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World War II -
Pilotless Air-Craft or Flying Bombs Exploded (June-August 1944)
V-1 of 'Doodlebug' Flying Bombs commenced targetting England in June 1944, a few days after D-day, and continued until the Pas-De-Calais area containing the launch ramp sites, was captured by the Allies in September 1944. Thereafter the longer range V-2 Rockets were deployed. A Bomb Census was conducted in each region to record the order in which bombs fell, the location, what caused them to fall short of London, and the damage sustained to casualties, livestock, property and infrastructure. The following table records the incidents in the Elham District.
No.
Date
Time
Location
Cause
Damage
1
17 June 1944
1510 pm
Field near Terlingham, Hawkinge. Shot down by fighters Damage to two cottages and crops. No casualties. 2
25 June 1944
2311 pm
In open near Hedgecock Wood, Stowting. Shot down by night fighters No casualties. Damage to Yew Tree Farm, Lymbridge green, and Fair View. 3
27 June 1944
0220 am
Hodiford Farm, Sellindge unknown No casualties. Consderable damage to Hodiford Farmhouse & buildings. Slight damage to The Windmill, Stone Hill, and Moorstock Cottage. 10 sheep killed, 5 injured. 4
28 June 1944
0545 am
Field, Upper Otterpool Farm, Lympne Shot down by fighter No casualties. 3 Service huts destroyed. Slight damage to Red house, Newingreen & Mrs Marsh's house next door:also to 5 Oak Cottage, Barrow Hill, Sellindge. 5
30 June 1944
1635 pm
Mid-air over Horton Park Shot down by fighter No casualties. Sheep injured. Damage to wndow Hayton Manor. 6
03 July 1944
1725 pm
Over Kiln Wood, Saltwood Shot down by fighter No civilian casualties. 12 Military casualties (2 serious). Slight damage to several properties. 7
03 July 1944
2244 pm
Over Prince of Wales, Rhodes Minnis Shot down by fighter 13 Casualties (1 hospital case). 20 people homeless. Rest Centre, Elham opened. Road blocked. Extensive damage to property. 10 houses severely damaged. 55 houses slightly or moderately. Telephone wires damaged. 8
07 July 1944
1732 pm
Lymbridge green, Stowtin Shot down by fighter No casualties. Slight damage to several houses. 9
07 July 1944
1225 pm
Evington Park, Elmsted. Shot down by fighter No casualties. Slight damage to about 20 houses. 10
12 July 1944
0735 am
Mid-air over Oat Hill, Lympne. Shot down by fighter No casualties. Slight damage to 2 houses. 11
12 July 1944
1636 pm
200yards South of Skeete Farm, Lyminge Shot down by fighter No casualties. Damage to Skeete House. Slight damage to 3 cottages at Woodlands. 2 horses killed, 1 injured on Skeete Farm. 12
16 July 1944
0424 am
Mid-air over Oat Hill, Lympne. Shot down by fighter No casualties or damage 13
16 July 1944
0428 am
Mid-air over Mill Down, Elham Shot down by fighter No casualties. Damage to approximately 12 houses, mostly slight. 14
16 July 1944
1238 pm
The Vicarage, Postling Shot down by fighter No casualties. Slight damage to several houses. Telephone wires cut. Postling Road blocked. 15
19 July 1944
0640 am
Mid-air half way down Beechborough Hill Shot down by fighter 2 casualties - one serious. 4 cottages seriously damaged (3 of them evacuated.)N.F.S. Called in to extinguish burning trees. 16
22 July 1944
2358 pm
Acrise Wood, Acrise Shot down by Anti-Aircraft gun fire No casualties. Slight damage to 2 houses. 17
23 July 1944
0940am
Barley-field, Little Pett Bottom Farm, Elmsted Shot down by fighter Some damage to Little Pett Bottom Farm. Slight damage to several other houses 18
23 July 1944
1424 pm
Rear of Council Houses, Stone Street, Lympne Damaged by Anti-aircraft fire out at sea & crashed Civilian casualties 7 of which 2 hospital cases, other 5 slight. Service casualties 1 dead, 4 serious, 3 hospital, 10 slight. Several RAF huts & tents destroyed. Extensive damage to roofs, windows etc of about 20 houses. 19
24 July 1944
0150 am
Chalk Pit, Newington Shot down by Anti-Aircraft gun fire No casualties. Considerable damage to property. Telephone wires cut. Newington to Arpinge road blocked. Slight damage to 30 houses. 20
26 July 1944
0620 am
Home Farm, Sandling Damaged by Anti-aircraft fire and crashed One slight casualty (cut thumb). Extensive damage to Home Farm and out-building and 5 adjacent houses. Number of other houses damaged including Sandling junction station. One additional slight casualty. 21
