16th April in wartime Northern Ireland

On the night of 15th-16th April 1941, the Luftwaffe launched a deadly raid on Northern Ireland in what became known as the Easter Raid of the Belfast Blitz.

R.A.F. over Ulster in 1940

On 16th April 1940, a Belfast Telegraph photographer observed a Fairey Swordfish in flight over Ulster while based at R.A.F. Aldergrove, Crumlin, Co. Antrim.

Fairey Swordfish in flight while based at R.A.F. Aldergrove, Crumlin, Co. Antrim on 16th April 1940 — © IWM HU 107189 Info

The Belfast Blitz: The Easter Raid of April 1941

15th April 1941

On Easter Tuesday 1941, the Luftwaffe attacked Northern Ireland once more bringing death and destruction to Belfast, Derry~Londonderry, Bangor, and Newtownards.

Soldiers at work clearing up rubble and debris in the aftermath of the Easter Raid of the Belfast Blitz. — ©IWM H 8957 Info

Soldiers at work clearing up rubble and debris in the aftermath of the Easter Raid of the Belfast Blitz. Material from a parachute mine hangs from overhead cables on Antrim Road, Belfast. — ©IWM H 8961 Info

Damage caused to a house during the Easter Raid of the Belfast Blitz. — ©IWM H 8962 Info

Firefighters dousing rubble and debris in the aftermath of the Easter Raid of the Belfast Blitz. — ©IWM H 8963 Info

P.R.O.N.I. Photographs

A series of photos compiled by the Ministry of Public Security, held in the Public Records Office of Northern Ireland, show the devastation of the Easter Raid.

Residents and A.R.P. Wardens assist with the clearup in the rubble at the junction of Hillman Street and Antrim Road while the parachute of a mine hangs from overhead cables. — © PRONI Info

Local residents and soldiers take a break from clearing up in the aftermath of the Belfast Blitz for an impromptu organ recital on a salvaged instrument on York Road, Belfast, Belfast. — © PRONI Info

Extensive damage caused during the Easter Raid of the Belfast Blitz to the tramway depot on Salisbury Avenue off Antrim Road, Belfast. — © PRONI Info

Remembered on 16th April

George Joseph Wilson

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Sergeant George Joseph Wilson of Portadown, Co. Armagh was a constable in the London Metropolitan Police before joining the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.