Originally Posted by olife
hi guys,
as in birds of steel ,we will have the fantastic and very nice lancaster,i would like to share with u ,the story of the first ww2 bomb raid on berlin...by the french navy,the bomber FARMAN 223.4,nickname "JULES VERNE" of the B5 squadron of the FRENCH NAVY attack BERLIN ,alone ,in the night of the 7 -8 june 1940,here is a story of this plane and his crew:
THE JULES VERNE surprised the defense of Berlin
On May 10th, 1940, the day of the German offensive in west front, the Jules Verne left Toussus-le-Noble, the Naval Air Station-Lanveoc Poulmic in Brittany.
The crew prepared the plane for its first planned mission of the next day. They were the Commander-Henri Dailliere, pilot-Gueugnet , navigator-Comet, radio operator-Scour, and the bomber mechanic-Corneillet Deschamps.
The targets designated for this mission were the station at Aix-la-Chapelle in Germany and the bridges of Maastricht in Holland.
The first raid was a success, according to the crew, because it took the Germans completely by surprise.
May 14th, another mission was flown with the same kind of goals.
The 18th, The bomber made an attack on the island of Walcheren and again attacked Aix-la-Chapelle on the 19th.
The last raid was performed on a full moon without clouds and left a lasting impression on the crew: flying at an altitude of 400 m, the flight the plane layer on the tracks and the crew found themselves followed by dozens of spotlight beams. Heavy flak fire thundered around them as they neared their target. With its aluminum finish, the Jules Verne was as visible as it would have been if it was a day mission and they were only saved by the pilot, Gueugnet, who managed to escape the Flak by zigzagging between the rooftops. Dazzled by the lights, Dailliere could not drop their bombs so the crew decided to carry on over to the secondary target, Saint-Omer, and they attacked a concentration of enemy tanks.
After this memorable raid, the aircraft was damaged in several places but is quickly repaired and repainted in black to make less visible at night.
The pilot Gueugnet, wounded by the flak, is hospitalized and replaced by Yonnet which, with the other five members already present, which consist 1'equipage fly aboard the aircraft until it is
nailed to the ground by the armistice.
One of Dailliere's major projects was to bomb Berlin, but his proposal had already been rejected several times by the authorities, who probably did not want to risk the life of a man of such value, but also not willing to send a whole crew to their certain death. Only Dailliere was not a man to abandon his ideas, justified by the multiple attacks inflicted by the Luftwaffe
on the population of Paris, he used all his powers of persuasion.
Finally he obtained permission to bomb Berlin and a raid was carefully prepared to follow a flight path that the enemy could not foresee.
The flight would depart from Bordeaux-Merignac airport. Crew of the bombing of Berlin being Corneillet the master, Comet-Lieutenant, Lieutenant Commander Daillere first Yonnet-master, master-master and second Scour Deschamps.
With a long trip ahead, the plane would take-off fully loaded. They would fly to the north over the Channel and North Sea
avoiding occupied Holland and Denmark over the Baltic until finally turning south again towards Berlin to drop the bombs.
a suburban area. The authorities do not want to because they are dropped on Ie downtown.
The return flight will be as direct as possible to Lanveoc-Poulmic but depend on the amount of fuel remaining in the tanks.
The Jules Verne Decolle Ie June 7, 1940 00 am to 3 am. Despite the appropriate signal, french ship and
British ships shoot him, but
Ie fortunately missing.
Thanks to the perfect navigation Comet, the aircraft follows the planned route and arrived in the region of Berlin at the time announced.
Cumulus clouds over the area make navigation difficult Lights finally appear.
Suddenly Dallière saw Tempelhof airport
abundant light in the most total indifference. He ordered the pilot to simulate an approach
a way to make the Germans believe that the aircraft is one of them. At an altitude of about 15 m,
He then flies over the runway, the four engines subitemment shoot a full power, takes the height and
moves towards the target by frequently changing direction and making sure the engines are
sync to give the impression of the presence of multiple devices.
Despite the risk to face a barrage of balloons, Ie Jules Verne flying so low over the city
that the crew be able to distinguish the streets, cars and houses as in times of peace.
Finally, we arrive on the approach of the target. Dailliere down to the position of bomber
and ordered to fly a Yonnet law and stably at an altitude of 100 meters.
He dropped a few bombs exploding.
The city, taking stupor, holding its breath. Berlin plunges into darkness;
Projectors and light flak started: Others pull, forcing Yonnet
has taken a little altitude. The aircraft can be affected at any time
but the crew rejoices with the deep feeling of having accomplished something
extraordinary: for the first time in the war and for the first time in history military Berlin was bombed!
Dailliere Guard has three bombs for a second pass. He ordered the pilot to return to the target.
Avoiding the spotlight and driving through a thick
Curtain Flak, Yonnet this order applies. At the back of the plane, Deschamps activates a drop incendiary bombs
10kg by the door wide open.
The breath of the flak framing device and Ie strong current of air that has engulfed the interior of the fuselage to make this task less dangerous Ie.
Catching
each hazardous bombs with the same precautions as possible it should, while keeping its balance, transport over a distance of two to
three meters and run through 1'ouverture the door.
The mechanic noticed his difficulties Corneillet and rushes to help. Together, they arrive
released the majority of the 80 firebombs as the aircraft flies over the target.
Dailliere Corneillet has ordered to mount the machine gun and shoot the lights. It is written: "Shoot the spotlight? ..
But there are thousands of young ... "Then comply, he rushes to the door,
install the machine gun and fired two or three magazines.
He then noted that Deschamps continues to drop incendiary bombs Ie remains and
suddenly emboldened, 1'aider has decided to complete this work. In
an extreme state of excitement, he removes his shoes and even launched a rage over the city, shouting incomprehensible words.
All the bombs were dropped. Dailliere order to
Ie way back to base-Lanveoc Poulmic, ant change several times
management to deceive any enemy fighters spears on their heels.
Scour (Ie radio) sends a message to Paris announcing Ie success of the raid.
Corneillet commander warns that while Ie Ie fuel begins to drop.
Dne new road and agreed 1'avion lands safely in Chartres.
Dailliere, fearing the reaction of the Germans, ordered the crew to prepare the aircraft
as quick as possible with a minimum amount of fuel,
what is done in minutes. they took off again and see immediately explode in their wake the bombs dropped by German bombers
on the track. they pose a new Orly or they re Ie refuel and leave half an hour later to rally their base-Lanveoc
Poulmic. The flight lasts 13 hours and 40 minutes.
In the canteen of the base, while they enjoy a well deserved meal, continued to comment Corneillet the raid. Yonnet note her bare feet and asked
why he launched his shoes at Berlin.
Corneillet, somewhat embarrassed and have no
give a logical explanation simply says, "You know ... they did not win anything.
These shoes were almost worn out ... "
|