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Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2012 12:41:59 GMT 1
I was stopped at the bus stop outside Banks Road Methodist Church the other day. Nothing unusual in that as I've done it many hundreds of times but they have now removed the small wall and railings that surrounded it. This has revealed what appears to be extensive Shrapnel damage. Further investigation uncovered the fact that the junior school nextdoor (now demolished) was hit during a raid in 1940.
I'm now wondering if the airport was hit too as this would have been one of a few major targets in the area at that time. Can anyone shed any light on this or indeed the Banks Road bomb?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2012 16:33:09 GMT 1
When I lived in the area as a kid, I was aware that there had been a number of attempts to bomb the gasworks, the docks and the timber yards (where the retail park is now), so I wouldn't be surprised if attempts were made to bomb the airport too, though I never heard of any actually landing within its boundaries when I worked there.
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Post by maverick on Jun 6, 2012 16:39:43 GMT 1
When I lived in the area as a kid, I was aware that there had been a number of attempts to bomb the gasworks, the docks and the timber yards (where the retail park is now), so I wouldn't be surprised if attempts were made to bomb the airport too, though I never heard of any actually landing within its boundaries when I worked there. Somewhere on the web (I'll try and find it again) there are day to day diaries of the blitz/bombings - certainly the airport was hit - we know that from aircraft being damaged in the raids and I seem to remember Banks Road School being mentioned. Most significant event in this area was when a landmine came down in the Gasworks/Gasometer and was defused in situ. |
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Post by johnoakes on Jun 6, 2012 18:31:57 GMT 1
Hope you find the web address ,that would make interesting reading.
Only one bomb dropped on St.Helens--not far from Beechams.--manufacturers of medical supplies
Only one bomb dropped on Burnley--just missed the straight mile of the canal.
Had both hit they would have had an effect on our war effort.
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Post by maverick on Jun 6, 2012 18:45:39 GMT 1
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Post by maverick on Jun 6, 2012 18:51:17 GMT 1
Excerpts from the said site - which also answers Steve's question -
15th SEPTEMBER 1940
A heavy raid brings attacks to the areas of Anfield, Fairfield, Walton, Speke and Norris Green. The Palace Ice Rink in Kensington is hit as is the Airport at Speke.
27th SEPTEMBER 1940
Great Homer Street area takes hits as is the school at Banks Road in Garston.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2012 22:46:23 GMT 1
Thanks for the replies. I'd forgotten about the timber yards. The link Maverick supplied has produced some really interesting reading and sublinks.
I didn't realise the Liverpool bombings were so intensive, with over 4,000 people killed and 10,000 home completely destroyed. At it's peak 298 bombers were counted over the city in one night.
One link tells of how they got here and the types of aircraft used both in attack and defense. Note the use of the Defiant. I can't find anything mentioning them being based at Speke but must have been somewhere local.
The long-range bombers, such as the Junkers JU 88, Focke-Wulf Fw 2000 and Heinkel He III, did not fly straight from occupied France to Liverpool. Instead they would cross the English Channel to St David's Head on the Bristol Channel, fly due north to cross Cardigan Bay, then east-north-east over Anglesey towards Liverpool. This route was clear of anti-aircraft defences and the pilots could use the lights of Dublin to guide them.
Barrage balloons were used to defend the city. These were 62 feet long and were tethered at 5000 feet in an attempt to stop the bombers and dive-bombers flying too low.
Decoy sites, known as starfish sites, also tricked enemy planes. These were building shaped structures that were set alight. Often these areas would be bombed instead of the city. Liverpool's was on the sands of the River Dee.
Fighter planes would go up to attack the bombers. Defiants, Hurricanes and Bristol Blenheims all flew above the city during the war. The Defiants were specialist night-fighters and were painted matt black, used during the May Blitz. Most enemy planes were destroyed on the run to and from Liverpool
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Post by johnoakes on Jun 7, 2012 6:36:39 GMT 1
excellent link-where would I find information re the night fighter operations over Liverpool at this time?
stunning detail of sad difficult days
thanks for finding that
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Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2012 8:43:29 GMT 1
It's generally believed that Liverpool was the most bombed city outside of London during the war, mainly because of the docks and the links to the US at the time. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in May 1941 said after visiting Liverpool and the surrounding area, "I see the damage done by the enemy attacks, but I also see ... the spirit of an unconquered people." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liverpool_Blitz |
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Post by maverick on Jun 7, 2012 9:02:11 GMT 1
One link tells of how they got here and the types of aircraft used both in attack and defense. Note the use of the Defiant. I can't find anything mentioning them being based at Speke but must have been somewhere local. To quote Wiki - RAF Cranage - "As well as the training role, the airfield also housed an operational squadron from December 1940 with the formation of 96 Squadron which was equipped with Hawker Hurricanes. This unit operated in the night air-defence role, mainly in the protection of the industrial and port areas of Liverpool." RAF Woodvale - although built to defend Liverpool was opened just too late to be of service - "RAF Woodvale.. ..constructed as an all-weather night fighter airfield for the defence of Liverpool, it did not open until 7 December 1941. This was just after the Liverpool Blitz, which had peaked in May. |
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Post by maverick on Jun 7, 2012 9:12:58 GMT 1
Excerpts from the said site - which also answers Steve's question - 15th SEPTEMBER 1940 A heavy raid brings attacks to the areas of Anfield, Fairfield, Walton, Speke and Norris Green. The Palace Ice Rink in Kensington is hit as is the Airport at Speke. 27th SEPTEMBER 1940 Great Homer Street area takes hits as is the school at Banks Road in Garston. There must have been a raid on 6/7 Oct. 40 too. From the latest Fola magazine - re aircraft losses- 06/10/40 Boston Lockheed Overseas Corp. Bomb damage at Speke. 06/10/40 Audax Bomb damage at Speke. 07/10/40 Hawker Hurricane 312 Sqn Bomb damage at Speke. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2012 23:11:20 GMT 1
Looks like the Banks Road incident was a failed attack on the airport. I came across the link below whilst further investigating Mavericks Defiant lead. Also attacked that night were RAF bases at Penhurst, Speke, Burtonwood, Ringway and Mount Batten. Looks like (but as yet can't confirm) that some of the Defiants may also have followed the Bombers up from RAF Fairwood Common, South Wales (now Swansea Airport). The link below gives a brief account of all RAF activity day by day and there is a very helpful calender at the foot of the page for ease of reference. www.raf.mod.uk/history/campaign_diaries.cfm?diarymonth=9&diaryyear=1940&diaryday=27 |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2012 23:47:24 GMT 1
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Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2012 23:53:54 GMT 1
excellent link-where would I find information re the night fighter operations over Liverpool at this time? stunning detail of sad difficult days thanks for finding that This is the link it came from. You have to click on each hour of the day on the task bar, also other links shown in red. Makes very interesting reading with photo's too. www.diduknow.info/blitz/1200.html |
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Post by johnoakes on Jun 8, 2012 8:41:41 GMT 1
Remarkable links--stories too incredible to be true yet are so--ordinary people with extra ordinary courage and dedication.
Truly humbling.
Did the Germans lose any aircraft over Liverpoll or to and fro.If so were any credited to the night fighters?
Can't find any figures or details of this.
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