Operation Jericho
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Operation Jericho was a low-level World War II bombing raid by Allied aircraft on Amiens Prison in German-occupied France on 18 February 1944. The object of the raid was to free French Resistance and political prisoners, 120 of whom were to be executed the following day.
Mosquito bombers succeeded in breaching the walls and buildings of the prison, as well as destroying guards' barracks. Of the 717 prisoners, 102 were killed, 74 wounded, and 258 escaped, including 79 Resistance and political prisoners, although two thirds were recaptured.[1] One of the inmates was also privy to sensitive information concerning Operation Overlord.[citation needed]
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[edit] Attack force
By 1944, many British Commonwealth Mosquito air force squadrons had become specialists in low-level precision attacks. The raid was carried out by 19 Mosquito Mk. VI aircraft, six each from No. 487 Squadron RNZAF, No. 464 Squadron RAAF and No. 21 Squadron RAF, all from 140 Wing of the 2nd Tactical Air Force, along with one (unarmed) Mosquito from the Photo Reconnaissance Unit (PRU), led by Group Captain Percy Charles Pickard. The PRU Mosquito circled above the prison, taking cine film of the attack and reporting results to the attacking force. The Mosquitos were escorted by Typhoons from No. 174 Squadron RAF, No. 198 Squadron RAF and No. 245 Squadron RAF.
[edit] The attack
Three Mosquitoes from 487 Squadron attacked first, scoring hits on the eastern wall at 12:03 hours. Two aircraft from 487 Squadron simultaneously attacked the northern wall. These attacks were later reported as successful. Bombs also hit the main prison building, and the north side of the eastern building.
The eastern wall appeared unbreached at 12:06, when two planes from 464 Squadron attacked it from an altitude of 50 feet, with eight 500lb bombs. However, observers did not identify any damage to the prison, caused by this bombing run. Simultaneously, two Mosquitoes from 464 Squadron bombed the main building from 100 feet, also with eight 500lb bombs.
The bombing caused significant damage to the main building, killing many guards. Pickard and his navigator, Flight-Lieutenant Alan Broadley, were attacked by Focke-Wulf Fw 190 fighters from Jagdgeschwader 26 as they circled above, watching the results of the mission. They were shot down and killed, and are buried in a nearby cemetery. In all, three Mosquitos and two Typhoons were lost in the raid; a total of three aircrew were killed and three were captured.
[edit] Memorials
There is a plaque at the prison dedicated to those who died in the attack, and the Allied aircrew who were shot down are regarded as local heroes.[citation needed]
There is also a general airfield memorial at Hunsdon, in Hertfordshire, England, where the Mosquitos were based. On the 60th anniversary in 2004, a Spitfire performed a fly-past, as the last airworthy Mosquito crashed in 1996.
[edit] References
- The operation, as well as situation of the freed prisoners, were described in Jack Fishman's book And the Walls Came Tumbling Down (MacMillan 1983, ISBN 0-02-538470-8).
- ^ Fact File : Amiens Prison Raid. www.bbc.co.uk British Broadcasting Corporation.
