V 1 on Reads Island.

The nature of the flow of the Humber may well have resulted in changes to the shape and size of the island; a comparison between contemporary and modern maps may well show any differences. (Many years ago the Humber Conservancy Board ran a physical, scale model of the estuary in Hull to research the tidal effects, and I spent far too much time watching the forces of nature destroying stuff)

While I’ve no reason to doubt the explosive effects of the V1 payload, impacting into soft, intertidal mud may have had a moderating effect.

You never know, it may still be down there. 😮

Air launched V1s

Forgot about this

Saturday, 23rd/Sunday, 24th December 1944 N1939

A special unit of Heinkel 111s was assembled in June 1944. It was formed to carry V1s or Buzz Bombs as they were called, thus adding 400 miles to their 150 mile range, then being able to bomb northern industrial targets without having to risk precious manned aircraft over land.

On this Christmas Eve, between 05.00 and 06.00, forty-five Heinkels of the special unit launched its attack on Manchester from some 40 miles off the east coast between Skegness and Mablethorpe. Thirty-one V1s crossed the coast and about half fell within 20 miles of the intended target, but some landed in Yorkshire

Hi Mark ? – You forgot the ones that overshot 😮 Two came down near Blackburn, Lancashire and we have a sizable chunk of one of those recovered from the lip of its crater a couple of years ago – We think it is part of a tail fin – but to most people looks like a bloody great lump of severly twisted, very rusty steel ! :rolleyes: So JJ, don’t get too excited! 😀 Seem to recall Air Intelligence got pretty excited about these V1s as many carried propaganda leaflets (we tracked down several still held in the locality of our V1) so I can’t see them just leaving an intact one alone! Oh btw blast radius for a typical V1 is variously quoted between 400 – 700 yards! 😮

Reply.

JJ

I have a couple of local history books but can’t recal anything about a V1 bomb landing on Reeds, the Hope & Anchor pub which looks out onto Reeds has some history plastered on the walls so I will have a look next time I am in.

Might be a good idea for me to have a yarn with some of the more mature locals around here, maybe they can shed some light, for now I will have a dig in those books.

John.

Hi John,

Yes please do ask around the locals, you never know what might come up.
The conversation we had at one stage did state that it failed to explode.

Many thanks, Gary, JJ.

Reply

Forgot about this

Saturday, 23rd/Sunday, 24th December 1944 N1939

A special unit of Heinkel 111s was assembled in June 1944. It was formed to carry V1s or Buzz Bombs as they were called, thus adding 400 miles to their 150 mile range, then being able to bomb northern industrial targets without having to risk precious manned aircraft over land.

On this Christmas Eve, between 05.00 and 06.00, forty-five Heinkels of the special unit launched its attack on Manchester from some 40 miles off the east coast between Skegness and Mablethorpe. Thirty-one V1s crossed the coast and about half fell within 20 miles of the intended target, but some landed in Yorkshire, they include one that fell at Barmby Moor near Pocklington at 05.50, one that fell at Willerby on the western outskirts of Hull at 05.45 and another that landed in the mud just off Reads Island in the Humber Estuary, and yet another that fell at South Cliffe near Beverly. Three went badly astray, one landed in Shropshire, one in Northamptonshire and the third landed in Tudhoe, at 06.05, 170 miles off track, but not 20 miles from Newcastle!!

06.05.. Co Durham.. Eleven people were injured when a V1 landed on the cricket field at Tudhoe, the pavilion was destroyed. There was severe damage to 22 houses and slight damage to 368 other houses, a C of E Vicarage and nearby Catholic Church and orphanage were also damaged.

Hull.. Hull was on the route for a number of flying bombs destined for Manchester. One of these dropped on the outskirts of the city, in a field, the only damage being to windows and roofs, from blast. The event was an untimely one from the point of view of the householders who had to patch up their property in time for Christmas. It took more than six months to repair damage caused by this bomb. which was extensive. The Springhead pumping station was also damaged.

Taken from http://www.ne-diary.bpears.org.uk/index.html

Hi there RAF Millom,

Thanks for that, I have looked at the Earth Google shot of the Island and there does not seem to have been a hole, however I will check with locals
and Reps at East Kirkby, as they do stock some Goxhill relics and may know
something. I feel that it may have been blown-up as a danger to shipping
in the Humber, but hey who knows.

Thanks for that. Gary, JJ.

Forgot about this

Saturday, 23rd/Sunday, 24th December 1944 N1939

A special unit of Heinkel 111s was assembled in June 1944. It was formed to carry V1s or Buzz Bombs as they were called, thus adding 400 miles to their 150 mile range, then being able to bomb northern industrial targets without having to risk precious manned aircraft over land.

On this Christmas Eve, between 05.00 and 06.00, forty-five Heinkels of the special unit launched its attack on Manchester from some 40 miles off the east coast between Skegness and Mablethorpe. Thirty-one V1s crossed the coast and about half fell within 20 miles of the intended target, but some landed in Yorkshire, they include one that fell at Barmby Moor near Pocklington at 05.50, one that fell at Willerby on the western outskirts of Hull at 05.45 and another that landed in the mud just off Reads Island in the Humber Estuary, and yet another that fell at South Cliffe near Beverly. Three went badly astray, one landed in Shropshire, one in Northamptonshire and the third landed in Tudhoe, at 06.05, 170 miles off track, but not 20 miles from Newcastle!!

06.05.. Co Durham.. Eleven people were injured when a V1 landed on the cricket field at Tudhoe, the pavilion was destroyed. There was severe damage to 22 houses and slight damage to 368 other houses, a C of E Vicarage and nearby Catholic Church and orphanage were also damaged.

Hull.. Hull was on the route for a number of flying bombs destined for Manchester. One of these dropped on the outskirts of the city, in a field, the only damage being to windows and roofs, from blast. The event was an untimely one from the point of view of the householders who had to patch up their property in time for Christmas. It took more than six months to repair damage caused by this bomb. which was extensive. The Springhead pumping station was also damaged.

Taken from http://www.ne-diary.bpears.org.uk/index.html

Taken from the following site

http://www.bartonuponhumber.btinternet.co.uk/Stories/reads.htm

“There were also reports of an incident on the island during the Second World War. It was reported that a twin engine bomber presumably from one of the local airfields crashed on the Eastern side of the island. The plane was on a training flight and there were reported to be no survivors.”

After a dig through my books I am afraid I am unable to find anything firm and in writing about a V.1 on Reads island.

I can however confirm that there were two houses on the island that survived the war and the land was farmed (what for I don’t know), the children would take a boat to the mainland to go to South Ferriby school and would sometimes miss school due to tide times.

The houses have been gone a while now but Reads was still used up till the early eightes for livestock which mainly consisted of Deer.

Reads is now unused and serves as a nature reserve and attracts twitchers.

I would strongly argue the case that if a V.1 did land on Reads then it would more than likely have been destroyed to prevent any danger to people and livestock.

Sorry but thats all I can offer till I meet up with the local oldies that can tell me more.

Regards,

John.

JJ

I have a couple of local history books but can’t recal anything about a V1 bomb landing on Reeds, the Hope & Anchor pub which looks out onto Reeds has some history plastered on the walls so I will have a look next time I am in.

Might be a good idea for me to have a yarn with some of the more mature locals around here, maybe they can shed some light, for now I will have a dig in those books.

John.

Whats the blast zone on a V1? I only live about 500ft away from reeds island:eek: .

John.