Missing The Boat: War Stories of Thomas Alan Dirkin

32 Removal of the dead was a critical first task, to minimize disease and contamination of water supplies. The smell of death was everywhere. The odor of decaying flesh intermingled with smell roasted flesh. Bodies lay in the roads, burned and glued to the once melted asphalt. The members of the work details had to hack the bodies from the then hardened road surface and cart them away for disposal. Since my dad told me about it, when I was about eight years old, I have thought about the horror of this scene most of my life. “You do what you have to do”, would be my father’s response. Historical Context of Dresden Bombing. In researching the bombing of Dresden I uncovered details of the Coventry Blitz that took place on November 14-15, 1940. My mother’s reference to the bombings of Coventry and her experience, were justifiably emotional. The death toll was 568 confirmed killed and 863 seriously injured. Over 2300 houses were destroyed and 41,000 homes damaged. Coventry continued to be a bombing target in World War II, with raids prior to and following the Blitz in November 1940.