Operation Aphrodite

[Brian]

Hi guys

A PS to the above - perhaps one of you can help:

I have just come across an account relating to one of the BQ-7s named Melancholy Baby (serial not known) that was despatched in September 1944 against Heligoland. The account states that the automatic pilot went haywire and the drone flew erratically across England from Kings Lynn in a north-westerly direction overflying Derby, Spalding, Melton Mowbray, then on to Merseyside over Congleton, Middlewitch, Northwitch and Runcorn (giving Liverpool its first air raid warning for 18 months!) before crossing Eire and out over the Atlantic. All the time it was being followed by RAF fighters and these eventually shot it down into the Atlantic. Apparently even a warning had been flashed to the United States just in case it actually crossed the Pond (according to the account). Any comments please.

Brian

PS: Having studied your lists Blue Spader, I guess the drone could have been 42-39827 on 14 September mission, since it appears to be the only one without a name.