HISTORY:
** With D-Day looming, early 1944 was a time of massive intelligence activity across northern France, and many résistants were being captured and imprisoned by the Germans. Among the jails full of French agents was Amiens Prison, where hundreds awaited likely execution for their activities.
To repay their debt of honour, MI6 requested an air raid with a seemingly impossible brief: to simultaneously blow holes in the prison walls, free as many men and women as possible while minimizing casualties, and killed German guards in their quarters. The crews would have to fly their bomb-run at an altitude of just 20 feet. Despite the huge difficulties, the RAF decided that the low-level specialists of No. 140 Wing had a chance of success.
With the aid of first-hand accounts, explanatory 3D diagrams and dramatic original artwork, eminent historian Robert Lyman explains how one of the most difficult and spectacular air raids of World War Two was pulled off, and debunks some of the myths over why the raid was ordered in the first place.**
** Quoted from the back cover of the book.
THE BOOK:
Osprey Publications has released Operation Jericho - Freeing the French Resistance from Gestapo jail, Amiens 1944 as Number 57 in the Raid series. It is an 80-page soft cover book. Included with the text are black and white and color photographs, color illustrations, bird’s-eye-views, detailed captions, maps, first-hand accounts and more. It has a 2022 copyright, a publication date of May 24, 2022, and the ISBN is 978-1-4728-5206-9.
CONTENTS:
- Introduction
- The Target for Today
- Origins
- The Aircraft
- No. 2 (Light Bomber) Group
- The Plan
- The Reason Why
- Group Captain Percy Charles ‘Pick’ Picard, DSO, DFC
- The Raid
- Take-off
- The Attack
- Aftermath in Amiens
- The Deaths of Pickard and Broadley
- Aftermath
- Bibliography
- Index
THE TEXT:
Author Robert Lyman provides a well written and informative text detailing the low-level allied bombing raid on the Amiens Prison with the goal of freeing French resistance fighters that were held there by the Gestapo. Lemon goes into great detail explaining the actions, planning and preparation that took place prior to the bombing raid, the aircraft that were used and their crews, the actions taken during the bombing raid, including actions taken by specific individuals and their aircraft during and after the bombing raid, the result of the bombing raid and the actions and events that took place immediately after the bombing raid and later on including people's reactions regarding the French citizens that were killed during the attack. I personally feel that Robert Lyman has covered all areas and aspects of the before, during and after actions of the raid and left no area of the raid undiscussed and detailed. In addition to his own words Robert Lyman has also provided numerous personal quotes and first-hand accounts from key individuals involved. The text in the book is nicely written and well detailed. As I read through the text, I didn’t notice any spelling or grammatical errors. Grammar and spelling might not be an important factor to everyone however it is something that I take notice of and pass on my findings. I feel that if the text is well written then it shows that the author has taken the time to be professional with their writing. Anyone wanting to add an excellent reference and history book on the low-level allied bombing raid on the Amiens Prison in German-occupied France during World War II to their personal library will be pleased with this informative and interesting book.
THE PHOTOGRAPHS:
A total of 46 black and white photographs and 4 color photographs are included in this volume. The photographs range from wide angle photographs to close-up detailed photographs. They contain a combination of in-action photographs, photographs removed from motion pictures to photographs that have been staged for the photographer. The majority of the photographs are clear and easily viewable; however, a few have an out of focus look to them and some appear to be too dark, and others appear too light. This is typical for the discussed period of history and consideration needs to be given to the fact that some of the photographs are over 75 years old. The quality of the photographs is no fault of the author and do not take anything away from the book. Author Robert Lyman stuck to the title of the book and chose subject specific photographs and did not include photographs that strayed from the main subject of the book. The majority, if not all, of the photographs will prove to be a wealth of information to anyone interested in the low-level allied bombing raid on the Amiens Prison in German-occupied France during World War II due to the details they contain.
THE ILLUSTRATIONS:
There are 4 color illustrations, three of which have detailed captions, included by illustrator Adam Tooby. The illustrations are very well done, nicely detailed and are:
The Front Cover
- The Mosquitoes during their bombing run the on Amiens Prison. (Refer to the attached scan)
Plate B
Typhoons over Amiens
– A two-page color illustration depicting a typhoon as it overflies Amiens Prison while protecting the fighter bombers of the three attacking squadrons during the raid.
Plate C
After the walls tumble down
- A two-page color illustration depicting the breach in the prison wall leading onto the main Amiens-Albert Road by Irving ’Black’ Smith’s second bomb which allowed many of the prisoners to escape.
Plate D
Shooting down ‘F for Freddie’
– A two-page color illustration depicting Feldwebel Wilhelm Mayer’s FW-190 attacking Picard and Broadley’s ‘F for Freddie’ Mosquito north of the prison just after 12:06 PM
THE BIRD’S-EYE-VIEWS:
There are 3 bird’s-eye-view illustrations with detailed captions included in this volume. The bird’s-eye-views are very well done, nicely detailed and are:
- A one-page illustration showing how the Typhoons flew escort and provided overhead protection for the Mosquitoes during their bombing run on the prison.
- A two-page illustration titled Timings- Operation Jericho which shows the routes Waves 1 through 4 took and the time of their bombing runs on the prison. It also specifies five key events during the attack and has a key detailing 17 specific bomb strikes.
- A one-page illustration titled the loss of Picard and Broadly, Mosquito Mk VI HX922, EG-F, 18 February 1944. (Refer to the attached scan)
THE MAP:
There is 1 map with a detailed key included in this volume. The map is well done, nicely detailed and is of:
- The map shows the routes taken by the allies before, during and after the bombing raid as well as the locations of allied casualties.
PROFILES:
There 2 individuals profiled in this volume, and they are of:
- Group Captain Percy Charles ‘Pick’ Pickard, DSO, DFC
- Group Captain Percy Charles "Pick" Pickard was an officer in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. He served as a pilot and commander and led the Amiens Raid.
- Captain Philippe Level
- Captain Philippe Level was a French member of the RAF who flew on the mission as a navigator.
THE CAPTIONS:
The captions are well written and explain the accompanying photographs and illustrations in great detail eliminating any doubt as to what is shown. The captions go into very specific detail as to actions shown, specific individuals and their ranks, specific types of aircraft and the squadron to which they are assigned, types of weapons and bombs locations and dates, and other such pertinent information. As I read through the captions, I didn’t notice any spelling or grammatical errors. Lyman’s captions will be helpful to the reader due to their detailed content as opposed to other captions that I have seen that are very brief and lacking in detail.
Osprey Publishing also offers Operation Jericho - Freeing the French Resistance from Gestapo jail, Amiens 1944 as:
eBook (Epub and Mobi) ISBN: 978-1-4728-5197-0
and
eBook (PDF) ISBN: 978-1-4728- 5196-3
Osprey Publishing’s, Operation Jericho - Freeing the French Resistance from Gestapo jail, Amiens 1944 is also available as an electronic Kindle version through Amazon.com.
PRICE:
UK £14.99 / US $22.00 / CAN $30.00
This book was provided to me by Osprey Publishing. Please mention that you saw the book reviewed here on the KitMaker Network when you make your purchase. Thank you.
