Hitler's Rockets: The Story of the V-2s

by Norman Longmate

  8 No Immediate Danger (pages 113—127)

  Sandys’s report of 27 August is in PREM 3/110, reference COS(43) 493 (0). The meeting of 31 August is minuted in COS (43) 202 (0), and Brookes, p. 195, quotes MacAlpine’s comment. The meeting of 14 September is in PREM 3/110, under reference DO (43), eighth meeting. Cherwell’s ‘loaded’ questions are described by Irving, pp. 130-32, and Sandys’s response is on pp. 152—3, while ‘C’s’ report is in PREM 3/110 as COS (43) 592 (0). Irving, pp. 131, 149—155 and 163, describes the work and membership of the Scientific Committee and the Fuel Panel and p. 159 carries the famous ‘mare’s nest’ remark. On the meeting as a whole, see CAB 69/5, DO (43), tenth meeting, and for Smuts’s remark, PREM 3/110, folio 257. The German airmen’s reports are mentioned by Irving, p. 162. Cherwell’s ‘proof that the rocket was impossible is in PREM 3/110, DO (43), eleventh meeting; Cripps’s findings in the same file, DO (43) 27; Cherwell’s memo of 2 November is folio 196 of PREM 3/110 and of 4 November folio 184. The Cripps inquiry is described by Irving, pp. 172—3; the Peenemünde pictures by Constance Babington Smith, p. 214; the Lord Mayor’s austerity lunch by Weymouth, vol. II, p. 359. The second Cripps report is COS (0) 715 (0) in PREM 3/110. On Cherwell’s opinion of Cripps’s diet, see Irving, p. 169, and on his own, Harrod, p. 33. The minutes of the Defence Committee of 18 November are DO (43), thirteenth meeting. The change of codenames is in paras 2, 14, and 21 of the History of the PIU. Dr Jones’s memo is quoted by Irving, pp. 174—5. The minutes of the Civil Defence Committee are in CAB 73/7, reference CDC (43) 35, for 28 December 1943, and in CAB 73/8 (CDC (44) 1), for 18 January 1944. The Chiefs of Staffs discussion is recorded in CAB 79 (COS (44), 23rd meeting). On Crossbow bombing, see Collier, Defence, p. 522. The ‘Big Ben’ letter is in HO 186/2271, the meeting of 27 April 1944 in CDC (44) 5.

  9 We Have Been Caught Napping (pages 128—136)

  On the threat to the underground, see folio 624 in PREM 3/111; on the post-V-1 evacuation, The Doodlebugs, pp. 211—13; on Morrison’s apprehensions, WP (44) 348 in CAB 66/51; on the Cabinet’s reaction, WM (44) 82 in CAB 65/46; on Ian Jacob’s note, folio 835 in PREM 3/111; on the lack of rocket tracks, Jones, pp. 430-31; on Ultra evidence, pp. 430 and 435; on the Poles’ exploits, Garlinski, Weapons, pp. 115—16 and 154. The Kalmar rocket is described by Irving, pp. 263—7, by Macmillan, vol. IV, p. 195, by Jones, pp. 431—4, by Dornberger, p. 246, and in the contemporary News Digest (a summary of foreign press reports circulated to British government departments), nos 1476 and 1477, references D43, D78, D81 and D82. Jones, pp. 433—4, describes his concern for Cherwell and pp. 437—8 the ‘caught napping’ meeting, of which the (less illuminating) official minutes are CRC (44), seventh meeting, in PREM 3/ 111.

