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Unexploded WWII Ordinance

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Some of you may have seen the story about the V1 missile found in London last week near the Canary Wharf financial district. (Here’s the link to the CNN write-up.)

There are some impressive statistics to consider about this World War II era relic:

  • It’s been there since 1944 or 1945.
  • The .9 ton warhead was still intact.
  • The V1 was 25 feet long, weighed 2.1 tons, and had a wingspan of 18 feet.
  • It had a range of a little better than 155 miles (250 kilometers).
  • It flew at a speed of 391 mph (630 kph).
  • The V1 was powered by a jet engine and flew at an altitude of between 2,000 and 3,000 feet.
  • (You can read about the full history of the V1 here at Wikipedia.)

    My point is that for supposedly old technology, the V1 that was unearthed in London is still an impressive piece of armament and was treated as such by bomb disposal experts.

    Many years ago I remember running my fingers over damaged sections of the the wall around the British Museum and later the same week visiting the ruined shell of Canterbury Cathedral. Experts say that there are hundreds of unexploded bombs buried throughout England, silent reminders of the great Battle of Britain and capable of bringing the war back to life in a heartbeat.

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    2 Responses to “Unexploded WWII Ordinance”

    1. Ron Says:

      Rana,
      I have had such a great experience browsing through your space and learning your views of WWII. The articles ar well thought out and extemely interesting. Thanks for being so diligent in your research. My father was a vet of the Pacific Conflict with Japan.

      I wanted to let you know that there is a photo project I am sponsoring that you may also find interesting. I have included the link here. http://www.littlebookofman.org

      It will commerorate the Hiroshima Bombing which was the catalyst for the nuclear arms race. 42 photographers from more than 25 countries around the globe will take a single photo and tell its story, on August 6, 2007 at 8:15 am (the precise time of the bomb blast)in order to raise awareness of the challenges that face us as a planet today.

      I hope you stop by and check it out when the exhibition is completed.

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    World War Two Talk examines World War II past and present including the homefront for both the Allied and Axis powers, news, nostalgia, history, memorabilia, trivia, humor, and militaria. A professional historian and the daughter of an Army Air Corps pilot, Rana is interested in all things WWII.

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