http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6920474.stm
I’m intrigued by this one – I can understand that a penetrating bomb might be missed in a clear-up operation, as it would leave a relatively small hole that could easily be masked by debris. Unless, of course, like the Beckton gasworks “Hermann” it was deliberately left with the hole in the gasometer plated over…
But a V1? Very little surface penetration, and considerably more debris from the beastie itself if it didn’t go off, I’d have thought – I’ve seen a crash-condition one, and it’s a big lump of steel. The only thing I can think of is that it ended up in a cellar covered by debris, and was covered over when the cellar was sealed.
I’d be very interested to hear anyone else’s thoughts, and also whether anyone hears any more about the story – these things do vanish off the radar after the initial drama!
Adrian
By: DaveF68 - 2nd August 2007 at 01:30
I can see how someone could mistake an old fashioned immersion tank for a bomb casing.
By: Paul Cushion - 1st August 2007 at 08:28
I can assure you that my story is the real one as I was the person who was dealing with the end part of incident in the Police control room!
I came on duty to be told about this “V1”, finding out about an hour after I started my shift that it was an immersion heater! There really is nothing more to it, I can assure you!
Paul
By: The Freshest - 31st July 2007 at 18:54
It was reported on a radio news programme that infact it was a mock up of a V1! That was made in this country and used as a practice bomb for bomb disposal teamS during the 1940’s. So quite a few different stories but does anyone actually have real one?
By: Arabella-Cox - 31st July 2007 at 18:33
It was’nt a V1. I am a Police officer and work in the communications site that covers this area and was on duty on this particular day. When the EOD people got there, it turned out in fact to be an immersion heater! :p They were’nt very impressed apparently.
Poor, sensational reporting on the part of the BBC again!
Paul
The same reporters who claimed the body of Flt Sgt Eric Williams had been found at Gravesend perhaps?
By: adrian_gray - 31st July 2007 at 16:43
They were’nt very impressed apparently.
That may get a prize for the understatement of the year!
How on earth did anyone manage to confuse an immersion heater with a doodlebug? Then again, the first magnetic mine “captured” in 1940 was mistaken for one (the Heinkel carrying it crashed into a house in Clacton-on-Sea, IIRC) until someone realised the “water tank” had no pipes running in or out of it… But water heaters don’t have wings, motor…
:confused: :confused: :confused:
Adrian
By: Paul Cushion - 31st July 2007 at 16:30
It was’nt a V1. I am a Police officer and work in the communications site that covers this area and was on duty on this particular day. When the EOD people got there, it turned out in fact to be an immersion heater! :p They were’nt very impressed apparently.
Poor, sensational reporting on the part of the BBC again!
Paul
By: adrian_gray - 31st July 2007 at 11:40
I read James Cracknall’s article about the Red Bull Air Race in the sports section of the Telegraph yesterday. In it he talked about how the practise and qualifying sessions were nearly cancelled after the discovery of the ‘bomb’ in docklands, but that apparently it was a concrete dud planted as part of an exercise back in the 60’s.
The plot thickens!
Adrian
By: Ant.H - 31st July 2007 at 11:39
I read James Cracknall’s article about the Red Bull Air Race in the sports section of the Telegraph yesterday. In it he talked about how the practise and qualifying sessions were nearly cancelled after the discovery of the ‘bomb’ in docklands, but that apparently it was a concrete dud planted as part of an exercise back in the 60’s.
By: adrian_gray - 31st July 2007 at 09:41
That’s certainly another possibility, and it would have penetrated deeply. On the other hand, there would be a lot of associated debris – especially a sodding great cast iron motor – unless the whole thing went in to soft soil?
There is a lot more to this than we are ever going to find out, methinks. And not in a Dan Brown sense either – just in a “news snippet of interest largely to us” way.
Adrian
By: QldSpitty - 31st July 2007 at 09:35
Don,t panic…
Errrr unless it,s a V2…Hate to think of the stuff thats around the place in England.A mate of mine works at an old Army Reserve here in Auss and every day he blows up ordinance left here after WW2.
By: adrian_gray - 31st July 2007 at 09:32
Good point Andy – given the usual accuracy of the media, and Ms Toppings effort in the Garuniad…
Dave might have got a good point – if it was in a basin, the bang would be contained and directed upwards, rather than spoiling all those nice floodplain developments. Bet the story has vanished, and we never will find out what really happened…
Adrian
By: Arabella-Cox - 30th July 2007 at 22:00
Well, the news media say its a “Doodlebug” so it must be!:D Obviously just the detonator left if they only need an exclusion zone of 400m. From past performances I should imagine they would evacuate most of SE England if it really was a V1!
By: DaveF68 - 30th July 2007 at 21:54
Not knowing, but reading the report (and how that area was developed – could it have avtually landed in the docks, then been infilled before being discovered?
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July 29, 2007 at 11:20 am