Model kits & paints going cheap at Boyes stores

[NARSES2]

Piqued my interest Mossie.

It was an He-111 apparently, at least according to this

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-31919031

The last casualties and V1/ V2 attacks are here

http://ww2today.com/30-march-1945-the-last-v2-and-the-end-of-enemy-action-on-british-soil

[Mossie]

I was recalling it from memory from a book I have.  I've checked it and found I got my facts mixed up slightly. The Ar-234 was the last known Luftwaffe reconnaissance flight over Hull, a few weeks after the raid that hit the Savoy cinema.

The book differs from that BBC article though, it mentions a Ju-88G-6 that dropped the bombs that hit the cinema.

The plaque is still there.  According to the book there was a further fatality at a different location where another cluster of bombs from the same aircraft fell.
https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/244270/

[NARSES2]

I was recalling it from memory from a book I have.  I've checked it and found I got my facts mixed up slightly. The Ar-234 was the last known Luftwaffe reconnaissance flight over Hull, a few weeks after the raid that hit the Savoy cinema.

The book differs from that BBC article though, it mentions a Ju-88G-6 that dropped the bombs that hit the cinema.

Right. To be honest I was a little surprised to read it was a 111, although I thought it might just possibly have been one that launched a V1 and then had had some fragmentation bombs loaded ? Ju 88 sits more comfortably with me I must admit.

As for the 234. I have to admit I didn't think they'd been used as bombers over the U.K. but was aware of recce flights over the southern ports.  Interesting to see they ventured elsewhere, but as their bases were pushed back I suppose it is logical. I just wonder why at that point in the War they were using precious fuel reserves on recce flights over U.K. ports ? A matter of morale more then anything else possibly ?

[Mossie]

The author mentions that there was another Ju-88 active on the same evening that shot down a Lanc and Halifax at RAF Pocklington.  The Ju-88 that bombed Hull also claimed a Lanc.  One crashed on the north bank of the Humber but it was officially mentioned about three hours earlier.  Either timings or positions have got mixed up, or there was possibly another aircraft that other historian has picked up on.

Regarding the 234, the pilots log (no mention of it in UK records, the flight went undetected) mentions there was an unusually large amount of shipping in the Humber at the time.  Otherwise the author agrees that it was a pointless task.  The only thing I can think of is that unless there was something that was considered very pertinent to survival, that it's human nature to just carry on where you can.

[NARSES2]

  The only thing I can think of is that unless there was something that was considered very pertinent to survival, that it's human nature to just carry on where you can.

True Mossie. It's amazing how comforting routine can be at times

[zenrat]

  The only thing I can think of is that unless there was something that was considered very pertinent to survival, that it's human nature to just carry on where you can.

True Mossie. It's amazing how comforting routine can be at times

At that point of the war, on the German side it was prolly healthier to just keep your head down and carry on with the routine as drawing attention to yourself was likely to result in death by crackpot last ditch do or die scheme.

[Weaver]

  The only thing I can think of is that unless there was something that was considered very pertinent to survival, that it's human nature to just carry on where you can.

True Mossie. It's amazing how comforting routine can be at times

At that point of the war, on the German side it was prolly healthier to just keep your head down and carry on with the routine as drawing attention to yourself was likely to result in death by crackpot last ditch do or die scheme.

Or even just 'Death by Crackpot'....

[AS.12]

Interesting thread turn since I last looked

Right up until The End the German staff were convinced that the Allies would arrange a second seaborne invasion, either to northern Netherlands or Scandinavia.  So it was prudent, despite the fuel situation, to continue strategic recce missions. 

They also provided target information for U-Boots operating in the North Sea and around the UK coastline.

It was also sensible to send the Ar 234 on such missions; not only nearly invulnerable but also it could use either kerosene or diesel which were easier to produce than high-octane gasoline.