# Approx. number of British deaths by V-1 and V-2 rocket attacks? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 26, 2004, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/approx-number-of-british-deaths-by-v-1-and-v-2-rocket-attacks/242152 "2004-04-26T21:30:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![stuyguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@stuyguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stuyguy)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2004, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/approx-number-of-british-deaths-by-v-1-and-v-2-rocket-attacks/242152/1 "2004-04-26T21:30:51Z")
A former city official (who, btw, is responsible for my board name in a round-about way) mentioned in passing in his online newsletter that “thousands” died in V-1 and V-2 attacks. This figure strikes me as a wild overstatement, but I don’t have the facts at hand to disprove his claim. Anybody know what the real numbers were? ---
**Author:** ![SandyHook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dec6dc/32.png) [@SandyHook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SandyHook)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2004, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/approx-number-of-british-deaths-by-v-1-and-v-2-rocket-attacks/242152/2 "2004-04-26T21:37:40Z")
V1, 5,475 V2, 2424 Per [this](http://www.holnet.org.uk/learningzone/londonatwar/airraid/p_vweapons.html) site anyway. ---
**Author:** ![SandyHook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dec6dc/32.png) [@SandyHook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SandyHook)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2004, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/approx-number-of-british-deaths-by-v-1-and-v-2-rocket-attacks/242152/3 "2004-04-26T21:41:10Z")
It isn’t clear whether these numbers are just for London, which received the bulk of the attacks, or for England as a whole. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2004, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/approx-number-of-british-deaths-by-v-1-and-v-2-rocket-attacks/242152/4 "2004-04-26T22:10:05Z")
My father had a narrow squeak with a V1. It went on to hit a cinema. I imagine there were many casualties. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2004, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/approx-number-of-british-deaths-by-v-1-and-v-2-rocket-attacks/242152/5 "2004-04-26T22:48:20Z")
At the height of the V-1 and V-2 attacks, the rockets were killing more people in England, than British soldiers were dying on the front lines. That’s why the Third Army push across Europe got shut down, in order that resources could be diverted to the forces trying to reach the rocket bases near Antwerp. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2004, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/approx-number-of-british-deaths-by-v-1-and-v-2-rocket-attacks/242152/6 "2004-04-26T23:55:28Z")
meh…Hitler is STILL killing people with the VW ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2004, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/approx-number-of-british-deaths-by-v-1-and-v-2-rocket-attacks/242152/7 "2004-04-27T00:48:12Z")
According to the research I did on my Kay Kendall bio (she was a teenager in London during WWII), by war’s end, approx. 60,000 British civilians had been killed in air raids. On May 10, 1941, alone, 1,436 people were killed by German bombs. Don’t know if they were V-1s or V-2s, though. ---
**Author:** ![Spezza](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@Spezza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spezza)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2004, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/approx-number-of-british-deaths-by-v-1-and-v-2-rocket-attacks/242152/8 "2004-04-27T01:40:25Z")
I had always thought that the effect of the V1/V2 rockets was more psychological than destructive because the citizens had no warning; whereas during air raids they could at least seek shelter in the Underground. I am surprised to hear that the casualty number is so high (I would have guessed 2,500). (small hijack) How long did the V1/V2 attacks last for?? ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2004, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/approx-number-of-british-deaths-by-v-1-and-v-2-rocket-attacks/242152/9 "2004-04-27T01:48:45Z")
> [@Spezza](#): > > I had always thought that the effect of the V1/V2 rockets was more psychological than destructive because the citizens had no warning; whereas during air raids they could at least seek shelter in the Underground. I am surprised to hear that the casualty number is so high (I would have guessed 2,500). > > (small hijack) How long did the V1/V2 attacks last for?? The V-2’s gave no warning. The V-1’s were nicknamed “buzz bombs” because of the sound of their engines. And even a “dud” V-2 which hit it’s target could leave a pretty nasty hole in the ground. (Something like 70ft across, IIRC.) ---
