Operation Jericho
Encyclopedia
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 stated object of the raid was to free French Resistance
and political prisoner
s. The raid is remarkable for the precision and daring of the attack, which was filmed by an on-board camera on one of the planes. However, controversy persists as to who requested and authorised the attack, and whether it was necessary.
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 of the escapees were recaptured.
When two Allied intelligence officers were also captured and sent to Amiens prison, a precision air attack on the prison was requested, and the mission was allocated to the 2nd Tactical Air Force. The prison was located alongside a long straight road and surrounded by high walls. The guards ate in a block adjacent to the main building, making lunchtime the best time to eliminate the maximum number of guards. The balance of munitions used had to be carefully planned so that when hitting the main prison walls, they were breached and the doors sprung open without the building being destroyed. As well as destroying the guards' mess hall, breaches had to be made in the prison's outer walls to allow the inmates to escape. There were around 700 inmates in the prison and loss of life was inevitable during an air raid, but it was thought that many had already been condemned to death and it would give a chance for some at least to escape.
No. 140 Wing of the RAF Second Tactical Air Force
, based at RAF Hunsdon
in Hertfordshire
, was selected to carry out the raid using Mosquito FB Mk VIs. The Wing comprised 18 Mosquitos from No. 464 Squadron RAAF
, No. 487 Squadron RNZAF
, and No. 21 Squadron RAF
, and was led by Group Captain
Percy Charles Pickard
(DSO and two bars), an experienced pilot and leader but who was inexperienced in low level attacks and underwent 10 hours' conversion training at Hatfield
. The Mosquitos of 487 Squadron were assigned the task of bombing the prison guards' mess hall and breaching the outer prison wall in two places, while 464 Squadron's aircraft were tasked with bombing the prison's main walls if no prisoners were seen escaping. No. 21 Squadron was assigned with the grim alternative of bombing the prison and all in it, as requested by those prisoners aware of the proposed mission. The overall raid was to be led by Air Vice-Marshal
Basil Embry
, and was ready to go from 10 February. Close support was to be provided by Hawker Typhoon
s from No. 198 Squadron RAF
.
was originally intended to command the attack, but was later forbidden from flying on the mission, as he was involved in the planning of the invasion of Europe. Pickard therefore took his place, despite his limited experience of low-level attack. The mission was delayed by very poor weather, which worsened after 10 February, with low cloud and snow across Europe. By 18 February it was not possible to wait any longer for the weather to improve, and the 18 Mosquitos, plus a PR (photo-reconnaissance) Mosquito, were readied. The crews were briefed at 08:00 under high security, the first time they had been made aware of the target. Pickard was to bring up the rear of the second wave of aircraft, to assess the damage and to call in 21 Squadron if necessary. In the event of anything happening to Pickard's aircraft, the crew of the PR Mosquito would carry out the task instead.
The final decision to carry out the attack was made just 2 hours before the deadline for striking the target, and the Mosquitos took off from Hunsdon into weather worse than many of the crews had previously experienced. Four Mosquitos lost contact with the formation and had to return to base, and an additional one had to turn back due to engine problems, leaving 9 to carry out the main attack with 4 in reserve.
At one minute past noon they reached the target, three of No. 487 Squadron's aircraft aiming for the eastern and northern walls of the prison with bombs fitted with 11 second delay fuses, while the other two made a diversion attack on the local railway station before returning to the prison. The outer walls were successfully breached, but No. 464 Squadron's Mosquitos were too close behind and had to circle the target while the initial bombs detonated.
The eastern wall appeared unbreached at 12:06, when two planes from 464 Squadron attacked it from an altitude of 50 feet, with eight 500 lb bombs. However, observers did not identify any damage to the prison, caused by this bombing run. Simultaneously, two Mosquitos from 464 Squadron bombed the main building from 100 feet, also with eight 500 lb bombs. A direct hit on the guardhouse killed or disabled the occupants and a number of prisoners were killed or wounded, while many were able to escape.
