V1 Down in North Wales

[Atcham Tower]

In the early hours of Christmas Eve 1944, about 50 V1s were air launched by He 111s over the North Sea east of Hull. The target was Manchester but several strayed miles off course. One appears to have landed without exploding in a Flintshire wood. This is about 10 miles further west than another which landed at Kelsall, Cheshire. My informant was an aircraft-mad schoolboy at the time and he remembers he and his family hearing the distinctive sound of a doodlebug. It was familiar from the cinema newsreels of the time. The next morning a lane to a local wood was blocked and guarded by the military while they removed the wreckage. I investigated the presumed area today but, not surprisingly, found no evidence. It will take a metal detector to find anything. Investigations continue. There seems to be no official record of this incident but perhaps someone can add to the story?

[Jon]

Hello,
I am sure the furthest west one of the V1's got from that raid was Kelsall about 8 miles East of Chester so a long way from Wales.
However maybe one did get over into Wales? Certainly worth further investigation

Regards

Jon

[Brian Bines]

See if you can get a copy of the booklet 'Flying Bombs over the Pennines' ( ISBN 1 85216 029 2 published in 1988 by Neil Richardson ). This covers the raid of 24th. Dec 1944, although the V-1 mentioned by Jon is the furthest one to the west according to the booklet.

[Atcham Tower]

Jon, thanks for the comments. The mystery Welsh site is only about ten miles west of Kelsall as the V1 flies. Brian, thanks for the heads up. I have ordered a copy of Flying Bombs over the Pennines via Abebooks. Investigations continue!

[Jon]

Hi,

I think its very possible one made it that far, 10 miles is not very far for something doing 300+ mph and, as they were all air launched it could simply be a Heinkel got in closer than planned for the launch, again how many blinks of an eye is 10 miles?
Local AA reports may help, did it fly near RAF Sealand and get logged. The Kelsall V1 chugged over Kelsall hill and exploded near the main road, the Frogs and Toads now have a birthing pool every spring thanks to the Luftwaffe and, you can see the impact site when driving into Chester Good luck with your investigation...a Welsh V1 who would have thought it!

[Atcham Tower]

Sealand ORBs, Police, Fire and Civil Defence records do not mention this incident. It must have overflown the ROC post on Halkyn Mt just before crashing so is maybe recorded somewhere. I suspect it was hushed up because it didn't go off, thus drawing attention to itself like the Kelsall one!

[Peter D Evans]

Just to add... "Air Launched Doodlebugs, The Forgotten Campaign" by Peter J.C.Smith [Pen & Sword, 2006] makes mention of the Kelsal incident and says that it was the most westerly V-1 impact and fell on Lower Farm with minor damage with no casualties...

Kind regards,

Peter D Evans
LEMB Administrator

[Atcham Tower]

Michal, I tried to answer your PM but your email server will not accept my messages!

[Chris Goss]

As to He 111s of KG 53 getting in closer, they launched over the North Sea but no closer-far too dangerous!

[Michal]

Planes of III./KG 53 launched their Doodlebugs between 5.10 a.m. and 6.00 a.m. Reported position of planes during "Abwurfzeit" are:

05 Ost S/AC 3, 05.26 a.m.
05 Ost S/BC 5, 05.26 a.m.
05 Ost N/UB 5, 05.20 a.m.

All locations are appoximately 50 to 70 kilometers E and ENE of Hull.