Winged Chariot: A Complete Account of the RAF's Support Role During the Victorious Command Raid on St Nazaire, March 1942

by Peter Lush

Overview

In what has been described as ‘the greatest raid of them all’, Operation Chariot saw heavy destruction of the enemy-occupied port of St Nazaire by British forces. Winged Chariot examines the role that the RAF played during this epic raid on 28th March 1942. With focus on the planning and actions of the operation, Peter Lush explores the three functions carried out by the RAF; the sweeping of the Bay of Biscay, the diversionary raid and protecting the withdrawing survivors. He also outlines the importance of the Photographic Reconnaissance Unit to the raid and the development of the Bomber and Coastal Commands particularly through the sorties flown by Coastal Command two days before the attack started. The book also highlights the tragedy that occurred for the RAF, when diversionary raids were carried out in impossible conditions; resulting in the loss of aircraft across Yorkshire and in the Channel. Lush examines whether this could have been prevented if the RAF had not been marginalized during the planning process of Operation Chariot. With the 75th anniversary of the operation in 2017, this timely and ultimate account written by an expert who has collated over forty years worth of research is an essential work for all those interested in military aviation, particularly during the Second World War.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781910690246
Publisher:	Grub Street
Publication date:	11/18/2016
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	6.30(w) x 9.20(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Peter Lush is a committee member of the St Nazaire Society and has visited St Nazaire every year since 1982. He has led tours of the dockyard for a variety of people including veterans of the raid. As well as giving lectures of the raid, Peter was involved in the farewell cruise of HMS Campbeltown in March 2011, which went from Falmouth to St Nazaire.

Table of Contents

Foreword 6

Acknowledgements 8

Introduction 10

Prologue 12

Chapter 1 Plans and Provisos 13

Chapter 2 Bomber Command 27

Chapter 3 Coastal Command 35

Chapter 4 The Men from the PRU and the Women too 43

Chapter 5 Bay Watch 58

Chapter 6 Of Bombers and Bases 70

Chapter 7 The Best Laid Schemes 77

Chapter 8 Fire Down Below 98

Chapter 9 Enter the Luftwaffe 112

Chapter 10 From Dawn to Dusk 118

Chapter 11 Guests of the Third Reich 139

Chapter 12 Reports and Recriminations 148

Epilogue 154

Appendices

1 Summary of Sorties Flown 158

2 Operation Chariot - Combined Plan 160

3 Bomber Command Order No. 141 172

4 Report by Group Captain A.H. Willetts 176

Bibliography 180

Sources 182

Index 184

Editorial Reviews

highly recommended for anyone interested in learning more about the history of World War II, and the unsung heroes.

IPMS/USA