Pickard, circling at 500 ft (152.4 m), saw prisoners escape, signalled No. 21 Squadron's Mosquitos to return home, and as he turned for home, a Fw 190
fighter of JG 26
severed the tail of his Mosquito, killing him and his navigator.
In total 255 prisoners escaped, though 182 were recaptured. The diversion attack on the railway station delayed German troops by two hours.
, the Mosquito's base. On the 60th anniversary in 2004, a Spitfire performed a flypast, as the last airworthy Mosquito had crashed in 1996.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
bombing raid
Airstrike
An air strike is an attack on a specific objective by military aircraft during an offensive mission. Air strikes are commonly delivered from aircraft such as fighters, bombers, ground attack aircraft, attack helicopters, and others...
by Allied
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
aircraft on Amiens
Amiens
Amiens is a city and commune in northern France, north of Paris and south-west of Lille. It is the capital of the Somme department in Picardy...
Prison in German
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
-occupied France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
on 18 February 1944. The stated object of the raid was to free French Resistance
French Resistance
The French Resistance is the name used to denote the collection of French resistance movements that fought against the Nazi German occupation of France and against the collaborationist Vichy régime during World War II...
and political prisoner
Political prisoner
According to the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, a political prisoner is ‘someone who is in prison because they have opposed or criticized the government of their own country’....
s. The raid is remarkable for the precision and daring of the attack, which was filmed by an on-board camera on one of the planes. However, controversy persists as to who requested and authorised the attack, and whether it was necessary.
Mosquito
De Havilland Mosquito
The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
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 of the escapees were recaptured.
Background
In 1943 many members of the French resistance movement in the Amiens area had been caught by the Germans and imprisoned in Amiens prison. Some had been betrayed by collaborators, and the entire movement in the area was at risk. By December 1943, 12 members of the Resistance had been executed at the prison, and it was learned that more than 100 other members were to be shot on 19 February 1944. Dominique Penchard began sending information about the prison to London, including accurate details of the layout, defences, and duty rosters.When two Allied intelligence officers were also captured and sent to Amiens prison, a precision air attack on the prison was requested, and the mission was allocated to the 2nd Tactical Air Force. The prison was located alongside a long straight road and surrounded by high walls. The guards ate in a block adjacent to the main building, making lunchtime the best time to eliminate the maximum number of guards. The balance of munitions used had to be carefully planned so that when hitting the main prison walls, they were breached and the doors sprung open without the building being destroyed. As well as destroying the guards' mess hall, breaches had to be made in the prison's outer walls to allow the inmates to escape. There were around 700 inmates in the prison and loss of life was inevitable during an air raid, but it was thought that many had already been condemned to death and it would give a chance for some at least to escape.
Attack force
RAF Second Tactical Air Force
The former RAF Second Tactical Air Force was one of three tactical air forces within the Royal Air Force during and after the Second World War...
, based at RAF Hunsdon
Hunsdon Airfield
Hunsdon Airfield is a largely defunct airfield near Hunsdon, Hertfordshire , England. The airfield was operational between 1941 and 1945.- History :...
in Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
, was selected to carry out the raid using Mosquito FB Mk VIs. The Wing comprised 18 Mosquitos from No. 464 Squadron RAAF
No. 464 Squadron RAAF
No. 464 Squadron RAAF was a Royal Australian Air Force bomber squadron during World War II.-History:The Squadron was officially formed on 1 September 1942 at RAF Feltwell, Norfolk in the United Kingdom, under the Empire Air Training Scheme. No...
, No. 487 Squadron RNZAF
No. 487 Squadron RNZAF
No. 487 Squadron was a Royal New Zealand Air Force bomber squadron, formed under Article XV of the Empire Air Training Scheme. It served in the European theatre during World War II, under the operational command of the Royal Air Force.-History:No...
, and No. 21 Squadron RAF
No. 21 Squadron RAF
No. 21 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was formed in 1915 and was disbanded for the last time in 1979.The squadron is famous for Operation Jericho: on 18 February 1944, the crews of de Havilland Mosquitoes breached the walls of a Gestapo prison at Amiens, France, allowing members of the French...
