Post by larryc1 on Jan 2, 2024 20:19:47 GMT
In the pre-dawn darkness of December 24, 1944, at Flugplatz Leck, 55 He 111 H-22's of KG53 'Legion Condor' took off on a bombing mission to Manchester. These aircraft each carried a FZG 76 to be launched over the North Sea. In the event 40-45 V1's were released: only 30 of which made land-fall. There is speculation that this operation (MARTHA) was designed to support the Ardennes offensive. This operation is not well known in the English literature.
The weapons were scattered widely over this part of Northern England, a plot of their impacts demonstrates the failure of this type of attack. The worst incident occurred at Oldham Road where 27 were killed and 49 wounded. Overall the majority of the missiles fell in open countryside and only one hit the intended target. A total of 44 civilians were killed and 158 wounded in this 'Blitz'.
One Heinkel was shot down by RAF Mosquito night-fighters; one was damaged.
Much of this information was derived from Air Crash UK.
My thanks to Chriusha for supplying the correct name of the operation.
Marker colours: red = exact location, pink = approximate location.
Manchester Christmas Eve V1 Blitz 1944.kmz (5.18 KB)
The weapons were scattered widely over this part of Northern England, a plot of their impacts demonstrates the failure of this type of attack. The worst incident occurred at Oldham Road where 27 were killed and 49 wounded. Overall the majority of the missiles fell in open countryside and only one hit the intended target. A total of 44 civilians were killed and 158 wounded in this 'Blitz'.
One Heinkel was shot down by RAF Mosquito night-fighters; one was damaged.
Much of this information was derived from Air Crash UK.
My thanks to Chriusha for supplying the correct name of the operation.
Marker colours: red = exact location, pink = approximate location.
Manchester Christmas Eve V1 Blitz 1944.kmz (5.18 KB)