  10 The Battle of London Is Over (pages 137—155)

  Cherwell’s self-justifying memo is folio 834 in PREM 3/111, Ian Jacob’s note is folio 830, and Morrison’s letter is folio 803. His paper of 26 July is in WP (44) 412 and the Cabinet’s response in CAB 65/ 47 as ‘Annexe to WM (44) 97’. On Double Summer Time, see PREM 3/111, folio 224, and RA (44) 24 of 5 September; on Findlater Stewart’s proposals, WP (44) 413; on Eden’s objections to them, WP (44) 435 in CAB 66/53. Graves, pp. 90—91, gives details of the evacuation routes, HO 186/1848, document no. 24, of the ministry map. Jones, pp. 443—5, and Garlinski, Weapons, pp. 160-65, describe the transport of the spoils from Poland; WP (44) 427 in CAB 66/55 warned of the ‘Imminence of Attack’; Jones, pp. 446—9, describes the ‘great white dummy’ and his search for the rocket’s fuel and true dimensions; PREM 3/111, folio 757, immortalizes Cherwell’s view of Dornberger; and Dornberger gives the true facts about the rocket in an illustration facing p. 32 of his book. ‘Pop Gun’ is mentioned in documents 2 and 10 in HO 186/1848; and Jones, pp. 452—8, explains how he deduced the likely rate of fire and his subsequent report. Irving, p. 205, mentions the discovery of Nordhausen. On ‘tallboys’, see The Bombers, p. 163; on their effects on Wizernes, Dornberger, p. 171, and Irving, p. 247; on the ill-starred ‘drones’, Irving, p. 275; on the damage to A-4 factories, Collier, Defence, pp. 347 and 386—8; on US losses, Roger Freeman, p. 174. The Rocket Consequences Committee rejoiced prematurely in RA (44) 24, folios 221—5 in PREM 3/111; the Vice-Chiefs are quoted by Collier, Defence, p. 406; the Ministry of Information’s plans for the worst are given by Thompson, p. 205; Morrison’s statement is quoted by Holl, p. 158, and his advice to the Cabinet is in WM 118, which forms folio 204 of PREM 3/111. On the press conference, see folios 218, 206, 201 and 200 in that file. The transcript is in Air 20/6016. Jones, p. 458, mentions the cocktail party.

  11 Ignition! (pages 156—161)

  Irving, pp. 30, 59, 77, 137 and 225, sets out the successive launching target dates and pp. 19 and 142—3 the Germans’ operational plans. Dornberger, pp. 224—5, comments on Kammler’s appointment. The V-2 supply system is described by Collier, Defence, pp. 399—400, and shown on his map 30. See also his Short History, pp. 452—3. After the Battle, p. 30, Jones, p. 451, and David Johnson, illustrations on pp. 126—7, explain the launching procedure. ‘Frozen lighting’ appears in Dornberger, p. 165, and his praise of the Meillerwagen on p. 102. The position on 7 September is set out by David Johnson, p. 113, Collier, Battle, pp. 109 and 113, and Irving, p. 284. The launchings against Paris are mentioned by Collier, Defence, p. 405, and Irving, pp. 286-7. After the Battle, p. 30, gives the aiming point.

  12 Incident at Staveley Road (pages 162—169)

  Gwladys Cox describes the weather on 8 September; Panter-Downes, pp. 340-41, the flying of the Dutch flag; Wanless, p. 426, and Vere Hodgson, p. 423, the atmosphere in London. Chiswick Library provided the details of the borough’s war history and information about Staveley Road. The incident itself is described in the News Chronicle for 7 September 1945; in a report, dated 11 September 1944, in HO 186/2418; and by Irving, p. 286. R. V. Jones’s comment is on p. 459 of his memoirs. Subsequent rumours can be read in R. B. Baker, p. 84, Vere Hodgson, p. 423, and Gwladys Cox, the West Hampstead ‘diary-keeper’ quoted. On Epping, see Collier, Battle, pp. 113 and 170; on the letter to Cherwell, Irving, p. 286.