, and was led by Group Captain
Group Captain
Group captain is a senior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks above wing commander and immediately below air commodore...
Percy Charles Pickard
Percy Charles Pickard
Group Captain Percy Charles "Pick" Pickard DSO & Two Bars, DFC, was a British bomber pilot and commander during World War II. He is best remembered by the public for his role in the 1941 wartime propaganda film Target for Tonight in which he featured as the pilot of 'F for Freddie' – a Wellington...
(DSO and two bars), an experienced pilot and leader but who was inexperienced in low level attacks and underwent 10 hours' conversion training at Hatfield
Hatfield Aerodrome
Hatfield Aerodrome, formerly , was an airfield and aircraft factory located in the town of Hatfield, Hertfordshire from 1930 until its closure and redevelopment in the 1990s.-Early history:...
. The Mosquitos of 487 Squadron were assigned the task of bombing the prison guards' mess hall and breaching the outer prison wall in two places, while 464 Squadron's aircraft were tasked with bombing the prison's main walls if no prisoners were seen escaping. No. 21 Squadron was assigned with the grim alternative of bombing the prison and all in it, as requested by those prisoners aware of the proposed mission. The overall raid was to be led by Air Vice-Marshal
Air Vice-Marshal
Air vice-marshal is a two-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in...
Basil Embry
Basil Embry
Air Chief Marshal Sir Basil Edward Embry GCB, KBE, DSO & Three Bars, DFC, AFC, RAF, was a senior Royal Air Force commander...
, and was ready to go from 10 February. Close support was to be provided by Hawker Typhoon
Hawker Typhoon
The Hawker Typhoon was a British single-seat fighter-bomber, produced by Hawker Aircraft. While the Typhoon was designed to be a medium-high altitude interceptor, and a direct replacement for the Hawker Hurricane, several design problems were encountered, and the Typhoon never completely satisfied...
s from No. 198 Squadron RAF
No. 198 Squadron RAF
No. 198 Squadron was a Royal Air Force aircraft squadron that operated during the Second World War particularly in the ground attack role as the allies advanced through continental Europe.-History:...
.
Attack
Air Vice Marshall Basil EmbryBasil Embry
Air Chief Marshal Sir Basil Edward Embry GCB, KBE, DSO & Three Bars, DFC, AFC, RAF, was a senior Royal Air Force commander...
was originally intended to command the attack, but was later forbidden from flying on the mission, as he was involved in the planning of the invasion of Europe. Pickard therefore took his place, despite his limited experience of low-level attack. The mission was delayed by very poor weather, which worsened after 10 February, with low cloud and snow across Europe. By 18 February it was not possible to wait any longer for the weather to improve, and the 18 Mosquitos, plus a PR (photo-reconnaissance) Mosquito, were readied. The crews were briefed at 08:00 under high security, the first time they had been made aware of the target. Pickard was to bring up the rear of the second wave of aircraft, to assess the damage and to call in 21 Squadron if necessary. In the event of anything happening to Pickard's aircraft, the crew of the PR Mosquito would carry out the task instead.
The final decision to carry out the attack was made just 2 hours before the deadline for striking the target, and the Mosquitos took off from Hunsdon into weather worse than many of the crews had previously experienced. Four Mosquitos lost contact with the formation and had to return to base, and an additional one had to turn back due to engine problems, leaving 9 to carry out the main attack with 4 in reserve.
At one minute past noon they reached the target, three of No. 487 Squadron's aircraft aiming for the eastern and northern walls of the prison with bombs fitted with 11 second delay fuses, while the other two made a diversion attack on the local railway station before returning to the prison. The outer walls were successfully breached, but No. 464 Squadron's Mosquitos were too close behind and had to circle the target while the initial bombs detonated.
The eastern wall appeared unbreached at 12:06, when two planes from 464 Squadron attacked it from an altitude of 50 feet, with eight 500 lb bombs. However, observers did not identify any damage to the prison, caused by this bombing run. Simultaneously, two Mosquitos from 464 Squadron bombed the main building from 100 feet, also with eight 500 lb bombs. A direct hit on the guardhouse killed or disabled the occupants and a number of prisoners were killed or wounded, while many were able to escape.
