UXO risk in York

Why was York targeted and bombed in WWII?

While York was not a city of strategic importance due to its lack of industry compared to cities like London and Coventry, the city was specifically targeted by the Luftwaffe during the latter periods of the Blitz – in 1942.

The ‘Baedeker raids’ were a response after the Royal Air Force’s (RAF) attacks on Lubeck and Rostock, prompting retaliation raids of historic towns and cities in Britain¹.

York’s limited industrial features were still actively targeted in addition to the historically significant buildings in the city centre.

In the early hours of 29 April 1942, in just under two hours – 92 people were killed, hundreds were injured and more than 9,000 buildings in the city were damaged².

Home Office Bombing Statistics for York

York was not heavily bombed compared to other British cities, nevertheless the county borough sustained an overall low-moderate bombing density according to official Home Office bombing statistics, with an average of 38.6 items of ordnance recorded per 1,000 acres.

While York saw the brunt of the bombing in 1942, bombs were noted to have fallen in the borough as early as August 1940. These earlier incidents were infrequent and sporadic in nature, until the ‘Baedeckrer’ raids where the city was actively targetted.

Historic and culturally significant buildings (places of no direct military significance) in York were damaged by bombing, such as the Church of Martin Le Grand and the Guildhall, in order to terrorise the civilian population and lower morale.

Despite this, Luftwaffe target maps suggest that the railway infrastructure around York was also a bombing target.

Major bombing raids in York

11th August 1940 – Four individual bombs fell in the centre and outskirts of York. One of these bombs was an unexploded incident, located between Clifford’s Tower and Piccadilly.

November 1940 – A bomb fell near York Waterworks, but penetrated the soft ground and caused very little damage.

29th April 1942 – The Baedeker Blitz was the worst air raid to hit York. Some of the targets were the railway station, the carriageworks, the airfield. More than 70 German planes flew to York, with Allied planes shooting down four enemy aircraft. The raid started at 2.30am and finished approximately 90 minutes later, leaving 92 people dead and hundreds injured. The Guildhall and St Martin-le-Grand Church on Coney Street were destroyed. The Bar Convent collapsed after being damaged, killing five nuns – and many other buildings such as housing and schools were also damaged.

9th August 1942 – A lone enemy aircraft dropped four bombs in the centre of York. Despite two of the bombs being reported as unexploded, 1 person was killed, 9 injured and 36 suffered minor injuries³.

Fascinating facts about the bombing of York

1. Approximately 1,000 air raid wardens were stationed in York during the war⁴.
2. York railway station was considered a target due to the large number of trains carrying troops and cargo (sent to support the Russians)⁵.
3. 110 British and 6 German Luftwaffe personnel were confirmed as fatalities as a result of the April 1942 raid⁶. 15 of the British who died were members of the military, with the remainder being civilians.
4. Over 200 people were injured, and 6 Luftwaffe airmen were captured with many sustaining severe injuries⁷.
5. Despite the many bombs dropped in the city, and the Luftwaffe targeting York due to its historic importance, York Minster was untouched by bombing during the war⁸.