It may surprise some, but when WWII started the sleepy Shire of Ayrshire was very much on Hitler's radar and figured greatly in Nazi plans for World domination.
There were three reasons for this:
(1) the vital Clyde shipping routes that linked Britain to its Empire
(2) the vast explosives factory on the Ardeer peninsula located between the Irvine and Stevenson
(3) the Royal Ordnance Factory on the Irvine sea-front
In a German reconnaissance photo of Irvine from 1941, both the explosives and ordnance factory are clearly marked:
On the nights of 13th and 14th of March 1941, the Luftwaffe had staged highly successful raids on the shipbuilding town of Clydebank in Dumbartonshire. A total of 439 bombers had dropped over 1,000 bombs, losing only two planes in the process, and killing 1,200 people, seriously injuring a thousand more, making 35,000 people homeless, and causing enormous damage to factories and shipyards.
In May the Luftwaffe decided it was time for a repeat performance, with the shipbuilding and port town of Greenock, further down the Clyde, being selected as the main target. The munitions factories at Irvine and Ardeer were selected as secondary targets.
On the night of May 6th, the 350 Junkers Ju 88s and Heinkel He11s took off to attack Scotland. But, following the destruction of Clydebank, Scotland's air defences had been greatly strengthened, with a squadron of night fighters being stationed at Ayr.
When the three waves of Nazi bombers flew over East Ayrshire, the night fighters struck, disrupting the attack on Greenock and forcing many bombers to break off and seek secondary targets. Yes, the actions of the night fighters based at Ayr, actually ensured that the Germans would bomb Ayrshire that night.
Greenock was hit on this night and the following but suffered a lot less damage than Clydebank. Only 271 people were killed in two nights of bombing, and there was a lot less damage. As for the Luftwaffe, their causalities remained low, with only three planes being shot down.
One of the Luftwaffe planes from the second wave, possibly confused by the night fighters or by a large fire purposely lit on the moors above Greenock to confuse the bombers, lost its way and used the Clyde estuary to find its position.
Realising it was closer to the secondary targets it decided to make a run at the munitions factories from the sea. But instead of finding either factory, it instead flew between then and dropped its bombs much less effectively on the town of Irvine.
The ThreeTowner's web forum includes an account of where the bombs fell:
Three days later another German plane was sighted near Irvine, carrying one of the top Nazis:
It seems that Hess, having flown all the way over to the West coast, was also using the shape of the Ayrshire coast to help him navigate his way to the Duke of Hamilton's estate.
There were three reasons for this:
(1) the vital Clyde shipping routes that linked Britain to its Empire
(2) the vast explosives factory on the Ardeer peninsula located between the Irvine and Stevenson
(3) the Royal Ordnance Factory on the Irvine sea-front
In a German reconnaissance photo of Irvine from 1941, both the explosives and ordnance factory are clearly marked:
On the nights of 13th and 14th of March 1941, the Luftwaffe had staged highly successful raids on the shipbuilding town of Clydebank in Dumbartonshire. A total of 439 bombers had dropped over 1,000 bombs, losing only two planes in the process, and killing 1,200 people, seriously injuring a thousand more, making 35,000 people homeless, and causing enormous damage to factories and shipyards.
In May the Luftwaffe decided it was time for a repeat performance, with the shipbuilding and port town of Greenock, further down the Clyde, being selected as the main target. The munitions factories at Irvine and Ardeer were selected as secondary targets.
On the night of May 6th, the 350 Junkers Ju 88s and Heinkel He11s took off to attack Scotland. But, following the destruction of Clydebank, Scotland's air defences had been greatly strengthened, with a squadron of night fighters being stationed at Ayr.
When the three waves of Nazi bombers flew over East Ayrshire, the night fighters struck, disrupting the attack on Greenock and forcing many bombers to break off and seek secondary targets. Yes, the actions of the night fighters based at Ayr, actually ensured that the Germans would bomb Ayrshire that night.
Greenock was hit on this night and the following but suffered a lot less damage than Clydebank. Only 271 people were killed in two nights of bombing, and there was a lot less damage. As for the Luftwaffe, their causalities remained low, with only three planes being shot down.
One of the Luftwaffe planes from the second wave, possibly confused by the night fighters or by a large fire purposely lit on the moors above Greenock to confuse the bombers, lost its way and used the Clyde estuary to find its position.
Realising it was closer to the secondary targets it decided to make a run at the munitions factories from the sea. But instead of finding either factory, it instead flew between then and dropped its bombs much less effectively on the town of Irvine.
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| Approximate locations of where the three bombs fell. |
The ThreeTowner's web forum includes an account of where the bombs fell:
"One landed in the shipyard and another in the grounds of Heathfield in Kilwinning Rd. These two bombs caused little damage, but unfortunately the third landed in Winton Rd. (Old Caley Rd.) with tragic consequences. Several houses were damaged and four unsung heroes paid the ultimate sacrifice. Whilst performing their duties as Air Raid Wardens, Annie Scott, Mary Sim, David Shaw and Tom Currie were fatally injured, leaving four families devastated and a town in mourning for these four courageous men and women who were patrolling the streets while the general public were seeking shelter in the comfort of their own home or air–raid shelter as the case may be. A land mine landed on the beach creating a large deep crater, this became Irvine’s first swimming pool as the kids used to swim in it as the water was warmer than the tidal water. Incendiary bombs also landed on the beach but these were quickly smothered with sand by the harbour folk taking refuge among the sand dunes.
Three days later another German plane was sighted near Irvine, carrying one of the top Nazis:
The Luftwaffe was again visiting Irvine three days later, but this was allegedly on a peace keeping mission. The Irvine branch of the Royal Observer Corps were on duty on a clear, pleasant evening in their observation-post that had been specially built on top of the ‘Blue Billy’ (now the grassy mound opposite the Pilot House). At approximately 10.30pm they spotted a single aeroplane that they identified as German. The authorities apparently ignored their sighting, despite a fighter squadron of Spitfires being stationed at the wartime airfield at Dundonald. It was not till the following day the significance of the previous night’s episode was revealed. It was reported on the radio that Rudolph Hess, one of Adolph Hitler’s’ top henchmen had crash-landed in a field near Eaglesham (in Renfrewshire), and had been captured by the Home Guard. In reality he had parachuted from the plane and landed adjacent to a farm, the farmer assisted him to the farm-house as he had injured his leg, where his elderly mother made him a cup of tea. That was the scene when the Home Guard arrived to arrest him.
It seems that Hess, having flown all the way over to the West coast, was also using the shape of the Ayrshire coast to help him navigate his way to the Duke of Hamilton's estate.
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