I read with interest the
correspondence from RW
Carden (Letters, June 12)
in reply to Robin Durant.
The picture shows the
Preston Road viaduct after a lucky hit on Tuesday, May 25, 1943 by a 500kg bomb.
This bomb was dropped by
a Focke-Wulf 190A-5 and was one of 22 large bombs dropped on the town during the lunchtime raid.
This bomb, dropped at low level, first struck the corner of a dairy in Campbell Road, this being the start of an incredible journey.
It ricocheted through a wall, struck the road surface in Argyle Road before passing through the front room of
No 2 Argyle Villas, close to where the occupants were sheltering.
The bomb passed clean through the house and on for another 60ft before passing through a former Baptist
hall.
The bomb struck one of the piers supporting the Viaduct before being deflected on to
the next pier and then exploded a few feet above ground level, bringing down the pier.
There were no ME 110s around at this time, as
Mr Carden correctly stated.
The ME 410 did make an appearance in Brighton but it was almost a year later, on April 19, 1944. This was during what was termed the Baby Blitz at the time.
The ME 410 (No. 420293) was shot down by Wing Commander Edward Crew and Warrant Officer Croysdill in a Mosquito of 96 Squadron, crashing on the St Nicholas churchyard in Dyke Road, near to the Clock Tower.
This was a lucky escape for the town as the bomber was still carrying its bombs, which failed to explode.
The story of the bombing
of the viaduct is told in the new book Out Of The Blue.
Harvest Close,
Telscombe Cliffs
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