YESTERDAY marked the 61st anniversary of the worst bombing raid on Redditch during the Second World War, writes Julian Seva.

Last week, the Advertiser told the story of Kenneth Vale, 73, one of the many people affected by that raid, which left his father almost blind. Seven people were killed and 12 were seriously hurt.

But during the war there were two other big raids and numerous smaller attacks on what was then a very small town.

Redditch was a target for the Germans because of its industries.

Shadow factories such as HDA and BSA had been built just before war broke out.

HDA was a prime target because it made parts for Spitfires and Hurricanes. BSA was making machine guns and anti-aircraft guns.

One of the most infamous raids, remembered by most in Redditch at the time, was a daylight bombing raid on BSA in Studley Road on October 2, 1940.

Town historian Ray Saunders remembers the raid himself.

He said: "Everybody watched this German Heinkel 111 circling the town two or three times but none of the guns opened up on it for some reason. It was an unmarked plane but it was clear to us what it was.

"Then it opened its bomb doors and all hell let loose. The bomb was released just above St Stephen's Church. It was a landmine they dropped. Luckily it missed but it vaporised a line of trees."

The bomb also damaged 29 houses and the roof of the BSA canteen.

The plane later crashed near Skegness, possibly as a result of anti-aircraft fire.

Luckily, BSA and HDA were never hit during the war but there was another large raid on Redditch on April 9, 1941, when more than 1,000 incendiary devices were dropped at about 11.30pm across the north of Redditch.

But Mr Saunders said most of the other attacks on the town were 'nuisance raids' causing little damage.

Often planes flying back from other targets such as Birmingham would release bombs or incendiaries over Redditch, not aiming for anywhere in particular.

Wythall, Hollywood and Alvechurch also suffered damage.

On November 19, 1940, two parachute mines were dropped on the Alcester Road through Wythall, completely destroying one house and damaging eight others.

After 1941, as the tide of the war turned, the Luftwaffe left Redditch alone but Mr Saunders remembers a lot of RAF and US Airforce activity in the skies above the town.