25 What Can’t Be Cured (pages 307—323)
Irving, p. 292, mentions the damaged missiles; Dornberger, pp. 229—30, the last test at, and evacuation of, Heidekraut; O‘Brien, p. 666 (footnote), the report of 25 September on warnings; the Crossbow Committee 17th Report, folios 602—10 in PREM 3/111, the absence of possible counter-measures. Dr Jones’s study of the rocket’s accuracy of 11 January 1945 was supplied to me privately, as was some additional information on the subject. I also consulted the document ‘Accuracy of Long-Range Rockets Fired at London during the Period September 1944 to March 1945, in file SORS/1/92, which breaks the attack down into six phases of varying effectiveness. On the ROC’s rocket sightings, see Wood, p. 178. Pile, pp. 386-8, describes his difficulties and the attempt to overcome them. Turner mentions the limitations of existing radar sets; Collier, Battle, p. 136, the despondent view of most scientists; Turner the general difficulty of intercepting V-2s. Howard-Williams, p. 142, had the encounter with a V-2 north of The Hague; David Johnson, pp. 168—9, mentions those of a Spitfire and a B-24. Jones, p. 454, mentions British knowledge about Nordhausen; Richards and Saunders, p. 172, the effect of the Tirpitz’s sinking; Garlinski, p. 141, the fate of the unfortunate slave workers. On operations in 1944, see Richards and Saunders, pp. 172—3, and After the Battle, p. 31. Morrison’s plea for heavy bombers to be used and the Chiefs of Staff’s reply are in PREM 3/ 111, folios 299, 292, 291 and 284, and the Cabinet call for intensified bombing is folio 265. William Sidney’s letter is folio 580 in PREM 3/ 111, General Ismay’s comment is folio 238, the note of 1 March (by ‘JRC’) is folio 574, Sinclair’s letter of 2 March folio 639, Peck’s note of 26 February folios 252—3, Ismay’s comments folio 247, Churchill’s rejoinder folio 242, Morrisons’s plea of 1 March folio 236, Churchill’s reply 235, and the Chiefs of Staff’s reaction folio 232. On the Haagsche Bosch fiasco, see After the Battle, pp. 31—2, Richards and Saunders, p. 175, Johnson, p. 186 (which includes the ‘stupid Dutch’ quote), and folio 535 in PREM 3/111 for the Foreign Minister’s protest. Churchill’s sharp memo is folio 533, and Sinclair’s and the Chiefs of Staffs respective replies are nos 529—32 and 525—8. Churchill’s final comment is in no. 547.
26 A Routine Job (pages 324-336)
The most valuable account of the distinctive effects of the rocket is in a draft entitled ‘Lessons from Recent Raids – Long-Range Rockets’, undated but being circulated for comments around 6 December 1944, in file HO 186/2299. It was subsequently issued in a less detailed and explicit form as ‘Lessons from Rocket Attacks’, Home Security Circular No. 3/1945, which can be found in file HO 196/1848. Public confidence in the services is mentioned on p. 13 of the draft, the effects on shelters are described on p. 3 and injury from burns on p. 4. The dangers of untrained helpers and the need for two incident officers are on pp. 6-7. Field telephones are mentioned on p. 7, and searchlights on p. 9. Difficulties in tracing casualties and missing people are set out on pp. 9 – 10. On dogs, see p. 11 of the ‘Lessons’ draft, Wyld, p. 22, Hampstead at War, p. 28, Berwick Sayers, p. 111, the report on Hazelhurst Road dated 20 November in HO 186/2418, and on Usk Road, to the Battersea ARP controller, on 5 February 1945 in the Wandsworth Borough Archives. See also Blake, p. 89, for doubts about the dogs’ value. The Gravesend Reporter, 12 November 1965, described the Milton Place incident. The use of cranes is discussed on pp. 8—9 of HO 186/2299, and the contribution of the NFS on pp. 10—11. The forthright rescue service officer at Folkestone Gardens was W. Padmore, whose report is preserved in HO 186/2381, n.d. but c. 7 March 1945. The diary and final report of the incident officer at Usk Road are filed as Incident Report no. 1060 in the Wandsworth Borough Archives. The argument over IIPs can be followed in marginal notes on the ‘Lessons’ draft. The American writer is Childs, p. 135.
