York Blitz - Baedeker Air Raid in April 1942

York Press: The Leopard Arcade, Coney Street, which was destroyed during the raid.

In the early hours of April 29, 1942, the Second World War came to York in the most violent manner possible.

For two hours or more, bombs rained down on the city. By the time the final all-clear sounded at about 4.45am, 94 men, women and children in the city and its suburbs had been killed, or left so badly injured they were later to die.

To mark the 70th anniversary of what has become known as the Baedeker Raid, we published readers' eyewitness memories of that terrible night...

When sparks flew across the sky

York Press: Poppleton Road Primary School after the air raid in 1942

10:53am Saturday 28th April 2012

On the eve of the 70th anniversary of the York Blitz, we conclude our coverage with five more eyewitness accounts from that night when bombs rained down on the city.

Bombed out by moonlight

York Press: Sgt Ken Walker, Private Harry Jackson, Lord Mayor Alderman Shaw, Private Ernest Peacock, Private Harold Wood, Private Eastwood

11:00am Friday 27th April 2012

All week, we have been bringing you eyewitness accounts of the York Blitz. Today, we hear from Harold Wood, David Lockwood, Joan Flower and George Tatterton.

‘A night of terror’

10:50am Friday 27th April 2012

The following were the 94 civilian casualties of the Baedeker Raid on York in the early hours of April 29, 1942.

‘A night of terror’

11:55am Thursday 26th April 2012

All week, we are bringing you eyewitness accounts of the York Blitz. Today, we hear about the dreadful damage to Coney Street, and a tale of survival from Blake Street.

‘I could hear the planes turning back towards us’

11:55am Wednesday 25th April 2012

All week, we are bringing you eyewitness accounts of the York Blitz of April 29, 1942, which left the city devastated. Today, TOM MARSHALL, KENNETH MELLOR and STAN WYNN tell their stories.

York Blitz: Buried alive

York Press: Image from PictureGalleryModule_ID:3159133

12:20pm Tuesday 24th April 2012

All week, we are bringing you memories of readers who lived through the York Blitz of April 29, 1942. Today Kate Houghton, Barbara Weatherley and Christopher Backhouse and his sister, Jane Whitworth, tell their stories.