Recently saw an article with an eye-witness reference to large oil tanks with chimneys on the outskirts of Coventry during the early part of World War 2. These were to provide a smoke-screen in case of air attack and presumably they were mobile so they could be moved to the up-wind side of the city.
I don’t think I’ve seen reference to these before and I don’t believe they were used during the two Coventry blitzes (Nov. 1940 and April 1941)
Were these “air defences” used/tried in other locations and did they meet with any success?
Roger Smith.
By: vulcan558 - 4th September 2007 at 22:03
Have not seen anything about this smoke screen around Coventry but it could be true.
Roger i guess you Know the one about them draining the lake at Coombe abbey , the Germans on clear night could find the lake shimmering like a big reflector mirror and it could be seen for miles. the other problem with the lake was that it is shaped like a big V or arrow pointing direct towards the city center. Mr bomber just followed the arrow into Cov .
they did drain the lake in the war not sure if it was before or after the blitz on the city thou. Was just wondering if the smoke screen was over the lakes at 1st to try and hide it?,
with little success so draining it was the next option.
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September 4, 2007 at 6:31 pm