ED559's minelaying target: the Gironde Estuary
ED559's mission was to drop four sea mines in the Gironde Estuary in western France. This waterway was the main route to Bordeaux and was heavily used by the Germans. These minelaying sorties were called 'gardening ops' because the bombers 'sowed' their mines. The target area was code-named DEODARS (a species of cedar tree). The coastline of occupied Europe was split into code-names based on vegetation.
Mining the Gironde
The Gironde estuary was regularly visited by photo reconnaissance aircraft which allowed the RAF to create a comprehensive picture of shipping activities along the estuary. Any Axis ship (blockade-runner or raider) was recorded and the info passed to the Admiralty. The ships would then run the gauntlet of Royal Navy and USN ships in the Bay of Biscay. Coastal Command aircraft would also be sent to attack ships. Ships often returned to Bordeaux if they considered they had been spotted by aircraft whilst steaming out of the Gironde.
The first sorties to drop sea mines was undertaken by the RAF off Brest, Lorient and Saint Nazaire in April 1941. This aimed to counter the threat posed by the potential arrival of the Kriegsmarine's battleships. The mouth of the Gironde Estuary was also mined. On March 7, 1942, Bomber Command sent 17 aircraft on a mine-laying operation. 17 more were sent on March 23 and again on March 25.
Further mine-laying was repeated twice in April (total 45 aircraft) and once in May (48 aircraft). Seven operations involving 210 aircraft followed in June and July of 1942. A number of sorties were detailed to drop mines in the Gironde estuary. Further raids drops mines in October and November and operations continued at the start of 1943.
The impacts of this minelaying were however somewhat limited. Little difference was made to the ability of the Germans to access Bordeaux. The Germans were able to rapidly sweep the narrow navigable channel for mines. But with further operations, the German minesweepers were having to do sweeps on a daily basis.
The first sorties to drop sea mines was undertaken by the RAF off Brest, Lorient and Saint Nazaire in April 1941. This aimed to counter the threat posed by the potential arrival of the Kriegsmarine's battleships. The mouth of the Gironde Estuary was also mined. On March 7, 1942, Bomber Command sent 17 aircraft on a mine-laying operation. 17 more were sent on March 23 and again on March 25.
Further mine-laying was repeated twice in April (total 45 aircraft) and once in May (48 aircraft). Seven operations involving 210 aircraft followed in June and July of 1942. A number of sorties were detailed to drop mines in the Gironde estuary. Further raids drops mines in October and November and operations continued at the start of 1943.
The impacts of this minelaying were however somewhat limited. Little difference was made to the ability of the Germans to access Bordeaux. The Germans were able to rapidly sweep the narrow navigable channel for mines. But with further operations, the German minesweepers were having to do sweeps on a daily basis.
A Lancaster bomber being loaded with sea mines similar to those carried by ED559
Battle orders for the minelaying operation
As we can see on the Battle Order shown below, F/L Curle and crew were allocated Lancaster ED559 with code letter 'D'. The Lancaster was positioned at dispersal location number 27.
The operation's battle order:
Officer I/C Night - Wing Commander Swain
Aerodrome Control Pilot - Sergeant Spicer
Officer I/C Night - Wing Commander Swain
Aerodrome Control Pilot - Sergeant Spicer
No. 100 Squadron Battle Order No. 1 - 4th March 1943
The operation
There were no main operations by Bomber Command the night of 4 March 1943, mining sorties was recorded as a minor operation.
Eight Lancasters from 100 Squadron were detailed for the operation. These were ED559 (JA-D), ED609 (JA-J), ED 549 (JA-S) and ED 583(JA-U) plus JA-V, JA-Y, JA-A and JA-H. In addition six Mosquitoes attacked targets in the Ruhr. 27 bombers were sent to mine the coastal waters from Bayonne in the south of France to the Baltic coast near Gydnia in northern Poland.
The operation briefing was attended by Group Captain Hughie Edwards VC from RAF Binbrook. Visitors from Group HQ including Group Captain Hugh Constantine, Squadron Leader Lindo and Flight Lieutenant Wetherby also attended.
Eight crews from 100 Squadron at Waltham were selected with Squadron Leader Barker the first to take off from runway 01 at 18.27 hours. The final Lancaster of Sergeant Overton left Waltham at 19.00 hours. Each crew was to target a different location and drop four sea mines.
Eight Lancasters from 100 Squadron were detailed for the operation. These were ED559 (JA-D), ED609 (JA-J), ED 549 (JA-S) and ED 583(JA-U) plus JA-V, JA-Y, JA-A and JA-H. In addition six Mosquitoes attacked targets in the Ruhr. 27 bombers were sent to mine the coastal waters from Bayonne in the south of France to the Baltic coast near Gydnia in northern Poland.
