A Query on EG-F HX922, Pickard's Mosquito on Operation Jericho

[Badhatharry]

Hi everyone, I wonder if any of our Mosquito experts could answer a simple question for me?

 

On the Amiens prison raid, what would the various Mosquitos of 487 Squadron RNZAF, 464 Squadron RAAF and 21 Squadron RAF, along with "Pick" Pickard's well known lead aircraft (featured in the options of both the Airfix 1/24 and Tamiya 1/32 Mosquito FB.VI kits), have been carrying under their wings - external fuel tanks, bombs or would nothing have been carried? I know that some aircraft internally carried 500lb SAP bombs and others carried 500lb MC bombs (to hit different elements of the prison or its walls) but can find nothing about the underwing fit.

 

Any help or theories would be appreciated.

 

Best wishes

 

BHH.

[Geoffrey Sinclair]

18 Mosquito fighter bombers, they would not have needed drop tanks given the range to target,

6 from 21 Squadron
5 from 464 Squadron plus Group Captain Pickard
6 from 487 squadron

Squadron records available online via the archives have few details, all say secret/special target, no details of aircraft attacking or bombs dropped.

 

The RAF says 2nd TAF launched 18 bomber sorties, of which 13 are credited with attacking,  all on the primary target, dropping 30x500 pound HE bombs.  As well there was one photographic sortie, 16 escort sorties and 2 shipping reconnaissance sorties.  2 bombers missing, 3 damaged by enemy action, 2 escort fighters missing.

 

The online accounts of the raid state 2 Mosquitoes from 21 and 2 from 464 lost touch in the snow storms and returned to base, 1 from 487 was hit by flak on the run in and jettisoned its bombs.  The 5 aborts leaves 13 bombers.  While the remaining 4 aircraft of 21 squadron were ordered not to attack they still considered attacking sorties by the RAF,

 

Removing the 21 squadron aircraft and the aborts leaves 9 aircraft, 4 from 464 and 5 from 487, dropping 30 bombs, mathematically 3x2 = 6 + 6x4 = 24, total 30, so either some aircraft only had a pair of bombs or some did not release all their load, at least 6 were carrying bombs on their wing racks.

[EwenS]

The first part of “The Amiens Raid Secrets Revealed” by JP Ducellier gives a blow by blow account of the operation including copies of the various RAF orders issued to 140 Wing by 2 Group. These were very detailed.

 

Bomb loads for each of the 18 strike aircraft were specified as 2x500lb MC + 2x500lb SAP all with 11 sec time delay fuses. But these were changed slightly. Some aircraft carried GP bombs instead of the MC specified. Possibly a question of availability at the airfield.

 

While Pickard is always credited as the leader on Operation Jericho he actually flew as the number 6 in the second wave i.e. the 464 squadron group even though flying a 487 squadron aircraft. The raid was actually led by Wing Commander I S Smith, the CO of 487 squadron. Pickard apparently wanted to assess the success of the first two waves before calling in the third wave from 21 squadron.

 

The book then goes into great detail about what happened to each aircraft and bomb, where that has been able to be identified.

 

First wave first flight of 3 aircraft. All bombs were dropped but 7 are either known, or believed, to have overshot the target, including the entire load from the third aircraft in the formation, which attacked from a slightly higher altitude (20ft!). No mention of that miss being due to the aircraft being hit by flak.

 

First wave second flight. Only 2 aircraft attacked, the 6th having turned back with an overheating engine while over France. 6 bombs hit their designated targets as planned. 1 hit the prison and the position of the last is unknown.

 

The second wave had to carry out an unplanned 360 degree circle to increase its spacing from the first flight and avoid their bomb explosions. During this manoeuvre Pickard’s aircraft was shot down and he did not bomb the target.

 

Second wave first flight all 3 aircraft bombed. 1 bomb overshot the target. At least 1 and possibly 3 failed to explode. 

 

Second wave second flight of two remaining aircraft. At least 6 bombs fell where planned with a 7th falling outwith the walls and the location of the 8th unidentifiable. For one of these aircraft the author has been able to specify which bomb on which bomb rack landed where!

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Amiens-Raid-Secrets-Revealed-Operation/dp/0955473527/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3CHEHP45T1YH2&keywords=The+Amiens+raid+secrets+revealed&qid=1655017972&s=books&sprefix=the+amiens+raid+secrets+revealed%2Cstripbooks%2C109&sr=1-1

 

Edit: for completeness, one aircraft from the second wave second flight was shot down on the way home. 

 

The third wave, reduced to 4 aircraft when 2 aborted on the way out due to bad weather, did not bomb and returned to Britain.

Edited June 12, 2022 by EwenS

[Badhatharry]

Thanks for your help, guys.

 

BHH

[AndyL]

Google Pathe News Amiens Raid - there’s some footage on there that may help.

[Peter Roberts]

Photo of two 464 Squadron aircraft en route to Amiens shows bombs on lower wing pylons.

 

https://www.pprune.org/10585686-post12706.html