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No. 5 Group Operation Order No. B. 976
A Top Secret document referring to the operation to the Ruhr dams. There is a general section describing the purpose of the operation, a section on defences and the priorities of the attack. There is a list of 19 aircraft and their crew from 617…
No 617 Squadron and the operation to breach the dams
Album page with three clippings, one from from The Daily Telegraph and Morning Post dated Tuesday May 18 1943 showing a number of Lancasters over a city, captioned '617 Lancs'. One summarising the news from around November 1944, including the sinking…
Service History of Benny Goodman
Begins with his decision to cease his studies and join the Royal Air Force. Covers recruitment activities and life during initial training including employment as ground gunner while waiting for flying training. Describes basic training on Tiger Moth…
Note from Air Officer Command 5 Group
To officer commanding Conningsby Base RAF Woodhall Spa passing on congratulations on success of Saumur tunnel operation.
Railway tunnel and bridge, Saumur, operation narrative
Relates that in response to request from the Army a planned operation was cancelled at late notice and replaced by operation against the railway tunnel at Saumur. As accurate bombing was required it was decided to use the recently available 12,000…
Interpretation report - Saumur tunnel - provisional statement of damage
Concentration of craters at south end of target area, severe damage to tracks and embankment. Notes direct hit in roof of tunnel a few feet from south entrance and lists six other areas of damage.
Crew list for Saumur tunnel operation
Provides date - night 8/9 June 1944, target- railway tunnel and bridge, Saumur, zero hour - 0200. Leader and marker no 1 - Wing Commander Cheshire flying Mosquito. Lists pilot and navigator of two other markers flying Mosquito. Lists 25 other crews…
Saumur railway tunnel
Reconnaissance photograph of Saumur tunnel entrance and surrounding area taken on 9 June 1944 after attach with 12,000 lb bombs. Description notes direct hit on roof of entrance to tunnel and two other 100 foot craters on the approach to tunnel. On…
Postgram from 5 Group Headquarters to Officer Commanding 617 Squadron
Message is a copy of Headquarters Bomber Command signal congratulating crews that their attacks on Le Havre and Boulogne succeeded in virtually destroying German naval assets in those harbours.
Crew list for operation against submarine pens in Le Havre
Specifies date - 14/15 June 1944, target and zero hour 2235 hours. Lists crews with Wing Commander Cheshire leading along with two other markers flying Mosquito and 22 crews flying Lancaster all armed with one Tallboy bomb.
E-boats and E-boat shelters, Le Havre, narrative
Account of operation against sheltered E-boats in Le Havre harbour. Tasks to assist Navy in their fight against E-boats who were operating against allied invasion forces. States pens would be invulnerable even to 12,000 lb bombs therefore, bombs…
Interpretation Report, Le Havre, provisional statement of damage
Describes damage to E-boat pens mentioning some direct hits and definite damage to north-west corner. Mentions other hits and heavy damage to small craft, a floating dock, jetties and basins. Limited damage outside dock area.
Extract from bomber command summary of operations, Le Havre E-boat pens - effect of 12,000 lb bombs
Mentions two or three direct hits which penetrated the roof as well as some near misses. Describes damage to roof and foundations and subsequent collapse of the roof.
Royal Air Force file cover - Boulogne, dusk 15/16 June 1944
Buff file cover lists contents: No photos - all failures, Photographic Reconnaissance Unit, interpretation report. crew list.
Crew list for Boulogne E-boats operation
States date 15/16 June 1944, target, zero hour 2235. Shows Wing Commander Cheshire leader and marker in Mosquito and 22 crews flying Lancaster all armed with Tallboy bombs.
Attack on e-boats, Boulonge - narrative
Describes planned timing to attack at the same time as the main force. Reports that weather was unfavourable. After initially cancelling the operation leader checked out weather at low level but decided low visibility and target defences precluded…
Constructional works Watten - narrative
Explains that the enemy had brought much vaunted secret weapons into action including V2 missile. Five launching platforms were known to exits and 617 as a precision bombing squadron to destroy these sites. First target allotted was at Watten to the…
Crew list for Watten operation
States date 19 June 1944, Target constructional works Watten, zero hour 1915/1931. Lists leader/marker Wing Commander Cheshire and marker 2, Squadron Leader Shannon in Mosquito with 18 crews flying Lancaster all armed with Tallboy bombs.
Crew list for Wizernes operation
Date 24 June 1944, target, zero hour 1750 hours. Lists leader and marker no 2 crews in Mosquito and sixteen crews in Lancaster all armed with Tallboy bombs.
Crew list for Siracourt operation
Date 25 June 1944, target, zero hour 0905 hours.Lists leader and marker 1 in P51, two more markers in Mosquito and 17 crews in Lancaster carrying tallboy bombs.
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…
Crew list for operation against Creil area dumps
Date: 4/5 July 1944, target, zero hour 0130 hours. Lists leader and marker 1, Wing Commander Cheshire flying P-51. Marker 2 in Mosquito and 17 Lancaster carrying one tallboy bomb each.
5 Group intelligence - P.R.U. St Leu d'Esserent
Gives plots of six Tallboy craters and reports on damage to main railway, roads and access railway.
Attack on constructional works Mimoyecques, narrative
Reports that this was the fourth constructional works target for the squadron. One P-51, one Mosquito and 17 Lancasters were detailed. States it was another difficult target and describes marking efforts. Reports difficultly in finding aiming point…
Royal Air Force confidential file cover
Buff file cover with green text. 'Unit: 617 Squadron, title: [...] of official file, W/C Cheshire DSO, DFC. Reference: GLC\DO\43, 15'. Reported as file containing correspondence to and from Leonard Cheshire Nov 1943 - Mar 1947