The operation briefing was attended by Group Captain Hughie Edwards VC from RAF Binbrook. Visitors from Group HQ including Group Captain Hugh Constantine, Squadron Leader Lindo and Flight Lieutenant Wetherby also attended.
Eight crews from 100 Squadron at Waltham were selected with Squadron Leader Barker the first to take off from runway 01 at 18.27 hours. The final Lancaster of Sergeant Overton left Waltham at 19.00 hours. Each crew was to target a different location and drop four sea mines.
- Navigators & Bomb Aimers Briefing - 13.45 hours
- Main Briefing - 14.45 hours
- Transport to Communal Site - 15.45 hours
- Operational Tea - 16.00 hours
- Transport from Communal to Technical Site - 16.30 hours
- Transport Crews to Aircraft - 17.15 hours
Flight plan to the Gironde
ED559 was allocated to dispersal pad 27 and armed with four 1,500 lb. sea mines and 1,850 gallons of fuel. The Lancaster departed from Waltham at 18.38 hours. A letter written by Wing Commander Swain in the Australian National Archives details ED559's route. See this blog entry for track charts (maps) used by a Lancaster later in the war to mine the same body of water.
Grimsby - Reading - Selsey Bill - 49 24N 00 56W - 46 20N 00 40W - 45 25N 00 50W - 45 25N 01 10W - Cordouan - 49 39N 01 24W - 46 30N 01 42W - 47 23N 00 54W - 49 24N 00 56W - Selsey Bill - Reading - Base
This takes the aircraft over Normandy and down through France to cross over the Gironde Estuary. From there the bomber was to head home via the lighthouse on Cordouan Island.
ED559 was carrying four sea mines to be dropped during one bombing run. The bomber would fly a predetermined bomb run at approximately 800 feet. The bomb aimer would release the mines into the estuary one after the other.
The Gironde Estuary was strategically important as it led directly to the inland port of Bordeaux. Shipping traffic was high and the laying of mines was an important target for the RAF. Munitions, spares and other vital materials were shipped via Bordeaux to the U-boat bases along the French coast as well as further afield. The aim of mining was to sink German shipping or cause delays as the estuary was swept by minesweepers.
According to reports from other aircraft the area was covered by searchlights and numerous anti-aircraft flak batteries placed in the vicinity of the mouth of the estuary.
There was little moonlight during the operation. Thursday 4th March 1943 was an old moon night with the new moon appearing on Saturday 6th March, 1943.
ED559 was carrying four sea mines to be dropped during one bombing run. The bomber would fly a predetermined bomb run at approximately 800 feet. The bomb aimer would release the mines into the estuary one after the other.
The Gironde Estuary was strategically important as it led directly to the inland port of Bordeaux. Shipping traffic was high and the laying of mines was an important target for the RAF. Munitions, spares and other vital materials were shipped via Bordeaux to the U-boat bases along the French coast as well as further afield. The aim of mining was to sink German shipping or cause delays as the estuary was swept by minesweepers.
According to reports from other aircraft the area was covered by searchlights and numerous anti-aircraft flak batteries placed in the vicinity of the mouth of the estuary.
There was little moonlight during the operation. Thursday 4th March 1943 was an old moon night with the new moon appearing on Saturday 6th March, 1943.
The flight path of Lancaster ED559
Using the route detailed in a letter from Wing Commander Swain, ED559 was to fly a course to a point 45 25N 00 50W. This way point is the middle of the Gironde Estuary, close to the coastal town of Valeyrac, approximately 567 miles (913 km) from Waltham.
The weather
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Weather experienced during the minelaying operations.
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Extract of weather condition from Night Bomber Report, March 1943
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The operation's results
Extracts from The Night Bomber Report for March 1943:
Minelaying23 out of 27 aircraft laid mines off the west coast of France, the Frisians, Danzig, Gdynia and in the Kattegat. One aircraft did not return from the Gironde estuary, and another was destroyed on landing
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Minelaying extract from Night Bomber Report for March 1943
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Results of the operations23 of the 27 bombers sent laid their mines in the primary area. 80 mines in total dropped. One aircraft returned to base due to technical issues. One bomber was unable to drop mines due to weather. One Lancaster crashed on returning to Britain in poor weather.
One Lancaster (ED559) listed as missing. |
Details of minelaying sorties March 1943
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Report on the night's operations as recorded in 100 Squadron's Operational Record Book
