INTRODUCTION
In the East Sussex Record Office, under the reference number SPA/1/1/4, there is a very large number of cards, each with the heading, ′CRASHED AIRCRAFT REPORT′; in actual fact these are reports of "flying bomb" incidents, and not aircraft. Because of the shortage of paper, among many other shortages, the existing report cards were used.
The cards are designed with the top half requiring information on the location, date, and time of the incident plus the type and condition of the ‘aircraft’, while the bottom half concerns the crew and their condition, which, in this case, of course, has not been filled in. On the reverse side, of each card, a more detailed account of the incident has been typed.
The apostrophe, after certain numbers, such as "2'", is the old English way of designating the measuremnt of a foot or feet. So, "2′" stands for "2 feet".
Note! – The letters ′PAC′, in the ′H.Q. REF′ space, stands for ′Pilotless Aircraft′.
All the following are transcriptions of the various report cards.
Flying Bombs ("Doodle Bugs")
1944 June 20th – At 22.50 hours on the 20th June 1944, an enemy flying bomb was shot down by aircraft whilst flying from S.E. to N. W. and fell to explode at New Barn Farm, Parish of Hooe, Map reference 106276. Some damage to three dwelling houses and to farm buildings was caused. No casualties. The explosion caused a crater 2′ deep and 5′ in diameter.
1944 June 28th – At 08.05 hours on the 28th June 1944, an enemy flying bomb flying south–east to north–west was attacked by a fighter and exploded in mid–air over New Barn Farm, Hooe, map reference 105375. No damage or casualties.
1944 July 1st – At 19.00 hours on an enemy flying bomb was shot down by aircraft whilst travelling south to north at an altitude of 1500′ and exploded in mid–air over Holmes Farm, in the Parish of Hooe at MR 140281. Slight damage was caused to a cowstall. There were no casualties. Wind – South–west
1944 July 24th – At 15.15 hours on an enemy flying bomb travelling south–east to north–west at an altitude of 1,000 ft, was shot down by A. A. fire and exploded at Two Waters Field, Hooe, map reference 107252.
No casualties or damage. Crater 5′ deep and 10′ in diameter. Wind – S–W
1944 August 2nd – At 06.20 hours, an enemy flying bomb travelling south–east to north–west at an altitude of 1,000 ft, was attacked by A. A. fire and shot down on to marshland adjoining the Bexhill–Eastbourne Road where it exploded at map reference 110267. Sewers bridge on road A,259 was seriously damaged, as was also a licensed house and some out–buildings. Wind – East. Crater 8′ deep and 16′ in diameter. GPO wires were also brought down. No casualties.
1944 August 2nd – At 06.25 hours, an enemy flying bomb travelling south–east to north–west at an altitude of 1,000 ft, was attacked by A. A. fire and shot down on to Barnhorn Pond, The Marshes, Hooe, map reference 125278. No damage or casualties resulted. Two live detonators found in the bomb debris were taken to Ninfield Police Station, and there were collected by the B. D. S. on the 4th August, ′44. Crater 7′ deep and 10′ in diameter. Wind – East
1944 August 7th – At 06.05 hours on 7th August 1944, an enemy flying bomb, travelling in a direction south–east to north–west, was shot down by A. A. fire and exploded on the ground at Longdown, Hooe, map reference 133287, causing two slight casualties and the following damage – three dwellings seriously damaged; six dwellings slightly damaged; two out–houses seriously damaged; three farm buildings slightly damaged; and potato crop damaged. The flying bomb was flying at an altitude of 7,000 ft. Direction of Wind – north–east. It is stated that the flying bomb changed direction before striking the ground. Crater: Depth (Approx) 2 ft.; Diameter (Approx) 4 ft.
