Doodlebugs.

This story has been written onto the BBC People's War site by CSV Storygatherer Denise, on behalf of Shirley Nielsen. The story has been added to the site with her permission. And Shirley Nielsen fully understands the terms and conditions of the site.
We always knew when a doodlebug was very close because it made any loose ornaments in the house vibrate crazily.
People soon learned how doodlebugs were likely to behave. They tended to come in groups and could come at any time. When the engine cut, it would either crash immediately and your house would be demolished or severely damaged, and you were lucky to be alive. If after the engine stopped you could count to 10 seconds you would survive. If you could get to 20 there wouldn't be much damage. But sometimes they would glide for miles to explode far away crashing without warning.
This hot June night in 1944 when I was 17, my father was home from firefighting and rescue duty in Croydon. We were sleeping in our beds for a change but our subconsciouses were alert for danger.
There's that noise coming rapidly, closer, closer...ornaments rattling. CUT ENGINE. Head under pillow. Count..1, 2, 3...heart pounding inside my body, sweating. Count...can I get to 10? 9, 10, I will live, 11, 12, 13, it must land now....15, when? 17, heart slows a little. 19, 20..we are safe. 23, 24, 25.......
The voice of my father "Are you alright Shirley?" "Yes, I'm ok".
Sleep is forgotten. The three of us go downstairs for a cup of tea to calm ourselves.
We never heard it land. Someone, somewhere was probably killed when it crashed without warning.

© Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.