The Wing Shop takes a direct hit

My late father worked at the Aircraft Factory at Vickers Armstrong Ltd based at Weybridge Surrey. He was also a Part Time Fireman. In July 1940 there was a bombing raid made on the factory during the lunch break. My father was playing cards at the time of the raid and he decided to stay behind and play an extra hand.

All of his workmates went back to their place of work - namely the Wing Shop, in the raid the Wing Shop took a direct hit by a bomb and all of my father's workmates that had returned to their benches were killed.

The Air Raid Shelters were across the road from the main factory gates. But due to security they were locked . . . many people from the factory were trying to get into the shelters, but in panic they tried to climb the gates and many were killed.

I believe that my father was not meant to be killed at that time in his life.

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