The Battle of the Atlantic was probably the most important single campaign fought during the entire war in the West with the threat of the U boats against allied merchant shipping constant and for long periods extremely serious. On the occasions that German capital ships ventured out of their homeports they also posed a formidable threat that had to be addressed. The German battlecruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau had recently been devastating merchant shipping in the Atlantic and had now sought refuge in the French port of Brest. With the cruiser Prinz Eugen also in the same port they now presented a tempting target for Bomber Command.

A major daylight attack was planned with 150 aircraft but this was revised when the Scharnhorst departed for the port of La Pallice further down the French coast for repairs.

The new plan was for 100 bombers to attack the Gneisenau, which was in a dry dock at Brest. Three RAF Boeing Fortresses were to bomb from 30,000ft to try and draw up the fighters prematurely. In addition 18 Handley Page Hampdens escorted by three Squadrons of Spitfires would attack to draw up the remaining enemy fighter reserves. The main bombing force of 79 Vickers Wellingtons from 1 and 3 Groups would then attack whilst the fighters were refuelling and before reinforcements could arrive from the Cherbourg area. As a further diversion 36 Bristol Blenheims in waves and escorted by Spitfires would attack Cherbourg docks to discourage German fighters in that area from heading for Brest.

15 Handley Page Halifaxes from 35 Squadron and 76 Squadron of 4 Group were also tasked to fly to La Pallice to attack the Scharnhorst. This attack was carried out without fighter escort as it was beyond fighter range even with long range tanks.

In the two days prior to the operation 103 Squadron had been preparing for a daylight raid. The target was unknown but Squadron morale was high and every crew wanted to be involved. The day before seven Wellingtons aircraft and crews flew South to Tangmere. Six aircraft were to be used on the operation with another as a spare. On the morning of the 24th July the target was confirmed at the crew briefing. The aircraft were loaded with 6 x 500lb armour piercing bombs each. S/L Lane, F/L Scott and Sgt Bucknole took off at 1100 followed by F/L Max, P/O Ball and Sgt Grey at 11:15. The visibility was excellent and there was no cloud.

The diversionary attack by the Blenheim force on Cherbourg failed to draw up the any fighters but good bombing results on the docks were achieved. The German fighters were, however, up in force over Brest for the first attack by the Hampdens shooting down two of the bombers. The 79 Wellingtons arrived soon after and met strong opposition from both flak and fighters.

Back to the Milestones or Brest, Cherbourg and La Pallice - 24th July 1941, part two