Sound effects
Object detail
Accession number
08-392
Production period
Description
Contains: Side 1 flying bomb (doodle bug) see below for a transcript of the accompanying explanation, anti-aircraft shell, air raid siren, music (We'll meet again) -- Side 2 bell, fire engine siren and bells, air raid siren, bomb falling and exploding, gun fire, siren, Winston Churchill's "We'll meet again", music (We'll meet again ; Over the White Cliffs of Dover ; two unidentified instrumental pieces).
TRANSCRIPTof the explanation accompanying the flying bomb (doodle bug) sound effects
[sound of air raid alarm]
This flying bomb, V1, or doodle bug, as it was commonly called, was Hitler’s secret weapon. Its purpose was to attack and destroy the morale of the civilian population of London.
For a period of ten months, great numbers of these missiles were launched from various sites in France and aimed towards the English capital.
The V1 had a basic type of jet engine which made a very distinctive noise as it rattled overhead [sound of engine]. When the noise ceased – a sign that the bomb was about to fall – everyone took cover and waited for the explosion [sound of explosion].
A considerable quantity of explosive – 2000 pounds – was carried in each bomb, and the resultant damage in built-up areas was extensive [sound of fire engine bells and sirens].
A fighter pilot would sometimes fly alongside a V1, closing in until his wing was just above that of the bomb. This procedure upset the airflow, deflecting the missile from its course so that it toppled and fell into the sea or, in some cases, even flew back in the direction from which it came.
A British invention – the proximity anti-aircraft shell [sound effect of shells exploding] – had been perfected in the United States and was used with considerable success by the defence batteries to destroy V1s before they reached their destination.
In the early stages of flying bomb attacks, a large number reached London and surrounding areas. However, by falsely reporting the locations where the bombs fell, it became possible to mislead the enemy into directing its attacks away from built-up areas.
Towards the end of the onslaught, on 28 August 1944, of 97 bombs which approached the English coast, 13 were destroyed by fighters over the Channel and a further ten by fighters over land. Sixty-five were shot down by anti-aircraft guns, two hit the balloon barrage, three went off course, and only four reached London. [sound effect of air raid siren]
The most important single factor in the eventual failure of the flying bomb offensive, was a surprise raid by 500 Allied bombers in August 1943 on Pennemunde on the Baltic coast when the secret German weapon research station was virtually destroyed, and the flying bomb programme set back for six months. But for this delay, London could well have been completely devastated, the English channel ports destroyed, and the subsequent Allied invasion of Europe rendered impossible. In fact, these missiles commenced falling on London one week after our armies landed in France.
Many Kiwis took part in the raid on Pennemunde, and it should not be forgotten that the man in charge of fighter command in the south of England, responsible for the defence of London was Sir Keith Park [musical excerpt: ‘We’ll Meet Again’].
TRANSCRIPTof the explanation accompanying the flying bomb (doodle bug) sound effects
[sound of air raid alarm]
This flying bomb, V1, or doodle bug, as it was commonly called, was Hitler’s secret weapon. Its purpose was to attack and destroy the morale of the civilian population of London.
For a period of ten months, great numbers of these missiles were launched from various sites in France and aimed towards the English capital.
The V1 had a basic type of jet engine which made a very distinctive noise as it rattled overhead [sound of engine]. When the noise ceased – a sign that the bomb was about to fall – everyone took cover and waited for the explosion [sound of explosion].
A considerable quantity of explosive – 2000 pounds – was carried in each bomb, and the resultant damage in built-up areas was extensive [sound of fire engine bells and sirens].
A fighter pilot would sometimes fly alongside a V1, closing in until his wing was just above that of the bomb. This procedure upset the airflow, deflecting the missile from its course so that it toppled and fell into the sea or, in some cases, even flew back in the direction from which it came.
A British invention – the proximity anti-aircraft shell [sound effect of shells exploding] – had been perfected in the United States and was used with considerable success by the defence batteries to destroy V1s before they reached their destination.
In the early stages of flying bomb attacks, a large number reached London and surrounding areas. However, by falsely reporting the locations where the bombs fell, it became possible to mislead the enemy into directing its attacks away from built-up areas.
Towards the end of the onslaught, on 28 August 1944, of 97 bombs which approached the English coast, 13 were destroyed by fighters over the Channel and a further ten by fighters over land. Sixty-five were shot down by anti-aircraft guns, two hit the balloon barrage, three went off course, and only four reached London. [sound effect of air raid siren]
The most important single factor in the eventual failure of the flying bomb offensive, was a surprise raid by 500 Allied bombers in August 1943 on Pennemunde on the Baltic coast when the secret German weapon research station was virtually destroyed, and the flying bomb programme set back for six months. But for this delay, London could well have been completely devastated, the English channel ports destroyed, and the subsequent Allied invasion of Europe rendered impossible. In fact, these missiles commenced falling on London one week after our armies landed in France.
Many Kiwis took part in the raid on Pennemunde, and it should not be forgotten that the man in charge of fighter command in the south of England, responsible for the defence of London was Sir Keith Park [musical excerpt: ‘We’ll Meet Again’].
Media/Materials
Physical description
1 sound cassette (ca. 25 minutes) : analog.
Credit line
Sound effects, 08-392. Walsh Memorial Library, The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT).
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