27 Horrible and Sudden Death (pages 337—348)
The promise of ‘horrible and sudden death’ is in a German Telegraph Service article in English, for 11 November 1944, in file HO 199/374. On casualty figures, see Collier, Defence, p. 528, and O’Brien, p. 677. The eleven missing at New Cross are mentioned in an article in The Standard (formerly the Evening Standard) of 3 May 1984. The Hackney paper is in HO 186/2418, with comments by J. W. Oatley, 26 March 1945, and Col. Whitworth Jones, 29 March.
28 Damage Was Caused (pages 349—357)
On damage statistics, see Summary of Damage and War Damage to Buildings. On experience in Ilford, see Pearson, p. 56, and the Ilford Guardian article of 3 May 1945. On Lord Woolton’s press conference, Kohan, p. 223; on the Ministry of Works’ efforts, Kohan, pp. 224—9 and 234.
29 Spring in Stepney (pages 358—369)
The MOI handout was War Damage to Hospitals. Dr Jones’s Air Scientific Intelligence Report of 1 March 1945 was privately supplied to me. For the group casualty figures, see Appendix A in Air 20/ 3439. On the City, see the List of Incidents . . . affecting Corporation Property; on Stoke Newington, document SN/A in the Hackney Borough Archives; on Bethnal Green, Vale, p. 8; on the Midland Bank, Wadsworth, p. 94. (The driver sent me his account privately.) Details of the Smithfield incident are given in the ‘Notes of a Visit by Admiral Evans’ for each of his four visits on 8—9 March, and an account of the handling of casualties in the reports by G. Wallace entitled ‘Incident at Charterhouse Street’ on 8 and 12 March, all in file HO 186/2388. On Hughes Mansions, the comparable source is the notes of successive visits by E. G. Bax, 27—8 March, in HO 186/ 2420. On the last incident, I used the Kentish Times for 3 November 1983, the Orpington Times for 30 January and 30 July 1981 and Blake, p. 90.
30 They Have Ceased (pages 370—385)
The epigraph comes from a file of Ministry of Home Security Operations Bulletins in the Norfolk Record Office, reference C/APR/1/ 18. Sansom records relief in Westminster on p. 199; Irving, pp. 300-301, and David Johnson, p. 183, cover the evacuation of Peenemünde; Dornberger, pp. 250—51, describes Kammler’s ‘finest hour’ and the disbandment of the training unit. V-2 output figures appear in Irving, p. 306 (footnote). Walters, p. 81, describes von Braun’s escape and accident, pp. 86-8 the wait at Oberjoch and p. 91 his first American breakfast. Dornberger, p. 254, reports the scientists’ fears and describes their living conditions. The ‘They have ceased’ exchanges are in Hansard, Commons Debates, vol. 410. On the scientists’ surrender, see Irving, p. 301, and Walters pp. 86-8, while p. 91 describes von Braun’s breakfast. On their later adventures, see Walters, pp. 94 and 133, and von Braun, pp. 122—3. Kammler’s presumed death is mentioned by Kennedy, p. 44. On Cherwell’s death, see Birkenhead, p. 335; on his views on the V-2, Pile, p. 366, Irving, p. 297, folio 600 in PREM 3/111 and his note of 6 April 1945 in the same file. Jones’s article is reprinted in ‘The Future of the Rocket’ and quoted in Jones, pp. 459—61. The combustion chamber used by rabbits is mentioned in the Ipswich Evening Star for 17 February 1984; the open spaces in The Hague in After the Battle, p. 32; the ban on the publication of incident details in Wyld, p. 5; Hill’s view of the rocket is in para. 238 of his Air Operations report. Von Braun, p. 108, mentions the casualty figures and damage; Dornberger, p. 255, his regret at the rocket’s imperfect state of development ; Irving, p. 514, questions its cost-effectiveness, as does Speer, pp. 492—3. The final quotation from Jones is in ‘Future’, p. 13. On the Antwerp incident, see Helfers, Employment, pp. 38—47, Helfers, ‘Chaotic Command’, p. 23, and Angell, p. 63, quotes Hitler’s remark to Dornberger.