**Author:** ![chukhung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e79b87/32.png) [@chukhung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chukhung)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2004, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/approx-number-of-british-deaths-by-v-1-and-v-2-rocket-attacks/242152/10 "2004-04-27T02:17:42Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > On May 10, 1941, alone, 1,436 people were killed by German bombs. Don’t know if they were V-1s or V-2s, though. I’m pretty sure that in 1941, nobody was killed by a V-1 or a V-2. This [page](http://www.adamsaviation.co.uk/1940%27s.htm) says that the first V-1 attack against England came on June 13, 1944 and that the first V-2 attack to hit England came almost three months later on September 8, 1944. And to answer **Spezza** ’s question, this [page](http://learningcurve.pro.gov.uk/homefront/bombing/timeline.htm) says that the last V-2 lobbed at Britain was on March 27, 1945. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2004, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/approx-number-of-british-deaths-by-v-1-and-v-2-rocket-attacks/242152/11 "2004-04-27T02:38:01Z")
The V-1 was more of a terror weapon. You’d hear the sound of the jet, and then it would cut out as it ran out of fuel. That’s was scary, because you didn’t know where it’d fall. V-1s also did more damage. The V-2 was traveling so fast it dug itself into the ground as it was exploding, limiting the blast area. V-1s landed on the surface and cause damage in a wider area. ---
**Author:** ![scot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@scot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scot)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/approx-number-of-british-deaths-by-v-1-and-v-2-rocket-attacks/242152/12 "2013-06-19T15:37:58Z")
V-1 2,754 killed, 6,523 wounded V-2 5,475 killed, 16,309 wounded 8,229 total killed in England, 22,832 wounded ---
**Author:** ![Bert\_Nobbins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@Bert\_Nobbins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bert_Nobbins)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/approx-number-of-british-deaths-by-v-1-and-v-2-rocket-attacks/242152/13 "2013-06-19T15:47:41Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > The V-1 was more of a terror weapon. You’d hear the sound of the jet, and then it would cut out as it ran out of fuel. A common misconcepton. The distance run was measured by a small propellor on the nose, and this triggered what was intended to be a power dive. But the change in attitude interrupted the fuel flow, and that is why the engine cut out. This problem was later fixed, and when the last V-1s fell, the majority hit under power. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/approx-number-of-british-deaths-by-v-1-and-v-2-rocket-attacks/242152/14 "2013-06-19T16:09:09Z")
[Antwerp also got hit pretty hard.](http://www.v2rocket.com/start/chapters/antwerp.html) ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/approx-number-of-british-deaths-by-v-1-and-v-2-rocket-attacks/242152/15 "2013-06-19T16:18:34Z")
And the worst part was the hordes of half-decayed Londoners lurching brainlessly around the bombed-out ruins. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/approx-number-of-british-deaths-by-v-1-and-v-2-rocket-attacks/242152/16 "2013-06-19T16:39:20Z")
> [@scot](#): > > V-1 2,754 killed, 6,523 wounded > V-2 5,475 killed, 16,309 wounded > 8,229 total killed in England, 22,832 wounded I think you probably have that backwards. The V1 was in use far longer than the V2. Individually the V1s may not have been as effective, but there were far more of them. If we reverse V1 and V2 your figures for deaths are not too dissimilar to those given by **SandyHook** nine years ago Also, a cite would be nice, especially as **SandyHook** ’s cite link has expired. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/approx-number-of-british-deaths-by-v-1-and-v-2-rocket-attacks/242152/17 "2013-06-19T16:45:08Z")
> [@Malacandra](#): > > And the worst part was the hordes of half-decayed Londoners lurching brainlessly around the bombed-out ruins. And that creepy kid in the gas mask, asking people if they were his mummy. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2013, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/approx-number-of-british-deaths-by-v-1-and-v-2-rocket-attacks/242152/18 "2013-06-22T00:59:48Z")
Some gutsy RAF pilots were able to fly wingtip-to-wingtip with V-1s and then flip them, disorienting their guidance systems and causing them to crash well short of their targets: [dfltweb1.onamae.com – このドメインはお名前.comで取得されています。](http://www.mikekemble.com/ww2/aircraft/v1-1.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2013, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/approx-number-of-british-deaths-by-v-1-and-v-2-rocket-attacks/242152/19 "2013-06-22T13:25:19Z")
British intelligence leaked falsified information implying that the rockets were over-shooting their London target by 10 to 20 miles. This tactic worked and for the remainder of the war; most landed on less-heavily populated areas in Kent due to erroneous recalibration.[39] ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2013, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/approx-number-of-british-deaths-by-v-1-and-v-2-rocket-attacks/242152/20 "2013-06-23T00:10:49Z")
> [@Tuckerfan](#): > > The V-2’s gave no warning. The V-1’s were nicknamed “buzz bombs” because of the sound of their engines. And even a “dud” V-2 which hit it’s target could leave a pretty nasty hole in the ground. (Something like 70ft across, IIRC.) IIRC at the time the British government refused to even acknowledge that the V-2 attacks were happening to avoid a panic; officially they were gas mains exploding. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/approx-number-of-british-deaths-by-v-1-and-v-2-rocket-attacks/242152.md?page=2)