and, via the valleys that are a part of the local topography, made their bombing runs from behind the town.
And from August 1940 until late September 1944 the town and its environs were subject to shelling from heavy artillery - basically naval guns - on a random basis.
The townspeople, service personnel and the Civil Defence all had to learn how to cope with these incidents.
Not much time to prepare for a shell bombardment even if, as was quickly adopted, a flash-spotting regime was put in place.
As regards the V1, the local ARP Logs recorded them as 'Divers', which did cause some confusion in the 1990s! A too-frequently misspelled 'Dover'?! Well, no!
Another vague memory I have is of US Army Anti-Aircraft Artillery being stationed on the 'Coastal Crust' in 1944 as part of the Anti-Diver defences.
Hope that the above is of some interest and maybe some use!
Thanks again, Jon!😊
Edit: it was the 127th US AAA Battery that were stationed locally, their barracks were up at Swingate.
“Diver” was the RAF’s and Anti-Aircraft Command’s name for them. Local authorities initially called them “PAC” (for Pilotless Aircraft) and latterly “FLY” for Flying Bomb. Glad you enjoyed the presentation and I certainly enjoyed being asked to contribute.
@@BlitzwalkerCheers for that and thanks again!
@@jonathanmarsh5955 My pleasure. I’ll check out the American AA contribution later - I knew that they took part in the defence but didn’t know the unit details. Thanks for the info!
@@Blitzwalker Sorry, Steve!
I just double checked on the unit's correct title: it is actually 127th US Army Anti-Aircraft Artillery Gun Battalion!
I blame my age! 🤔😏😄
Thanks!
V1s were never out of range of London/southern England due to their ability to be launched from He 111 bombers. Clearly though, this method of launch could not deliver the volume and intensity of attacks that ground launch sites were capable of. We mustn't forget that when V1 ground launch sites (which by then were almost entirely mobile/portable) were pushed back out of range of London they were not a wholly defeated force as they quickly began an offensive against the port of Antwerp.
Woody love the show always interesting always learning something new where do you find such interesting guests
Was it true that the location of V1 strikes was mis reported so that the Germans adjusted the range so that future launches fell in open country?
Yes, part of the team was Eddie Chapman, the infamous Triple Agent
Yes both the V1 and V2 landing positions were suppressed in the British press, especially the London editions, so as not to give the Neutral embassies, and foreign press the opportunity to either directly or indirectly pass the information to the Germans. And a great effort was made to prevent German reconnaissance flights from flying over London and the South East. Both to prevent them from gaining information about the troop movements associated with Overlord, and how effective the V weapons were. Hence the significant pounding that Croydon suffered during this period, and wasn’t told of until long after the war. In addition various agents that had been turned and were working for 20 committee were sending back reports just like the British press that only mentioned strikes that landed north of the river or London. These actions combined with the very successful operations by AA Command against the V1’s, significantly reduced the effectiveness of the campaign.
United Kingdom got rid of its Civil Defence Organisation completely in 1968.
U.K. is the only Country to done this , if you go to Countries such as Portugal, or Ireland they have modern, professional C.D. Organisations.
It's covered at a different level now
It was done 13 years after a, in the Cold War, secret internal study (The Strath Report), indicating that with the recent introduction of the much more powerful Hydrogen Bomb, any attempt to do real civil defence in the UK, one of the most heavily urbanized nations in the world, was really futile.
Without the space or geography outside these areas and even if an effort was tried, the costs would be staggering and the public would not be prepared to pay for them, certainly without massive cuts elsewhere. Way beyond from defence.
So the ARP organization was slowly and quietly run down.
Thanks Mark
Mark?
@@WW2TV Mark Payne replied to my query about mis reporting V1 Strikes to upset German range setting
Ah, gotcha! Thanks
👍👍👍👍👍😊😊😊😊😊
A late Uncle told me the V1 made a noise like a two stroke motorbike! He lived in North Lincolnshire and said that a large raid took place over Christmas 1944 the target being Manchester. They were launched from over the North Sea from Heinkell 111 bombers, representing a stand off weapon back in 1944. Many went off track landing well off course and most came down short of the City itself, many landing in the Oldham area as well as South of the Humber during the early phase of launch.
Thank you for this fascinating presentation Steve and Paul. I know you have hundreds, if not thousands of other topics to cover Paul, but I hope that at some point you might find the opportunity to do a more detailed show or series of shows about the V1 and V2 threat, from development to deployment to the process of counteraction both by bombing as well as by deception and anti-aircraft measures. In the meantime, I'm looking forward to listening to the Meteor vs V1 show next!
Just watching now on a rerun, a very interesting subject. I know it’s not connected with the subject, why didn’t the Germans use the V1/V2’s on the Allies in Normandy/ France etc? Thank you Steve and Woody, an excellent presentation
They did later in the War with attacks on Paris and Antwerp. They even tried to use V-2's on tactical targets like bridges. The weapons were so inaccurate that they were militarily next to useless.