CONTRIBUTORS
Ronald G. Absalom, Southend-on-Sea, Essex; John Ames, Robertsbridge, Sussex; Mrs Sybil C. Armstrong, North Harrow, Middlesex; C. Stuart Bailey, Purley, Surrey; J. B. Baird, London SE2; Mrs K. E. Bannister, Cheam, Surrey; Peter R. Barnard, Ashford, Middlesex; W/Cdr R. B. Beamont, CBE, DSO, DFS, FRAES, Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex; Ray Billings, Pinner, Middlesex; Mrs Joyce Blackburn, Doncaster, Yorkshire; J. D. Blayney, Romford, Essex; Mrs Rosetta Brazil, Basildon, Essex; James J. Breslin, Bromley, Kent; Roy S. Brooker, East Farleigh, Maidstone, Kent; John Brown, London W3; Dr E. T. Burtt, Newca
stle upon Tyne; Mrs Elsie Butcher, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex; Mrs Irene Calvert, South Tankerton, Kent; Richard A. S. Carter, Aylesbury, Bucks; S. Clapham, Norwich; George B. Clarke, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk; F. A. Cluett, FRSA, Gravesend, Kent; A. G. Collins, Piltdown, Sussex; F. C. Coppard, East Croydon, Surrey; Albert Copping, High Wycombe, Bucks; Miss E. M. Corben, London SW17; Peter Cornish, London SE19; John W. A. Dann, Lowestoft, Suffolk; Mrs Margaret L. Day, Ashford, Middlesex; Mrs Doris Dayan, Boscombe, Dorset; Mrs W. Derham, North Lancing, Sussex; Mrs Elizabeth Dodds, Bedford; Mrs Jean M. Dovey, Windsor, Berks; George R. Downing, Horstead, Norwich; Mrs E. L. Eadon, Broadstairs, Kent; Mrs B. A. Elliott, Wickford, Essex; Mrs Hazel Escott, Rayleigh, Essex; Gordon R. Everson, Brentwood, Essex; Norman Ezard, London SE4; Mrs Sheila Faber, London NW11; Dr R. H. Farmer, Aylesbury, Bucks; Mrs Pauline E. Favell, Crowborough, Sussex; Mrs Margaret Fish, Norwich; John Fisher, Colchester, Essex; Mrs Iris N. Fitton, Lowestoft, Suffolk; S. N. Forster, London SE19; A. W. Gordon Franklin, Northwood, Middlesex; Miss G. M. French, London W4; Mrs H. Friend, Buckhurst Hill, Essex; Terence Gallacher, Brentwood, Essex; Mrs Elizabeth E. Gamhan, Diss, Norfolk; Peter Gardner, Horsham, Sussex; John Garlick, London E17; Mrs Doris Gash, Clifton, Manchester; Hector Gent, Thornton Heath, Surrey; Ken Gibbons, London SW19; Mrs Gym Glover, Margate, Kent; P. H. Godfrey, Norwich; Mrs Doris Goode, Iver Heath, Bucks; Mrs Florence Gorton, Ilford, Essex; Frederick G. Gould, Hookley, Herts; Mrs Doris Graham, Billericay, Essex; Dr Alfred E. Gray, BA, PhD, High Wycombe, Bucks; R. G. Gray, Trowse, Norwich; Andrew M. Green, FRSA, Robertsbridge, Sussex; G. W. Green, New Costessey, Norwich; A. E. Hammer, London SE26; Albert Hands, Ilford, Essex; C. J. C. Harris, London N8; Mr and Mrs H. W. Hart, Frinton-on-Sea, Essex; Mike Hasler, Aylesbury, Bucks; J. P. Hebb, Westerham, Kent; John Hemmings, Cirencester, Glos; Sidney Hendry, Melton Constable, Norfolk; Stan