Mosquito Strike | "Don't look now, but his wing's about to fall off!"

"The aim was to be below the level of the 20ft outer wall" ... The pilots, navigators and planners of World War II's famous Operation Jericho raid on the Amiens Gestapo Prison in 1944 tell their tales in their own words in this documentary. The DeHaviland D.H. 98 Mosquito fighter-bombers of 21 Squadron, 487 Squadron, engaged in an ultra-low level, carefully timed attack on the Prison's walls and guards quarters. The stated reason at the time was to give French Resistance fighter prisoners a chance to escape before they were executed. After the war, the added explanation that at least two prisoners held sensitive knowledge of the impending Normandy invasion was offered. But some historians suspect the real reason was a simple "deception" attack - to convince Nazi Germany that preparations were underway for the invasion force to land at nearby Calais. Whatever the case, the raid - primarily conducted by New Zealand and Australian aircrew - would do much to enhance the legendary status of the Mosquito as a precision strike aircraft. The death of Group Captain Charles Pickard - who had won the hearts of the British public for his role in the propaganda movie "Target For Tonight - was kept secret for some considerable time to maintain morale ahead of the D-Day landings. Here, Wing Navigation Officer Edward Sismore, Wing Commander Irving Smith, RNZAF Pilot Officer Maxwell Sparks, Pilot Officer Duncan Taylor and Navigator Arthur Dunlop recall their memories of that day. #documentary #history #WW2 #USNavy #WorldWar2 #NavalWarfare #WWIINavy #WWIIBattles #ClassicDocumentaries