Early in 1944, the Allies discovered sites in France which they suspected were V-1 and V-2 installations. The V-2 sites, near Eperlecques forest and St-Omer were large concrete structures which were attacked by Bomber Command but could not be put out of action by conventional weapons. So the task was given to 617 Squadron using the Tallboy bomb.
On 17th July, an operation to attack the St-Omer site was launched and John recalls approaching from the north-west at a speed of 200mph and 18,000 feet and could clearly see the concrete dome protecting the site. He watched the bomb going down to explode next to the dome which severely damaged the supports and rendered the site unusable.
John next attacked the Eperlecques forest site on 25th July and several direct hits put the site out of action. Neither site launched any weapons.
Another site was discovered near Mimoyecqes in the Pas de Calais area and was attacked by the RAF and USAAF. Being largely underground it was difficult to hit and so on July 6th 617 Squadron, led by Wing Commander Cheshire, successfully put the site out of action using Tallboy bombs. This was Cheshire's 100th mission and he was immediately stood down and awarded the VC. Advancing Allied troops later inspected the installation and found it to be a supergun capable of firing a 30kg explosive shell into London at a rate of 3000 shells per day.
John was an admirer of Barnes Wallace and describes in detail two of his inventions, the Tallboy and Grand Slam bombs. The first of these was issued to 617 Squadron and used to destroy the Saumur tunnel on 9th June 1944 and proved its effectiveness in destroying underground structures. He describes the Tallboy installation and remembers that, due to their scarcity and expense, they were ordered to bring back the bomb if unable to obtain a successful release.
John's next operation was to the U-boat pens at Brest and recalls very heavy flak. His abiding picture of all his operation was the wall of anti-aircraft fire that he met, there was no avoidance and he just hoped to get through unscathed.
The operation to Brest was John's 50th and he was moved to a training role.
]]> Andrew Panton]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Gill Kavanagh]]> Maureen Clarke]]> Terry Holmes]]> eng]]> Sound]]> Royal Air Force]]> Royal Air Force. Bomber Command]]> France]]> Germany]]> Great Britain]]> England--Lincolnshire]]> Atlantic Ocean--English Channel]]> France--Mimoyecques]]> France--Saint-Omer (Pas-de-Calais)]]> France--Saumur]]> Germany--Peenemünde]]> France--Watten]]> France--Brest]]> France--Pas-de-Calais]]> 1944]]> 1945]]>