Air Raid

[billrunnels]

Our navigator and I were in London on a weekend pass enjoying the experience when the Air Raid Siren sounded. A guy yelled there is a Bomb Shelter in the next block so we followed him on the run. The shelter was below ground and pretty well filled by the time we arrived. We were the only two in uniform. We found a place to set and wait it out like the others. We heard the explosion but do not know how close it was. After a fairly short period of time, the "All Clear" sounded. We departed the shelter and I couldn't believe how calm the people on the street were. They continued their walk as if nothing happened. They were hardened to this type experience.

 

[Crimea_River]

Humans have an amazing ability to adapt. Thanks for sharing your memories.

 

[pbehn]

Great story Bill.

By 1945 London had been through a lot. I think big cities do have a way of just getting on. In 1940 some pilots shot down made their way back to their station on the underground with people going to work, that must have been a strange experience for all in the train. After the Blitz, the baby blitz V1 and V2 attacks I think Londoners just took it as part of life, for teenagers it was their "normal" they couldn't really remember anything else.

 

[rochie]

Loving these little stories Bill, thank you

 

[Gnomey]

Great stuff as usual Bill!