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In January, 1944 the left model was built from air photos such as the one on the right in planning the February 18th, 1944 Amiens Prison raid - known as "Operation Jericho". |
Amiens Prison Pinpoint Bombing Raid
The Amiens prison was attacked to release high ranking members of the French resistance who had been convicted of terrorist attacks on German soldiers and French citizens. Eighteen Mosquito aircraft, with two 1,600 horsepower Merlin engines, were to swoop down from a high elevation at 360 miles per hour (580 kilometres per hour), to 20 metres (65 feet) elevation to release bombs that would blow holes in the brick 1 metre (3 feet) thick surrounding wall, and allow the inmates to escape.
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In January, 1944 the left model was built from air photos such as the one on the right in planning the February 18th, 1944 Amiens Prison raid - known as "Operation Jericho". |
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Top Photo: February 18, 1944, at 12 noon, two Mosquitos approach
the prison at low altitude. Bottom Photo: The prison is smoking after the guards sleeping and eating areas have just been hit with bombs to generate confusion. As shown by the dark wall bricks that have been strewn across the white snow, two holes have been blown in the outer wall, one on the left and one on the right of the photo. Through these holes, hundreds of inmates escaped. |
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3,600 horsepower Mosquito on an English airfield in 1944, similar to the planes used in Operation Jericho. |
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The 3.5 m (12 ft) wide hole blasted in the south wall, through which
258 prisoners escaped, of whom 179 were common criminals, 29 were termed
'French politicals' (which usually meant they were Communist Party workers),
and 50 were members of the French Resistance, some of whom had been convicted of committing terrorist acts against German soldiers or the local French population. |
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Photo taken the day after the raid shows one hole in the north wall. |
