Doodlebugs at night

I was 14 yrs old. My brother and I were watching the air raid in progress. Anti-aircraft fire was a certain attraction for lads that age. The very first doodlebugs came I think, to England that night. We had a grand view of one coming down not too far away because we saw the blazing tail on it's way down after the engine cut out. Then came the explosion and we thought that it was a German bomber been shot down with it's bomb load still on board. Actually through that night we saw and heard several more, still not knowing that they were doodlebugs and not German bombers. I do believe that more than 24 hours passed before the Government released details of the Flying Bomb. The word "Doodlebug" was bestowed by American servicemen if I remember correctly.
The one that I was closest to one Saturday afternoon, hit a row of houses, one of which had a wedding party in progress and I think the Bride was killed along with other guests. I can picture him to this day the Bridegroom, a Royal Navy sailor with his bloodied white wedding ribbons and him covered in blood dazedly wandering around appearing to not really knowing what was happening. So sad.

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