NP but..London, 1944, Julie Andrews, age 9

[Mark Kohut]

"by the summer of 1944, The Germans were sending pilotless aircraft---literally flying bombs---known as 'doodlebugs' to England. We would hear the pulsating drone of their approach, then there would be a sudden silence
as the engine cut out, followed by an unforgettable whistling sound as the missile hurtled toward the earth. If the aircraft cut out directly overhead, one was reasonably sure of being safe, since the doodlebugs had
a habit of veering at the last second. If they cut out some distance away, the danger was considerable. .......I remember the nights especially."
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'the raids were relentless'.............................................

My mother devised a time-saving idea. I was able to tell the difference between one of our own fighter aircraft and a German doodlebug. The minute the air raid siren went off, I was dispatched to sit on top of our shelter with a beach stool, an umbrella, a tiny pair of opera glasses, and a whistle..[When I] heard the approach of a doodlebug, I'd blow my whistle.

The trouble was that all the neighbors began to rely on my whistle, as well. The day came when it was simply teeming with rain and, despite the umbrella, I rebelled. A bomb dropped close by, and later there were quite a few people ponding at our door.

"Whyd didn't she blow her bloody whistle?", the neighbors demanded.
>From then on I HAD to do it. 
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later,
"were truly blessed in that they only dropped in a circle around us"...