Hodgson, London N15; Miss Constance Holt, London WC1; Mrs C. A. Hudson, Herne Bay, Kent; Canon Anthony Hulme, Bedford; Arthur Impey, Wembley, Middlesex; Miss Connie Ives, FRGS, London W3; A. J. Jackson, Harrow Weald, Middlesex; A. James, Southall, Middlesex; W. M. Jarvis, Richmond, Surrey; Mrs Ruth Jenkinson, London SE14; Mrs E. G. Johnson, Gillingham, Kent; Noel Johnson, Twickenham, Middlesex; R. Johnson, Pinner, Middlesex; S. P. Johnson, Ramsgate, Kent; Mrs Eileen Johnstone, Redruth, Cornwall; Miss Thelma Kay, Brighton, Sussex; Mrs George Kevan (formerly of New Cross), Eastbourne, Sussex; A. Kewall, London E15; Mr and Mrs Kieser, Whitstable, Kent; Mrs G. Kynaston Nicholas, Epsom, Surrey; Ken Lake, London E17; D. G. Lane, Orpington, Kent; W. 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Nichols, Basildon, Essex; C. W Norris, London E9; E. H. Norris, London W11; Don Nowers, Hythe, Kent; N. Nugent, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex; Arthur James Parker, Bromley, Kent; Norman Paulding, Chelmsford, Essex; Mr and Mrs Pearce, Canterbury, Kent; F. C. Pearse, Morden, Surrey; Miss Patricia Peasnell, London NW10; Clement Phillips, Warlingham, Surrey; Mrs Yvonne S. Pike, Rayleigh, Essex; F. G. Pont, London SE19; H. G. Pooley, Haslemere, Surrey; John Pope, Isleworth, Middlesex; W. H. Prentis, Mitcham, Surrey; Mrs Gladys Prisley, Bournemouth, Dorset; Mrs Enid G. Prole, High Wycombe, Bucks; Mrs Muriel Quigley, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk; Miss Elizabeth Rathbone, Sevenoaks, Kent; Mrs Ruth Raybould, Thetford, Norfolk; M. Redshaw, Milton Regis, Kent; Mrs A. Reeves, Crowborough, Sussex; Rev. A. G. and Mrs Reynolds, Harwich, Essex; Mrs P. M. Reynolds, Winchester, Hants; Reginald Rham, Whitton, Middlesex; Mrs Marion Richards, Haywards Heath, Sussex; Walter G. Richards, London SW18; Alan W. Rolfe, London SW2; Mrs Lily Rose Rose, London E2; Edwin S. Rosenthal, Witnesham, Suffolk; L. V. Rowe, Frinton-on-Sea, Essex; Mrs Givenda Sanders, Haywards Heath, Sussex; Mr and Mrs H. J. Saunders, Worthing, Sussex; Mrs Iris Shepherd, King’s Lynn, Norfolk; A. R. Simmonds, Brammerton, Norwich; Mrs B. A. Slade, Ramsgate, Kent; Mrs Alice Smith, Canvey Island, Essex; Chris Smith, Westerham, Kent; Mrs D. Smith, Sutton, Norwich; Donald Smith, Hounslow, Middlesex; E. L. Smith, Canvey Island, Essex; F. Smith, London W12; G. I. Smith, Pulborough, Sussex; Leslie Smith, Mitcham, Surrey; Cdr R. J. Smith, cvo, KPM, Eastbourne, Sussex; Dr W. E. Snell, Hambledon, Oxon; N. T. Stack, London SW20; Mrs E. F. Stanton, Heston, Middlesex; C. W. Stark, Gravesend, Kent; John Stone, Cranleigh, Surrey; I. T. Stratford, Colchester, Essex; Mrs M. Streeter, Eastbourne, Sussex; Alan Stuart, Reading, Berks; Mrs Jean Swindell, London