  13 A Plume of Black Smoke (pages 170-184)

  The quote from Thompson is on p. 204 and on the application of censorship see After the Battle, p.33, and David Johnson, p. 130. The signal to Montgomery is folio 195 in PREM 3/111. Folio 191 contains the Vice-Chiefs’ decision and the Cabinet’s conclusions, given in full in WM (44) 122 of 11 September. The details of subsequent incidents are taken from Table I in the list of long-range rocket incidents in file HO 191/198, mentioned earlier. On Walthamstow, see Wyld, p. 21. The ‘stocktaking’ report was on 24 September, in HO 191/198. On the first 25 V-2s, see folio 189 (WM 123 of 18 September) in PREM 3/111. Thompson’s meeting with Morrison is on pp. 204—206; the government’s hopes of Arnhem in Irving, p. 287; the anti-rocket measures in Collier, Defence, p. 408; and the Chiefs of Staff’s report of 25 September is WP (44) 534, folio 185 in PREM 3/111. R. B. Baker, pp. 84—6, attended Buck’s club; the early casualty figures are in the list of incidents 1—26 in HO 191/198, cited above. The location of the batteries in The Hague is in After the Battle, pp. 30—31, and the move to Walcheren in Collier, Defence, p. 408. Jones, pp. 441—2, and Irving, p. 285, describe the mission to Blizna, though the former dates its end at 27 September, not 22 September.

  14 A Splash in the Marshes (pages 185—194)

  Irving, p. 289 (footnote), mentions other V-2 targets; Collier, Defence, pp. 410—11, how the Germans’ plans were disrupted; Dornberger, pp. 225—6, how he responded, p. 224 his agreement with Kammler and pp. 227—8 his supply and development problems. On the launching batteries’ moves, see Collier, Defence, p. 409, and Collier, Battle, p. 110. On the Norfolk campaign, see the Air 20/3439 report, ‘Air Raids on Norfolk’, p. 60; Banger, p. 89, which places the Hoxne rocket at 6.10 p.m.; and document C/ARP/1/33 in the Norfolk Record Office, my principal source throughout the chapter, which lists every incident in the county. For a retrospective account, by Chri
stopher Elliott, see the Eastern Daily Press for 2 January 1969, which mentions ice-laden fragments and vapour trails. The ‘splash in the marshes’ quote is from a private informant. Collier, Defence, pp. 409—10, sums up the military value of the campaign and p. 413 describes Hill’s problems. Collier, Battle, p.172, Defence, p. 412, and Irving, p. 289, describe the end of the Norfolk interlude.

  15 The Liar on the Thames (pages 195—206)

  On the resumption of the bombardment of London, see David Johnson, p. 146, HO 202/10 and Air 40/1653. Berwick Sayers, p. 111, mentions the secrecy in Croydon. The ‘official summary’ mentioned is in HO 191/198. On Chelsea, see Lees-Milne, p. 127. On the Luton incident, see Luton at War, p. 99—100, and HO 191/198; on subsequent V-2s, Air 40/1653; on the study of the accuracy of long-range rockets to March 1945, SORS/1/92. The New York Times lapse is recorded on folio 182 of PREM 3/111. Thompson, p. 207, describes censorship arrangements and their unpopularity. The Cabinet minutes of 16 October are in WM 137 (44) 3, its meeting of 23 October is in WM 140 and the discussion about a public statement is on folios 155, 154 and 138 of PREM 3/111. The text of the German communique is in WM 148 of 8 November (folio 137 in PREM 3/111) and David Johnson, p. 154, states (without quoting any source) that it was issued at 6.15 p.m., but this is contradicted by the ‘Daily Digest’ report of the BBC Monitoring Service, Part I, IA (II) Home (v). Heinz Rieck’s talk is in report IA (I) Home (ix). David Johnson, p. 156, incorrectly attributes Churchill’s statement to ‘the day after’ the German communique. The ‘liar on the Thames’ extract and the German article are in ‘German Press Reports’ for 10-11 November in HO 199/374. Thompson, pp. 204—207, describes later censorship arrangements, Irving, pp. 291—2, and Jones, p. 452, the number of rockets arriving and the inability to jam the V-2’s guidance system. Blake, p. 86, which puts the number of dead at the Crooked Billet at ‘at least 21’, records events in the Bromley area, and my anthology The Home Front carries an eyewitness account of the Holborn rocket on pp. 203—204.

