Hi everyone, in my research for 453 Squadron in Normandy I have come across an account of a pilot who underwent commando training (as many did). However his is a very unique case in that he actually went on a raid. The source does not give the exact date but it is likely to have been between March and November 1943, which, while outside the scope of the forums, someone might have info about. The target was a radar site "near Wissant". Can anyone assist in identifying the raid or commando unit?
A possibility...perhaps Operation Rumford? I can only see the first three lines of the Google search result on my work PC for this hit. Regards, Pat
Thanks Pat I checked Rumford and Wikipedia says it was August 44. I'll do some more searching - but thought the forums would be worth a shot - anyone else is welcome to chime in.
Hi all, Probably of not much help, but a search of NCAP for "Wissant France" produces 8 photos, 6 of which are dated 3 Nov. 43. However, the squadron identified on those 6 images is Sq. 541. And I don't know if the area shown is even around the radar site. Charles
Hello Charles 541 Squadron was a Spitfire, and later Mustang, equipped photo recce squadron - hence their number appearing on the photos. cheers Allan
Hi Adam, I have been seeking a good candidate raid in my 1949 edition of Hilary St. George Saunders 'The Green Beret'. While I cannot see a good match in the text, it is worth reading Chapter XVI - Small Raids and Friendly Foreigners for a good overview of what was happening during 1943/44. I have scanned the relevant pages to PDF and embedded them below for ease of reference: <iframe seamless="seamless" src="https://docs.google.com/viewer?embedded=true&url=http://www.normandy.whitebeamimages.ie/commando/the_green_beret_p210-222.pdf" width="100%" height="600px"></iframe> Reading through the chapter, I would certainly look into the history and operations carried out by Layforce II (see p. 220) as a possible candidate for the force which carried out your raid. Hope this helps. Regards, Pat
Adam, Another thought; can you confirm that this was a Commando 'commando' raid. The term is often used loosely to refer to any special forces operation. Thanks, Pat
Thanks Allan, for the explanation with respect to the squadron number appearing on the photos I referenced. Always learning. Charles
Hi All, I have located a list of Commando operations which was compiled by Henry Brown OBE, former secretary of the Commando Association. I don't know how complete it is, but I assume the author knew his stuff well: <iframe seamless="seamless" src="https://docs.google.com/viewer?embedded=true&url=http://www.normandy.whitebeamimages.ie/commando/commando_raid_list_henry_brown.pdf" width="100%" height="600px"></iframe> Again, I cannot see any good matches 'near Wissant' for Adam's date window, but there are some very interesting pre-invasion raids on the Normandy coast for which I would very much like to learn more Regards, Pat
FWIW, I do have some German records on some of these raids: 27-28 September 1941 14-15 August 1942 2-3 September 1942 12-13 September 1942 3-4 October 1942 3-4 september 1943 I still need to check other dates in the correct area. The list I posted are the once I did not have to look for.
Hello Pat Good find. I knew about the COPP but the tarbrush are new, and you might get info about Hiltforce from the NA if Google turns up nothing Kind regards Allan
Morning Guys, Yes, please Niels, if you have anything on any raid on the Normandy coast for any date I would be interested in having a read. Allan, as none of the targets in the list seem to refer to Adam's quest, I would wonder who exactly carried out the raid. I have Nicholas Rankin's 'Ian Fleming's Commandos' with me today for a lunchtime read to see what 30 AU were up to during 1943, though IIRC, they were in the Mediterranean during 1943. Regards, Pat
Thanks Pat and others for the work done so far. The pilot was William Bennett, and it looks like 12 Cdo may be the one he went with on either Forfar Love or Forfar Item - the target was a radar site, so I'll do some googling and see what I can find. Adam [hr] Well, having done some googling it appears that Forfar Love (SBS raid) and Item (parachuted in) can be discounted. The pilot's version stated that they went in on a destroyer. This is a bit of a mystery for sure.
Alright, let's begin ;-) [Pat, feel free to move this post to a more appropriate location.] 27-28 September 1941 14-15 August 1942 2-3 September 1942 Crew of the lighthouse on Les Casquets kidnapped. 1 Uffz. and 6 men (all Kriegsmarine). 12-13 September 1942 3-4 October 1942 I have 14 pages (incl. map) on the events. Bit much to translate, unless there is a specific interest in this particular raid. Considering the amount of paperwork it apparently did upset the German command. 7-8 October 1942 There reportedly was an attempt to land at Anneville-sur-Mer. I have two pages on the events, but I is all a bit vague. Conclusion was that at 23.30 an attempt was made to land, but driven off by fire from a patrol. 24/25 December 1943 Information on the operation at Gravelines. Two prisoners taken. Possibly naval personnel that swam ashore after their boat turned over. 27/28 December 1943 Information on an operation against Sark. Two dead, probably because of mines. Both in English uniform, one French (Cross of Lorraine), other not clear.
Niels, I appreciate the translation and will save it for a future thread as you suggest. Adam, it would be unusual for a Commando raiding party to be deployed by destroyer, unless the force was substantial in number. My understanding is that raiding parties were transported on MTBs, usually only one boat being involved in a particular mission. The MTB would stand offshore while the raiding party went ashore in a shallow draught dory. A destroyer seems unusual in this context. Have you the ORB for No. 453 Squadron? It might indicate to which unit the pilot William Bennett transferred. Also, do you know if he had a particular expertise in some area which might explain his presence on the raid? I think we can rule out 30 A.U. as the organising force of the raid. I can find no reference to them operating on the French coast in 1943. Regards, Pat
You're welcome Pat. These raids have been special to me since as I kid I've often been confronted by a memorial to the tragic fate of PREMIUM, Wassenaarse Slag, 27-28 Febr. 1944. link
Hi All, Coded 'Wels' I think this is the radar station which was the target of the raid. It appears to have been spread over two locations at Mont Plouvin and Mont de la Mottelette and was established in early 1943, which would work well with Adam's date window. Don't have IGN mapping just now to check these two locations, but I presume they are on high ground near Wissant. Regards, Pat
I wonder if the prisoners were murdered under the infamous Commando Orders, as were the Royal Marines captured in the Operation Frankton raid on Bordeaux. I would hsve expected the SBS raid to have used ML's, MTB/MGB's and not a destroyer, but it could have been one of the smaller Hunt class?! Allan
Based on that link Stp 178 Kellergeist (Mont Plouvin) seems to have been the most important. It had a Mammut Cäsar and a Freya. It also seems to have controlled the Würzburg Riese at Stp 176, and the Würzburg Riese and Freya at Stp 183.