I WAS interested in VJ Connor’s letter regarding the German doodlebug flying bombs (HAS, Mar 18).

These were in fact V1 bombs also known as “buzz bombs”.

They had a steering system of gyros and were launched from ramps. Several were brought down by our aircraft when they attempted to flip them over by flying alongside.

As Mr Connor says they made a horrible clapping type noise when the rocket motor stopped – that was the time to hide.

The V2 was rocket-shaped and launched upright.

I was born in Kent in 1944 and have been told by an uncle how when he came home on leave during a raid and I was outside my grandparents’ house in my pram.

At that age I was not worried about what was going on.

But I came through it all. Like a lot of areas of Britain Kent took a lot of bombing and looking at a map of where they fell in the county is frightening today.

Like Mr Connor we lived to tell the tale but don’t forget the ones who didn’t.

Tony Stainthorpe, Durham City.