27 July 1944
1525 pm
Field West of Aldergate Wood, Court-at-Street, Lympne Shot down by fighter Extensive damage to French House, several others slightly damaged. One slight casualty. 22
27 July 1944
1644 pm
Burnt Rough, Park Wood, Stelling Minnis Shot down by fighter No casualties. Slight damage to several houses. 23
27 July 1944
1700 pm
Back of Barrow Hill, Sellindge Damaged by fun fire & crashed No casualties. Large number of houses damaged (approximately 60) 24
27 July 1944
1740 pm
East of Aldergate Bridge, Lympne Shot down by fighter No casualties or damage 25
28 July 1944
1325 pm
Thorne Wood, Saltwood. Damaged by gun fire & crashed No casualties. Damage to Bluehouse Farm, outbuildings and crops. 26
28 July 1944
2230 pm
Between Folks Wood and Berwick Farm, Lympne Shot down by Anti-Aircraft gun fire No casualties. Damage to large number of houses on Stone Street (approx 20 to 30) Electric Cable damaged 27
29 July 1944
1827 pm
Stone Farm, Saltwood, East end of Saltwood Tunnel. Damaged by Anti-aircraft gunfire and crashed on bank over the tunnel No casualties. Down line blocked. Southern Railway's Telephone lines cut. Damage to Stone Farm, Stone Cottages and Bargrove Cottages. 28
29 July 1944
1915 pm
Cornfield, Dane Farm, Stanford Shot down by Anti-Aircraft gun fire No casualties. Damage to several houses including Mrs Andrews' in Elvington Lane, Dane Farm House, Little Dane Farm, Sunny Bank, Channel View. 29
29 July 1944
2301 pm
Oatfield, Hope Farm, Stanford Shot down by Anti-Aircraft gun fire No casualties. Damage to six houses, including Hope Farm & Cottages, The Elms, Brook Farm, Hayton Manor. 30
03 August 1944
0545 am
Field South West of Etchinghill, near Brockman's Bushes Shot down by Anti-Aircraft gun fire No casualties. Very slight damage to several houses, including Institution 31
03 August 1944
1231 pm
North West Gibraltar, Hawkinge on field under control of RAF Aerodrome Shot down by Anti-Aircraft gun fire 2 RAF personnel & 3 cows slightly injured. 3 small RAF buildings seriously damaged, one other slightly damaged. 1 civilian house slightly damaged. 32
04 August 1944
0123 am
South East of French House, Lympne Shot down by Anti-Aircraft gun fire No casualties or damage. 33
06 August 1944
1700 pm
Kedward's Bakery, Stone Hill, Sellindge Shot down by Anti-Aircraft gun fire 3 serious, 3 slight casualties: all removed to Willesborough Hospital. 2 houses partially demolished. Large number of other houses damaged, 3 of which were temporarily evacuated. 34
07 August 1944
0725 am
Priory Lane, Monks Horton Shot down by fighter No casualties. Slight damage to several houses 35
07 August 1944
0745 am
Clover field, Little Pett Bottom, Elmsted. Shot down by fighter No casualties. Damage to about 4 houses, including Little Pett Bottom and houses on Whatsole Street. 36
07 August 1944
0806 am
Reinden Wood, Hawkinge Shot down by Anti-Aircraft gun fire No casualties. Slight damage to about 4 RAF Wooden huts 37
10 August 1944
1745 pm
Lympne Park Wood Shot down by Anti-Aircraft gun fire & exploded on ground 2 slight Military Casualties. Damage to several properties, including the Castle Stores. 38
10 August 1944
2105 pm
The Firs Farm, Hawkinge Shot down by Anti-Aircraft gunfire No Casualties or damage. 2 dwellings (7 people) evacuated and several minor roads closed. 39
11 August 1944
0731 am
Beerforstal Farm, Elham Shot down by Anti-Aircraft gunfire Two slight casualties. Beerforstal Farm House & Barn, ceiling, roof & 1 wall. Wick Farm roof. Water Pumping Station roof. 40
12 August 1944
0315 am
Mid-air over Aldergate Wood, Lympne Shot down by Anti-Aircraft gunfire No casualties or damage. 41
15 August 1944
0420 am
Rear of Mount Pleasant Farm, Stanford Shot down by Anti-Aircraft gunfire No Casualties. Damage to Farm & several other houses. 6 sheep killed. 42
15 August 1944
0430 am
North of Winter Down Farm, Acrise Shot down by Anti-Aircraft gunfire No casualties. Damage to farm buildings & 3 houses 43
16 August 1944
0840 am
Near Gills Poultry Farm, Newingreen Exploded in mid-air by Anti-Aircraft gunfire No Casualties. Considerable damage to houses in vicinity- mainly tiles dislodged, windows broken and ceilings down. Approx 12 houses. 44
16 August 1944
0938 am
