Attack on Creil area dumps, 5/5 July 1944. narrative

Attack on Creil area dumps, 5/5 July 1944. narrative

Notes that despite allied bombing, V-1 campaign against London and South East continues. Notes decision to attack V-1 storage sites. 617 Squadron were to join 5 Group attack and use using 12,000 bombs to collapse roof of caves in which bombs were stocked. Describes marking using P-51 and Mosquito and attack using 11 Lancasters. Records initial results good then target indicator extinguished by direct hit resulting in lack of aiming point, Reports radio failure in P-51 flown by Wing Commandeer Cheshire and Mosquito. Eight aircraft bombed with remainder returning with weapons.

Two page typewritten document

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MCheshireGL72021-181210-070002, MCheshireGL72021-181210-070003

[underlined] ATTACK ON CREIL AREA DUMPS. [/underlined] [underlined] 4/5 JULY 1944. [/underlined]

[underlined] NARRATIVE. [/underlined]

In spite of continuous attacks by both R.A.F. Bomber Command and the United States Bomber Forces, the flying bomb offensive against London and the Southern Counties increased in intensity at the end of June and the beginning of July. It was decided, therefore, to carry out a series of attacks on the sites at which the stocks of flying bombs were stored.

The first attack was to be against the dump in the Creil Area, and No. 5 Group were called upon to carry out this mission. 617 Squadron were to join the attack with their 12000lb bombs, but they were to attack a special aiming point. It was hoped that their big bombs would collapse the roof of the limestone caves in which the bombs were stocked. The Squadron was also to initiate the marking which was to be backed up by Mosquitoes of 627 Squadron for the benefit of the remainder of the Group. One Mustang, one Mosquito and eleven Lancasters were detailed and took off.

P.F.F. area markers went down accurately and punctually on the Marshalling Yards to the North of the target. These were followed by the flares. Unfortunately marking was made extremely difficult by the large amount of smoke from both the flares and the T.I. W/Cdr. Cheshire in the Mustang, identified the Squadron aiming point and dropped two Red Spot Fires and although he did not see them burst, they were seen by other aircraft who reported that they were accurate.

The marking by the 627 Mosquitoes was accurate at first but as the attack progressed it spread some 6/700 yards NNE. Along the railway.

Bombing was good and about half way through the attack there was adirect [sic] hit on the red spot fires with a 12,000lb. bomb. This may have extinguished them or they may have become obscured by the spread of the 627 Squadron marking. In any case there was no distinct marker for 617 Squadron after this point.

It/

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It was also most unfortunate that both the Controlling Mustang and his deputy in the Mosquito should have developed V.H.F. failure.

Eight of the Lancasters bombed on the red spot fires and three judged their aiming point from that of the Main Force marking, while the remainder decided to bring their bombs back to Base rather than drop them on an indefinite position.