  16 Disaster in Deptford (pages 207—216)

  Apart from private informants my main sources on the Woolworths incident were the reports in HO 186/2381, i.e.: E. G. Bax: ‘Notes of a Visit to Deptford’, 25 November, and Incident at New Cross Road. Report by Casualty Services Officer’, 29 November, and the South London Press for 28 November. On Folkestone Gardens, see ‘Notes of a Visit to Deptford . . . by Admiral Sir Edward Evans on 7th March 1945’ in HO 186/2381 and ‘Report for Mr Travers’ by W. Padmore, the rescue officer referred to, in the same file.

  17 Christmas in Islington (pages 217—224)

  R. B. Baker, pp. 93 and 100, refers to gloom over the approach of winter. The Daily Express, 19 October, gave details of Woolton’s ‘Christmas box’. The Tribune article is reproduced in Orwell, vol. III, pp. 279—80. The survey of V-2s so far is in Air 40/1653 ‘Enemy Air Activity’. R. B. Baker (the ‘OSS official’), pp. 110-11, David Johnson (who places the explosion at 10 p.m., not 11 and mentions Rainbow Corner and Broadcasting House), pp. 170—71, and Weymouth (the ‘BBC producer’ quoted), p. 365, describe the Duke Street incident, as does Gwladys Cox’s diary for 9 December. Report 234 in HO 20/10 gives the number of casualties, but the Daily Telegraph , 27 April 1945, puts the number of US dead at 7, not 8. The optimistic official spokesman was quoted by the Daily Express, 18 December; David Johnson, p. 157, is the ‘American historian’ quoted. On Mackenzie Road I used mainly ‘Notes of a Visit’, at 0300 hours on 27 December, and ‘Report by G. Walker’, 1 January 1945, in HO 186/2400. I also consulted the North London Press for 29 December. The ‘retired resident of Worthing’ was Harriss, p. 31. On New Year’s Eve, see Air 20/3439 and Report 237 in HO 202/10. Casualty figures appear in IWM doc. no. K H9816. The Polish diarist was Raczynski, p. 260. The Dutchman story is in David Johnson, p. 177.

  18 Worse than the V-Is (pages 225—239)

  The ‘Chelsea resident’ is Lees-Milne, p. 151. Orwell’s article is in vol. III, p. 280. HO 191/198 records the break-up of the twentieth V-2. The ministry report was ‘Lessons from Recent Raids’ in HO 186/2299. Childs, p. 134, was the ‘one American’ quoted. Sansom’s description of an airburst is on p. 199; and Wright and Rawnsley, pp. 361—2, passed through one. On unexploded V-2s, see Hartley, pp. 189—194.

  19 Ordeal in Essex (pages 240—254)

  The Home Office letter is from J. P. Jamieson, dated 6 December 1944, in HO 186/2271. On the Hoffman’s incident, see R. J. Thompson, p. 65, and Benham, p. 77, which describes the food kitchens and Bishop’s address. On the other Chelmsford incident, see Thompson, p. 66; on Colchester and other V-2s in the area, Benham, pp. 80-82. The ‘journalist living on Mersea Island’ was Quinton Winch, in the Essex County Standard for 10 January 1975. The clerical warden was Shepheard-Walwyn, who describes the first local V-2s on pp. 41—2, the tea-party rocket on pp. 44—5 and the Sunday evening one on pp. 42—3. The Mountnessing and Stoke Cottage incidents are recorded by R. J. Thompson, pp. 66-9, the Woodham Ferrers one by a private informant. On Romford, see G. Richards: the ‘giant dart’ quotation is on p. 19 and a list of incidents on p. 28, though the details do not always agree with those in Air 20/3439, which, for example, refers to 12 dead at Collier Row, while Richards mentions 13. R. J. Thompson, p. 71, describes Hornchurch and the ‘wedding’ incident at Rainham. On Rainham, see also The War and Thames Board Mills. ‘What the county endured . . .’ was written by Benham, p. 82, which also quotes the NFS commander. On Kent, see Platts, p. 38; on the figures for other counties, the list in Air 20/3439; on the Wargrave incident, a Civil Defence diary entry in the Berkshire County Record Office.

