Operation Jericho was a low-level World War II bombing raid by Allied aircraft on Amiens Prison in German-occupied France on 18 February 1944. The stated object of the raid was to free French Resistance and political prisoners. The raid is remarkable for the precision and daring of the attack, which was filmed by an on-board camera on one of the planes. However, controversy persists as to who requested and authorised the attack, and whether it was necessary.
Mosquito bombers succeeded in breaching the walls and buildings of the prison, as well as destroying guards’ barracks. Of the 717 prisoners, 102 were killed, 74 wounded, and 258 escaped, including 79 Resistance and political prisoners, although two thirds of the escapees were recaptured.
Dust and smoke from Amiens prison during the raid.
In 1943 many members of the French resistance movement in the Amiens area had been caught by the Germans and imprisoned in Amiens prison. Some had been betrayed by collaborators, and the entire movement in the area was at risk. By December 1943, 12 members of the Resistance had been executed at the prison, and it was learned that more
than 100 other members were to be shot on 19 February 1944. Dominique Penchard began sending information about the prison to London, including accurate details of the layout, defences, and duty rosters.
When two Allied intelligence officers were also captured and sent to Amiens prison, a precision air attack on the prison was requested, and the mission was allocated to the 2nd Tactical Air Force. The prison was located alongside a long straight road and surrounded by high walls. The guards ate in a block adjacent to the main building, making lunchtime the best time to eliminate the maximum number of guards. The balance of munitions used had to be carefully planned so that when hitting the main prison walls, they were breached and the doors sprung open without the building being destroyed. As well as destroying the guards’ mess hall, breaches had to be made in the prison’s outer walls to allow the inmates to escape. There were around 700 inmates in the prison and loss of life was inevitable during an air raid, but it was thought that many had already been condemned to death and it would give a chance for some at least to escape.
No. 140 Wing of the RAF Second Tactical Air Force, based at RAF Hunsdon in Hertfordshire, was selected to carry out the raid using Mosquito FB Mk VIs. The Wing comprised 18 Mosquitos from No. 464 Squadron RAAF, No. 487 Squadron RNZAF, and No. 21 Squadron RAF, and was led by Group Captain Percy Charles Pickard (DSO and two bars), an experienced pilot and leader but who was inexperienced in low level attacks and underwent 10 hours’ conversion training at Hatfield. The Mosquitos of 487 Squadron were assigned the task of bombing the prison guards’ mess hall and breaching the outer prison wall in two places, while 464 Squadron’s aircraft were tasked with bombing the prison’s main walls if no prisoners were seen escaping. No. 21 Squadron was assigned with the grim alternative of bombing the prison and all in it, as requested by those prisoners aware
of the proposed mission. The overall raid was to be led by Air Vice-Marshal Basil Embry, and was ready to go from 10 February. Close support was to be provided by Hawker Typhoons from No. 198 Squadron RAF.
Air Vice Marshall Basil Embry was originally intended to command the attack, but was later forbidden from flying on the mission, as he was involved in the planning of the invasion of Europe. Pickard therefore took his place, despite his limited experience of low-level attack. The mission was delayed by very poor weather, which worsened after 10 February, with low cloud and snow across Europe. By 18 February it was not possible to wait any longer for the weather to improve, and the 18 Mosquitos, plus a PR (photo-reconnaissance) Mosquito, were readied. The crews were briefed at 08:00 under high security, the first time they had been made aware of the target. Pickard was to bring
up the rear of the second wave of aircraft, to assess the damage and to call in 21 Squadron if necessary. In the event of anything happening to Pickard’s aircraft, the crew of the PR Mosquito would carry out the task instead.
The final decision to carry out the attack was made just 2 hours before the deadline for striking the target, and the Mosquitos took off from Hunsdon into weather worse than many of the crews had previously experienced. 4 Mosquitos lost contact with the formation and had to return to base, and an additional one had to turn back due to engine problems, leaving 9 to carry out the main attack with 4 in reserve. At one minute past noon they reached the target, three of No. 487 Squadron’s aircraft aiming for the eastern and northern walls of the prison with bombs fitted with 11 second delay fuses, while the other
two made a diversion attack on the local railway station before returning to the prison. The outer walls were successfully breached, but No. 464 Squadron’s Mosquitos were too close behind and had to circle the target while the initial bombs detonated.
The eastern wall appeared unbreached at 12:06, when two planes from 464 Squadron attacked it from an altitude of 50 feet, with eight 500 lb bombs. However, observers did not identify any damage to the prison, caused by this bombing run. Simultaneously, two Mosquitos from 464 Squadron bombed the main building from 100 feet, also with
eight 500 lb bombs. A direct hit on the guardhouse killed or disabled the occupants and a number of prisoners were killed or wounded, while many were able to escape.
Pickard, circling at 500 ft (150 m), saw prisoners escape and signalled No. 21 Squadron’s Mosquitos to return home. As he turned for home, a Fw 190 fighter of JG 26 severed the tail of his Mosquito; the Mosquito’s crash killed him and his navigator.
In total 255 prisoners escaped, though 182 were recaptured.
Bomb strikes seen near the prison gate.
Note buildings across the road from the bomb blast, seen from the air on the right, still exist in recent view.
Hole blasted in prison wall
The repaired wall as seen recently