Near Grove Farm, Arpinge Newington MR:633564 C.C. Fly exploded in mid-air by Anti-Aircraft gunfire No casualties. Considerable damage to Grove Farm- tiles, windows etc. Several other houses damaged 45
16 August 1944
0710 am
Mid-air over small wood on Dane Farm, Hawkinge Exploded in mid-air by Anti-Aircraft gunfire No Casualties. Slight damage to 4 houses. Dane Farm Considerably damaged. 46
16 August 1944
1739 pm
200 yards South East of Postling Church, bomb fell in 2 pieces. The propelling unit approx 1½ miles away towards the Farthing, War head near Postling Church. Shot down by Anti-Aircraft gunfire 2 slight Casualties. Extensive damage to property, necessitating the evacuation of 3 families. 47
16 August 1944
2058 pm
Mid-air over Pean MR:62.56 Newington Exploded in air by Anti-Aircraft gunfire No Casualties. Number of houses damaged - mainly tiles and widnows 48
16 August 1944
1830 pm
Magpie Bottom, Reinden Wood, Hawkinge Shot down by Anti-Aircraft gunfire No Casualties or damage 49
17 August 1944
1319 pm
Standard Hill Farm, Elham Shot down by Anti-Aircraft gunfire No Casualties. Slight damage to 2 houses. Minor road partially blocked 50
19 August 1944
0641 am
War-head in Stowting Rough Wood MR:571.614, Fuselage in West Wood, Lyminge MR:575.614 Shot down by Anti-Aircraft gunfire No Casualties and no damage. Crater 31 feet x 11 feet. Excellent specimens of Compass, Gyroscope etc picked up in West wood, which detached themselves before war head exploded. 51
22 August 1944
0732 am
C.C. Fly, Winterdown Farm,Elham MR:642.621 Probably shot down by Anti-Aircraft gunfire No Casualties. Farm House damaged. 52
23 August 1944
0820 am
Ridge Row Acrise MR:643.598 Shot down by Anti-Aircraft gunfire very small crater. One woman slightly injured (bruises) Approx 30 houses slightly damaged, 2 severely. 7 occupants evacuated. Road slightly damaged. Telephone wires cut. 53
23 August 1944
0820 am
In trees Ottinge Court, Elham MR:607.602 Shot down by fighter. C.C. Fly. No crater No Casualties. Elham Valley Rail line covered with debris. About 20 houses and farm buildings damaged, including Ottinge Court, Gammon's Farm. 54
23 August 1944
0900 am
Cornfield behind Institution, Etchinghill, Lyminge MR:599.572 Shot down by Anti-Aircraft gunfire Crater 15 feet x 10 feet. No Casualties. About 20 houses damaged, 3 in Westfield Lane badly. No evacuation. 55
24 August 1944
0625 am
Cuckoo Lane, Postling MR:589.566 Shot down by Anti-Aircraft gunfire. C.C. Fly. Crater 20 feet x 10 feet No Casualties. Slight damage to houses. Road blocked by trees, Telephone wires cut. 56
24 August 1944
1815 pm
Evington Lease, Elmstedn MR:539.635 Shot down by fighter No Casualties. Damage to about 20 houses, including some in Ashford area. Evington Lease badly damaged. No evacuation necessary. 57
24 August 1944
1841 pm
Mid-air over White Hall Farm, Paddlesworth MR:637.577 Exploded in air by Anti-Aircraft gunfire No casualties. Slight damage to 3 houses, including White Hall Farm, and the Red Lion. 58
24 August 1944
1943 pm
Gaylees Farm, Stelling Minnis, MR:577.650 Damaged by Anti-Aircraft gunfire and crashed. Crater 10 feet x 9 feet. 2 Slight Casualties. Slight damage to about 15 houses. 59
29 August 1944
1656 pm
Fir Tree Farm, Rhodes Minnis, Elham MR:593.613 Damaged by Anti-Aircraft gunfire and crashed. C.C. Fly. 1 slight Casualty. Extensive damage to Fir Tree Farm. Slight damage to several others. 60
30 August 1944
0823 am
Whatsole Street Farm, Elmsted MR:555.624 Damaged by Anti-Aircraft gunfire and crashed. Crater 12 feet by 3 feet. C.C. Fly. No 701303 No Casualties. 1 sheep injured. Extensive damage to 3 small holdings and farm buildings. No evacuation necessary. Slight damage to 3 or 4 houses. 61
31 August 1944
0546 am
Methodist Church and Hall, Church Road, Lymnge MR:601.593 Damaged by Anti-Aircraft gunfire and crashed. C.C. Fly. 9 Slight Casualties. No hospital cases. Church and Hall destroyed by fire. About 150 houses damaged: some serously. 7 families evacuated. Emergency feeding for about 50 people. Rest Centre opened for 2 families. 62
31 August 1944
0840 am
Sir W. Wayland's house, Hempton Lodge, Monks Horton. MR:571.584 Shot down by Anti-Aircraft gunfire 3 Slight Casualties. Extensive damage to 2 houses, including Hempton Lodge, slight damage to several others.
Types of bomb dropped in the area. (dated 14 November 2014)