- Summary
- Located in an Observer Corps post on the top of a Martello tower on the seafront at Dymchurch in Kent, Mr E.E. Woodland and Mr A.M. Wraight were on duty on the morning of 13 June 1944. Shortly after 04.00 hours they spotted the approach of an object spurting red flames from its rear end and making a noise like a Model-T-Ford going up a hill'. What they were watching was the first V1 flying bomb heading towards the South Coast. A new battle of Britain was about to begin. The flying bomb that the two men had observed crossed the shoreline and continued northwards. Some ten minutes later it fell to earth with a loud explosion at Swanscombe, near Gravesend. It was the first of more than 10,000 flying bombs launched against Britain that summer, most of which were targeted at London. At its peak, Hitler's flying bomb campaign saw more than 100 V1s a day being fired. Much of the UK suddenly found itself back in the frontline of the war. In the weeks and months that followed, thousands of people were killed, many more injured. In this book the author takes the reader through the day by day battle. Accounts from some of those who survived the buzz bomb attacks bring the story to life as people tell about their fears and experiences. To combat the threat, RAF fighter pilots flew round the clock patrols, desperately trying to shoot the robot rockets down and stop them from reaching their targets, whilst anti-aircraft gunners played their part on the ground. So successful was this joint effort that by the end of March 1945, the combined British defences were accounting for 72.8% of all the reported V1s that were directed at the United Kingdom. This is the story of how that success was achieved.
- Format
- Book
- Author/Creator
- Thomas, Graham A., author.
- Published
- Yorkshire ; Philadelphia : Pen & Sword Aviation, [2020]
- Locale
- London (England)
Great Britain
England
- Contents
-
The battle begins
Preparing for the storm
Engagement
Fighter Command (17 July to 1 September)
Overview from SHAEF
The Tempest wing
Tempests to the rescue; 501 Squadron
A new enemy: No. 3 Tempest Squadron
Grinding it out: 486 Tempest Squadron
Spitfires engage: No. 1 Squadron
The Germans air-launch the Flying Bomb
Mosquitoes into the fray
Night fighters: No. 96 Squadron
Anti-aircraft Command
Last gasp.
- Notes
-
Includes bibliographical references and index.
The battle begins -- Preparing for the storm -- Engagement -- Fighter Command (17 July to 1 September) -- Overview from SHAEF -- The Tempest wing -- Tempests to the rescue; 501 Squadron -- A new enemy: No. 3 Tempest Squadron -- Grinding it out: 486 Tempest Squadron -- Spitfires engage: No. 1 Squadron -- The Germans air-launch the Flying Bomb -- Mosquitoes into the fray -- Night fighters: No. 96 Squadron -- Anti-aircraft Command -- Last gasp.
