1944 Doodlebug Crash

In 1944, just 200 metres south west of the castle walls, a 'doodlebug', or V-1 missile crashed into the estate grounds. Fortunately, there were no fatalities or physical damages to either the castle or the temporary huts. The field where the V-1 crashed was repaired so there is little evidence of the impact, but it was a close call for the castle!



A Doodlebug prepares to descend on London circa. 1944.
 


 


 


 



Doodlebug impact would have occurred south west of the staff wartime huts seen at the bottom of the image.
 


 


 


 

More About the V-1 Missile

Doodlebugs in World War II

The German V-1 missile, also called the buzz bomb, flying bomb, or the doodlebug was a flying bomb powered by a jet engine. These missiles were commonly used during the latter half of World War II. From June 13, 1944 to March 19, 1945, over 8,000 missiles were deployed. Previously to their deployment, only manned aircraft conducted strategic air raids like those during the Blitz. The rockets were launched predominantly from German-occupied Pas-de-Calais in France but launch locations moved inland as Allied forced the Germans to retreat.

A V-1 was 27 feet long and weighed more than two tons; its pulse-jet engine was fuelled by 165 gallons of gasoline. They could reach a top speed of over 400 miles per hour.

Doodlebug Missile in Flight (Audio)

Air Raid Precautions (ARP) were groups around the UK commissioned to protect civilians from air raids including V-1 attacks. Local councils were responsible for organizing these groups. Wardens were responsible for enforcing blackout, sounding air sirens, ushering people into air raid shelters, and checking unexploded bombs. The ARP was renamed the Civil Defence Service in 1941 to reflect the growing variety of roles its members were expected to serve.

Air Raid Siren Used in WWII

Herstmonceux's Encounter with a Doodlebug



Ground of Herstmonceux following the impact of the Doodlebug Crash in 1944. The wartime huts and the castle walls are seen in the background.
 


 


 


 

The bomb pictured here is recorded in the Community Reminiscence Project on World War Two: Memories of the People of Herstmonceux to have landed 200 metres west of the castle on March 7th, 1944. Of the over 8,000 missiles deployed, only one-third of them reached their target destination of London due to challenges such as changing wind patterns and malfunctioning equipment. Most of those which did not reach London landed in East Sussex and Kent. This is the only Doodlebug attack recorded to have landed on castle grounds, but several more landed in surrounding areas.

This gives justification to the Hearts of Oak decision to relocate to Herstmonceux Castle as many other parts of the South East of England were subjected to far more attacks by V-1s as seen in the image below.

Devastation of V1 Bombs in WWII



Source: Sean Welch via Tom Metcalfe, 2020. Air and Space Magazine.
 


 


 


 

The map above was generated by Kent County courtesy of the Welch Brothers. Each red dot indicates where a V-1 crashed throughout South East England although London was obviously the primary target.

The orange circle and arrow were inserted to indicate the doodlebug crash of March 7th, 1944. Had the Hearts of Oak Society chosen another location to evacuate to, they may well have suffered many casualties. Instead, Sir Paul Latham's decision to hand over his beloved castle and estate to the Society enabled them to make an important contribution to the war effort.

Sources

Calvert, D. (1982). The History of Herstmonceux Castle, 1st Edition. Royal Greenwich Observatory. S.E.R.C. Metcalfe, T. (2020). These Amateur Archaeologists Dig Up the Buzz Bombs That Fell on England in WW2, Air & Space.

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