Feature Letter of March 9th, 2025
Cousins, Frank C.
Then on Thurs night I had another experience, an air raid, and one of the worst yet. We were walking to the Club about 11:45 at night when the "Take Cover" was sounded and the big guns which put up a barrage around the city started to boom. They certainly make a terrible noise. The night was clear, stars bright but no moon which made a raid rather unexpected for up to date every raid has taken place on a moonlight evening or night. On the street most of the people hastened to cover in the tubes or underground railway and other places which are marked out. The buses discharged their passengers as quickly as possible and soon you could hear the British machines which were scouting around over the city outskirts. I or we didn't hurry as I thought it couldn't be very serious. When we got to the Club we found everyone turned out of bed and all hiding in the cellar under the Cathedral which is right by. Most of us stayed out to see what happened. The guns continued to fire practically without intermission - searchlights played all over the sky and the hum of the engines could be heard. After about half an hour an engine, apparently more powerful than the others could be heard. It was the Super-Gotha - two of which got thru the defenders and dropped bombs on the outskirts. The firing continued 'till shortly after one o'clock and then we had to stay 'till one hour later when then "all-clear" was given by "Boy Scouts" with bugles racing around the principle streets. The casualties totalled eleven killed and some forty injured. Warnings were given again yesterday but I guess the Gothas failed to get through as this morning's papers tell of no raid.