Seventy years ago Manchester was subjected to heavy bombing during World War II.
On the nights of December 22/23 Lufflotte 2 with 121 planes and Luftflotte 3 149 planes dropped 272 tons of high explosives and 1032 incendiary canisters.
The following night December 23/24 195 tons of high explosives and 893 incendiary canisters were dropped.
This resulted in heavy damage in Manchester, Salford and Stretford and 684 deaths and 2364 wounded were recorded.
Among the famous buildings damaged were the Free Trade Hall, Cross Street Chapel, Corn Exchange and Chethams Hospital.
My own parents were married in a bombed out church on December 26th - St.Hilda in Old Trafford.
To see a photo of this church as it was in 1943 see -
http://www.trafford.gov.uk/content/tca/display_image.asp?ImageID=2403
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