- Contributed by
- Peter Hammond
- People in story:
- Richard Mills (author - aged 68)
- Location of story:
- Surrey
- Background to story:
- Civilian
- Article ID:
- A2839340
- Contributed on:
- 15 July 2004
On 8th August 1944 I went with my father to Burgh Heath in Surrey in order to get my haircut.
On the way we heard the grating roar, very difficult to describe, of a flying bomb V1, or "Doodlebug" coming towards us. I got down on the ground, as I had been told by my school, and lay flat. Just before I laid on the ground I caught a glimpse of the orange and red flame of the exhaust as it flew over my head. A coach driver standing near to my Dad said "He has the right idea, we should be doing the same".
The reason anybody had to lie on the floor was that if a doodlebug crashed nearby, after its engine had cut out, the blast from the explosion would have cut down anybody or anything.
After it had gone over I stood up and we watched it until there was a plume of smoke and debris.
The coach driver said "Poor old Worcester Park" - a residential area of Surrey.
© Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.
Recommended story
Story with photo 