Canterbury under fire - Damage sustained to the Cathedal LIbrary examined by Dr. Hewlett Johnson, Dean of Canterbury, by bombing on the city by German planes of the luftwaffe during WW2. The Baedeker Blitz (or Baedeker raids) were targeted raids, chosen for hitting sites of cultural or historical significance, rather than for any military value. The raid on Canterbury (which coincided with the RAF's 1,000 bomber raid on Cologne), involved 77 bombers, dropping 40 tons of bombs, resulting in 43 deaths. This raid hit Canterbury on 31st May, 1942. Date: 1942