Description

Three squadrons of Mosquito’s streak over snow covered France at tree-top height; their target a prison full of Resistance Fighters and British Agents, their purpose to free them – or kill them. Desperate calls to London from the French Resistance told of 100 men and women due to be shot at dawn, and of a British Agent being tortured to reveal the secrets of the Allied invasion plan. Film-Star RAF pilot Group Captain Pickard led the raid that smashed the prison walls and killed the German guards while the Resistance stormed the prison to release their comrades. This is the legend behind one of the most famous precision bombing raids of WW2, a raid of great daring that inspired the films 633 Squadron and Mosquito Squadron – but what was the truth? For over 60 years this version of events has been believed and many have gone to their graves in the certain knowledge that they had helped save the inmates from certain death and preserved the secret of the coming invasion, but this was not the truth. The following are among the often repeated ‘facts’ that are shown to be incorrect: Legend: The raid was to free Resistance workers and saboteurs Truth: The raid was part of a deception that led Rommel to believe the Allies would land in the north. Legend: The raid was code-named ‘Operation Jericho’ Truth: The raid had no code-name. It was called ‘Operation Jericho’ in a post-war film. Legend: A mass-execution was to take place the next day. Truth: There was no ‘mass-execution’ of Resistance workers planned. Legend: A British Agent who knew the details of the Allied Invasion was being tortured to reveal the secrets. Truth: There was no such agent. Legend: ‘Film Star’ pilot Pickard lead the raid and dropped the bomb that breached the walls. Truth: Group Captain Pickard was shot down before he dropped his bombs