  20 The Battlefields of Ilford (pages 255—263)

  On Kammler’s grouping, see the map in the Ilford Recorder for 4 October 1945. The ‘Civil Defence official’ quoted is Pearson, p. 54. On Hutchinson’s letter, see folio 645 in PREM 3/111. The 4000 tarpaulins are mentioned in an Ilford Guardian article of 3 May 1945, a major source for the chapter. Pearson, pp. 55—6, describes the South Park casualties and those at Belgrave Road. On the Hippodrome, see Pearson, p. 55, and the Ilford Guardian, op. cit. Information on the Super Cinema’s programme was provided by Redbridge Library. Pearson, pp. 55—6, was an eyewitness of the Ilford Ltd incident and also describes the temporary loss of nerve in Uphall Road.

  21 Winter in Walthamstow (pages 264—271)

  On Ford, see Saunders, p. 89. Wyld, p. 11, mentions the reserve mortuary in Walthamstow and the deaths of ‘casual travellers’, and on p. 22 the College Road incident, the dog in the crater, the airbursts and the Bawn’s factory incident. Other accounts are from private informants.

  22 Nothing Left of London (pages 272—283)

  On incidents affecting Westminster, see the Air-Raid Damage Reports filed in the Archives Department, Victoria, of Westminster City libraries. On the Hyde Park V-2, see Henrey, p. 8, Sansom, p. 198, and Vere Hodgson, p. 461. The absurd German claims are in the weekly Home Office reports in HO 202/10, nos 233, 237 and 243, which includes the chapter epigraph. On the damage to the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, see Ascoli, p. 181, who mentions its ‘honourable scars’; Dean, p. 295, the Chelsea Society Annual Report, p. 26, and War Damage to Hospitals. Lees-Milne, pp. 151 and p. 158, describes his reactions and the 27 January explosion. On the St Pancras V-2s I used War Damage to Hospitals and the List of Incidents . . . in the City of London (Doc. Misc. MSS 350.5). On the Hampstead incidents, see Hampstead at War, pp. 28—32 – where the ‘this was the end’ quotation appears – and the duplicated document Civil Defence Corps, Hampstead Division, Copy of Incident Reports. The other accounts are from private informants, and the list of incidents in the Group 6 boroughs is taken from Air 20/3439. The London Rocket plant is mentioned by Childs, p. 146.

  23 Down Lambeth Way (pages 284—294)

  The ‘American visitor’ is Childs, pp. 129 and 134. On Lambeth’s V-2s I consulted Lambeth Civil Defence, pp. 36 and 42—4. Details of the Hazelhurst Road incident in Wandsworth came from the report dated 20 November 1944 in HO 186/24
18; on the Poynders Road incident from the report of 29 January 1945 in HO 186/2428; and on the Nutwell Street incident the report by G. Morris, of 7 March, and E. Bax of the same date. Berwick Sayers, pp. 112—14, mentions the effects of Croydon’s situation and describes the Sunnybank and later incidents. On Bromley, Chislehurst and Beckenham, see Blake, pp. 88—90, the ‘wartime historian’ quoted.

  24 At the Arsenal (pages 295—306)

  On the Emergency Services Organization, see Spencer Freeman, pp. 77—8, and a decriptive note on the book’s dustjacket. On Woolwich Arsenal, see H. A. Baker. The Silvertown bascule bridge’s importance is explained in Report 243 in HO 202/10, and Report 245 mentions Silvertown’s seven rockets. The chief superintendent quoted was a private informant. Damage to London Transport is given in Graves, pp. 93—4, although the West Ham trolley bus incident is referred to in Report 239 of HO 202/10. Moody, p. 119, refers to improving travel conditions; Carter, p. 190, summarizes the number of railway incidents. On the Southern’s trials and casualty figures, see John, pp. 258—9; on Southwark Park Road, Moody, p. 119; on Folkestone Gardens, Darwin, p. 93. On the LMS, see John, p. 259; on the LNER, Crump, pp. 177—82, the ‘Khyber Pass’ appearing on pp. 179—81. Swanwick, p. 61, and Report 249 in HO 202/10 give details of the Great West Road V-2; the quotation from the Pyrene pamphlet is from Staples, pp. 4-5.