St. Nazaire raid 27/28.3.1942

[CZ_RAF]

Hi all, I would like to ask if anyone could provide me some more extra info about this raid. I have the BC War Diary and there is only that 35 Whitleys +27 Wellingtons took part and only 4 planes bombed the target.

I am mostly interested in the squadrons taking part, approx. T/O times and losses.

TIA

Pavel

[Dick]

Hi Pavel
Chorley BCL gives the following:-
51 Sqn: Whitley V, Z9274, MH-U,t/o 2024,crashed at Cowpers Cross, nr Ilkley,Yorkshire at 0510 crew injured no deaths.
Whitley V, Z9481,MH-V,t/o 2029,strayed off track on return and crashed 3 mls E of Kettlewell,Yorkshire.No deaths,2 injured
Whitley V, Z9304, MH-S,t/o 2033,ditched at 0200 on return flight all rescued by minesweeper
All t/o from Dishforth
77 Sqn: Whitley V, Z9221 no t/o time, crashed at 0400 6mls NW of Ripon, Yorkshire after jettisoning bombload over the sea,1 died,4 injured
t/o from Leeming.
These are just the losses,Chorley doesn't give those who got back and so wouldn't record any other Sqns that didn't suffer casualties
I presume that you know that this was the same date as the Commando Raid on the Dock gates using HMS Campbeltown to ram an explosive charge into the dry dock
Regards
Dick

[CZ_RAF]

Hi Dick,

thanks for the losses.
Yes I know about the operation "Chariot" and this is exactly why I am asking for this support air raid:-)

Pavel

[AlanW]

Pavel,
Group 1 sent 27 Wellingtons,
Group 4 sent 35 Whitleys.
Of the 62 aircraft,....
4 bombed the target area.
6 bombed alternative targets.
52 aborted......
48 of these due to 10/10ths low cloud and severe icing.
1 Whitley lost to enemy action, 3 Whitley's lost, not due to enemy action.

[CZ_RAF]

Many thanks Alan!
Nice statistics.

Pavel

[Billwebb]

My father Pete. Webb was in 502 squadron and on 29th March 1942 his log book says he was in a Whitley Z9190 Sgt Coates Pilot. Special Escort & search for St Nazaire Commandos.
Bill Webb