大象传媒

This story was submitted by Mr Odell at the 大象传媒 Three Counties Archive Day in Luton. He agrees to the story being included on the site, and understands the terms and conditions.

I have lived in Park Street in Luton for seventy three years, and can remember the day the landmine landed. It fell at about two minutes past nine one Sunday. There was an almighty crash, and father thought the back of the house must have gone. It turned out that it was ok, but all the shutters along the road had been blown off. It was like the Blackpool Illumination! We went for a walk along Osborne Road. There was one old lady hanging from a girder. I made some quip about her being where she ought to be, and got a clip round the ear for my disrespect.

I remember once in Park Street a Messerschmitt came over gunning the street. An old chap lay over me to protect me.

I remember one dogfight between a Spitfire and Messerschmitt. The ME was hit and crash landed. A crowd of us ran up to it. The Pilot climbed out and stood his ground. We threatened to throw rocks at him if he moved. He was taken away by the Home Guard. The plane was taken to the Dickens and Adams showroom on Brigg Street. You could pay 6d to sit in the cockpit; the money went to the War Effort.

On a similar theme, there was always a bomb in the doorway of Curies. You would buy your savings stamps, and then stick them on the bomb. The promise was that they would be dropped on Germany when they were covered. They used to get covered in about three days. Of course, the catch was that you never got the money back from your stamps as they were blown up somewhere over enemy territory!

I can also remember that the farmers used to set fire to straw in the lime pits to distract the bombers from London. The planes used to fly up the railway line and bomb the bus garage, thinking it was the airport! I can also remember when they lit smokers to cover the town. They were filthy things. I lost 63 rabbits in the first night; all coked to death.

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