London Blitz Question (1 Viewer)

[gk5717]

I was watching a movie last night (Colditz, terrible movie) and their were scenes debicting London during the blitz, and in the back ground was Buckingham Palace.
My question is, why was the palace not bombed or did the Germans just miss it.
Gary

 

[Wraith]

Gary,

Buckingham Palace was hit 9 times during the Blitz. I never found anything that indicated whether the palace was intentionally targetted.

Simon

 

[Rob]

There was the case of the German bomber that was heading for Buckingham palace and was intercepted by an RAF Hurricane.Having run out of Ammo the Pilot of the Hurricane bravely and deliberatly rammed the German plane.The bomber crashed into Waterloo station killing the crew.About three or four years ago there was a live tv programme in which they dug up the RAF pilots Hurricane and the pilot came face to face again with his hurricane sixty years on.IMHO it is because of pilots of this calibre that we won the Battle of Britain and remained free.

Rob

 

[Eazy]

That's a really interesting story. Sounds like a good programme.

 

[Rob]

It was really good james,i saw an interview with him in which he said there was 'no way i was going to let him get to the palace'.Nice one!.

Rob

 

[Louis Badolato]

The whole incident with the heroic RAF pilot ramming the German bomber to save the palace was caught on film by a 13 year old filming a football (soccer) match, as was the RAF pilot parachuting to safety. The person with the camera was also located and interviewed on the show. I couldn't agree more that this level of heroics was one of the big reasons the Allies won the battle of Britain (in addition to British pilots [the vast majority who rightfully get most of the credit], there were also Canadian, Australian, New Zealand, South African, Polish, Free French, and U.S. Eagle Squadron volunteers in the mix).

 

[Harrytheheid]

The whole incident with the heroic RAF pilot ramming the German bomber to save the palace was caught on film by a 13 year old filming a football (soccer) match, as was the RAF pilot parachuting to safety. The person with the camera was also located and interviewed on the show. I couldn't agree more that this level of heroics was one of the big reasons the Allies won the battle of Britain (in addition to British pilots [the vast majority who rightfully get most of the credit], there were also Canadian, Australian, New Zealand, South African, Polish, Free French, and U.S. Eagle Squadron volunteers in the mix).

Absolutely agree Louis. The B of B was no way a one-man show and all due credit must go to the non-UK participants who saved us in 1940.
Including the Checks.....can't spell cheques......

Cheers
H

 

[jazzeum]

Czechs.

 

[Rob]

The whole incident with the heroic RAF pilot ramming the German bomber to save the palace was caught on film by a 13 year old filming a football (soccer) match, as was the RAF pilot parachuting to safety. The person with the camera was also located and interviewed on the show. I couldn't agree more that this level of heroics was one of the big reasons the Allies won the battle of Britain (in addition to British pilots [the vast majority who rightfully get most of the credit], there were also Canadian, Australian, New Zealand, South African, Polish, Free French, and U.S. Eagle Squadron volunteers in the mix).

Absolutely Louis,so many from so many different countries helped insure that Great Britain stayed free to fight the Nazi's.God Bless everyone of them i say.

Rob

 

[Louis Badolato]

Absolutely Louis,so many from so many different countries helped insure that Great Britain stayed free to fight the Nazi's.God Bless everyone of them i say.

Rob

Rob,

When I think about the courage of the British people, who stood alone against the seemingly invincible might of Nazi Germany, it brings tears to my eyes. Having lived through 9-11 in New York, and knowing the level of fear one attack can engender, my admiration for the the spirit of that rightfully named "greatest generation" knows no limits. The fact that brave individuals from a dozen other nations volunteered to help the remarkably brave RAF flyers just makes me proud to be a member of the human race.

 

[Rob]

Rob,

When I think about the courage of the British people, who stood alone against the seemingly invincible might of Nazi Germany, it brings tears to my eyes. Having lived through 9-11 in New York, and knowing the level of fear one attack can engender, my admiration for the the spirit of that rightfully named "greatest generation" knows no limits. The fact that brave individuals from a dozen other nations volunteered to help the remarkably brave RAF flyers just makes me proud to be a member of the human race.

Spot on mate.And i hope the good people of the USA knew that the civilised world stood with them after 9/11.America has always been our greatest friend and when it really matters they stand together.As for the war generation of my country they certainly had b**** of steel and a determination to take whatever the Nazi scum could throw at them and then give it back ten fold.I also really appreciate America agreeing to assault Europe first, an act which cost hundreds of thousands of its young men,before giving the forces of Japan an a*** kicking it so richly deserved.

Rob

 

[damian]

You should read a book called the Guinea Pig Club for inspiration. Sir Archibald McIndoe is the father of modern plastic surgery. Together with a Kiwi anaethetist called McGill they started a reconstructive unit to repair the faces of all these pilots who had been badly burned during the war. He pioneered all the modern reconstructive techniques. I think his unit was in a village called East Grimsley. He got the whole community involved. he taught the barmaids not ro stare at these young mens faces when they came to the pub and the shop assistants not to turn away in horror. He said he ran an exclusive club but the price for entry was more than most men would be prepared to pay. I read it out of medical curiosity but it re-inspires your admiration for the few. More in some ways than any movie could.
Regards
Damian Clarke

 

[Louis Badolato]

You should read a book called the Guinea Pig Club for inspiration. Sir Archibald McIndoe is the father of modern plastic surgery. Together with a Kiwi anaethetist called McGill they started a reconstructive unit to repair the faces of all these pilots who had been badly burned during the war. He pioneered all the modern reconstructive techniques. I think his unit was in a village called East Grimsley. He got the whole community involved. he taught the barmaids not ro stare at these young mens faces when they came to the pub and the shop assistants not to turn away in horror. He said he ran an exclusive club but the price for entry was more than most men would be prepared to pay. I read it out of medical curiosity but it re-inspires your admiration for the few. More in some ways than any movie could.
Regards
Damian Clarke

Damian,

I will have to get a copy of this book. And if anybody from East grimsley reads this, thank you for doing the right thing for those brave young men!

 

[Bob]

There’s story that when Buckingham Palace was bombed for the first time the Queen gave a sigh of relief and said “Now we can look the East End in the face”. The East End had suffered badly while Buckingham Palace had remained intact.

There’s also the story that the King and Queen had visited the East End after one of the raids and one of the Eastenders had commented on the Queen’s outfit. She answered that if he came to visit her wouldn’t he wear his best – well, she was wearing her best because she had come to visit him. It went down very well.

Its also recorded (but certainly not mentioned at the time) that when the first air raids began such guns as were able to be deployed in London could not be elevated enough to fire at the German planes. They were kept in use until real AA batteries could be brought up to maintain the morale of Londoners although they were unable to hit anything.

The Hurricane ramming the German bomber is documented fact – there is a legend that can’t be substantiated that a German bomber was shot down at the bottom of Buckingham Palace Road. In an effort to get the road open the bomber was not removed but buried on the spot and the road rebuilt over it. Years later council workers debated whether there were still bombs on the plane when they buried it, and there are locals today who believe that there are unexploded bombs under the junction of Ebury Bridge Road and Buckingham Palace Road. I don’t believe it but I do know those who do.

There’s a well known and truly evocative photo showing the City burning and in the midst of the fire and destruction, untouched and undamaged, is Wren’s masterpiece St Pauls. A magnificent symbol.