Pickard, circling at 500 ft (152.4 m), saw prisoners escape, signalled No. 21 Squadron's Mosquitos to return home, and as he turned for home, a Fw 190
Focke-Wulf Fw 190
The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Würger was a German Second World War single-seat, single-engine fighter aircraft designed by Kurt Tank in the late 1930s. Powered by a radial engine, the 190 had ample power and was able to lift larger loads than its well-known counterpart, the Messerschmitt Bf 109...
fighter of JG 26
Jagdgeschwader 26
Jagdgeschwader 26 Schlageter was a Luftwaffe fighter-wing of World War II. It operated mainly in Western Europe against Great Britain, France the United States but also saw service against Russia. It was named after Albert Leo Schlageter, a World War I veteran and Freikorps member arrested and...
severed the tail of his Mosquito, killing him and his navigator.
In total 255 prisoners escaped, though 182 were recaptured. The diversion attack on the railway station delayed German troops by two hours.
List of aircraft involved
| Serial Pilot | Navigator | Squadron | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mosquito VI (took off 10:50) | |||||
| HX922/EG-F | G/Capt Percy Charles Pickard (KIA) | F/Lt John Alan Broadley, RNZAF (KIA) | 464 RNZAF | shot down, buried at Amiens | |
| LR334/SB-R | W/Cdr Robert Wilson Iredale, RAAF | F/Lt J L McCaul | 464 RAAF | landed 13:00 | |
| MM404/SB-T | S/Ldr A Ian McRitchie (POW) | F/Lt Richard Webb Sampson, RNZAF (KIA) | 464 | failed to return | |
| MM482/SB-A | S/Ldr W R C Sugdan | F/O A N Bridger | 464 | landed 13:00 | |
| MM410/SB-O | F/O N L Monaghan | F/O A W Dean | 464 | landed 12:50 | |
| MM403/SB-V | F/Lt T McPhee, RNZAF | F/Lt G W Atkins | 464 | landed 12:50 | |
| LR333/EG-R | W/C Smith, DFC | F/Lt Barnes, DFC | 487 | returned | |
| C | P/O Darrell | P/O Stevenson | 487 | returned | |
| H | F/Sgt Jennings | W/O Nichols | 487 | returned | |
| J | P/O Fowler | W/O Wilkins | 487 | returned | |
| HX982/EG-T | P/O Sparkse | P/O Dunlop | 487 | severely damaged, returned | |
| J | F/Lt Hanafin | S/Ldr Livry | 487 | Turned back | |
| C | F/Lt Wickam | P/O Howard | PRU | returned | |
| U | W/C Dale | F/O Gabites | 21 | Instructed not to attack | |
| O | F/Lt Wheeler | F/O Redington | 21 | Instructed not to attack | |
| J | F/Lt Benn | F/O Roe | 21 | Instructed not to attack | |
| D | F/Lt Taylor | S/Ldr Livry | 21 | Instructed not to attack | |
| P | F/Lt Hogan | F/O Crowfoot | 21 | Turned back | |
| F | F/Sgt Steadman | P/O Reynolds | 21 | Turned back | |
| Hawker Typhoon Hawker Typhoon The Hawker Typhoon was a British single-seat fighter-bomber, produced by Hawker Aircraft. While the Typhoon was designed to be a medium-high altitude interceptor, and a direct replacement for the Hawker Hurricane, several design problems were encountered, and the Typhoon never completely satisfied... s |
|||||
| 198 RAF | 2 lost | ||||
Memorials
A plaque at the prison is dedicated to those who died in the attack, and a general airfield memorial is at Hunsdon AirfieldHunsdon Airfield
Hunsdon Airfield is a largely defunct airfield near Hunsdon, Hertfordshire , England. The airfield was operational between 1941 and 1945.- History :...
, the Mosquito's base. On the 60th anniversary in 2004, a Spitfire performed a flypast, as the last airworthy Mosquito had crashed in 1996.