SE7; Mrs Sybil Tarr, Pinner, Middlesex; Mrs D. Taylor, Romford, Essex; Mr William and Mrs Norah Taylor, Hadley Wood, Herts; Roger Thurgood, Pinner, Middlesex; W. Timms, Woking, Surrey; Miss Joyce D. Tobin, Hove, Sussex; Mrs Rhoda Tompkins, London SW13; Mrs Gwen M. Trash, Burgess Hill, Sussex; T. H. Troughton, Greenford, Middlesex; Miss L. R. Tuck, Englefield Green, Surrey; Derek Underwood, Horsham, Sussex; Philip Unwin, Haslemere, Surrey; Clarence Uren, Edgware, Middlesex; Mrs E. Walker, Glasgow, Scotland; Mrs Audrey Wall, Reading, Berks; Robert Wanden, Maidenhead, Berks; John Warburton, London SW11; Geoff Warne, Bexley, Kent; Mrs E. Watson, Newcastle on Tyne; Eric Wayman, Bexleyheath, Kent; F. R. Weaver, Cambridge; Harold Webster, Rocklands, Norfolk; Mrs Joyce White, London N1; Mike Willsmer, Chelmsford, Essex; R. W. Noble Woodward, Colchester, Essex; Victor Wright, Holt, Norfolk.
GENERAL INDEX
A-1 rockets
A-2 rockets
A-3 rockets
A-4 rockets, passim
A-5 rockets
accuracy
AEG
aerial photography, of rocket sites
aiming point
Air Intelligence Branch
air-breaks
airbursts
animals
Ardennes offensive
Attlee, Clement
Babington Smith, Constance
Baldwin, Hanson
Balfour, Harold
Barnes, Alfred
Becker, General Karl
Bevin, Ernest
‘Big Ben’, codename
Black Plan
blackout
‘Bodyline’ Scientific Committee
Bomber Command
bombing raids
on bunkers
on launching sites
on Peenemünde
Bor, General
Bracken, Brendan
Brauchitsch, Colonel-General von
Braun, Magnus von
Braun, Werner von
arrested
attitude to V-2s,
background
builds wind-tunnel
Dornberger first meets
first experiments
modifications to V-2,
and production
and raid on Peenemünde
selects Peenemünde
surrenders
test flights
visit to Hitler
Breedon, Florence
British ArmyMobile Air Reporting Unit
British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
Brooke, Sir Alan (later Lord Alanbrooke)
Brown, W. J.
Buhle, General
building workers
bunkers see launching bunkers
buses
disruption
garages
Athol Gate
Epping
Forest Gate
Plumstead
Swanley
West Ham
Woolwich
Cab
inet Defence Committee, see War Cabinet Defence Committee
casualties
blinded
Deptford
expected rate of
first week of attack
from flying-bombs
identification of bodies
London
Norfolk
rescue
serious injury
shell-shocked
slightly injured
treatment
unaccounted-for people
‘Cement’
censorship.
Central Interpretation Centre, Medmenham
Central Works
Cherwell, Lord (Professor
Frederick Lindemann)
after the war
and arrival of first rockets
and Churchill
and confirmation of the rocket
and Duncan Sandys’ appointment
on expected casualty numbers
and the flying-bomb
on possible casualties
post-war doubts of value of rockets
and rocket’s weight
R. V. Jones and
scepticism about existence of V-2
Hitler's Rockets: The Story of the V-2s Page 47