Billancourt Renault Factory, Paris – 3/4 March 1942
This was the first of several daring and ambitious attacks at low level on French factories producing war materials for the German forces. 10 experienced crews from 103 Squadron participated. The first up was W/O Fulbrook and crew in R1061 at 1740. P/O Brookes in DV212 returned early due to engine trouble.
First down was David Holford and crew in W5690 at 2329
03-Mar-42 – Paris - Renault motor factory – Wellington – R1061 – W/O RJ Fulbrook - Attacked parked aircraft at St Auby airfield at low level. Fired 250 rounds
03-Mar-42 – Paris - Renault motor factory – Wellington – Z1152 – S/L O Godfrey
03-Mar-42 – Paris - Renault motor factory – Wellington – W5690 – S/L DW Holford
03-Mar-42 – Paris - Renault motor factory – Wellington – X9666 – F/O DW Peck
03-Mar-42 – Paris - Renault motor factory – Wellington – T2617 – Sgt JW Potts
03-Mar-42 – Paris - Renault motor factory – Wellington – R1234 – P/O BH Williams
03-Mar-42 – Paris - Renault motor factory – Wellington – W5664 – F/S FS Martin
03-Mar-42 – Paris - Renault motor factory – Wellington – DV612 – P/O JF Brookes – ER - Lack of boost. Bombs brought back to base.
03-Mar-42 – Paris - Renault motor factory – Wellington – R1344 – F/S GH Gosman
03-Mar-42 – Paris - Renault motor factory – Wellington – DV596 – P/O JH Gilby
Bombing was mostly at around 1500ft up to a maximum of 4000ft.
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The 103 Squadron ORB states that the weather over England was hazy with cirrus cloud only to 6-8/10s medium towards the target. Cloud over the target was at about 8000ft with slight ground haze. All aircraft found and bombed the target. Flak was noted as inaccurate and searchlights were few in number and not co-operating.
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The No 1 Gp ORB states that 35 aircraft from the Group participated in this attack and 33 aircraft bombed the target. 1 aircraft bombed an area which he believed was the primary target. Other Groups co-operated 15 aircraft going ahead of the main effort – the attack being made in 3 waves – to drop flares which were reported as being very effective. Most bombs were dropped from heights varying between 1000ft to 4000ft in excellent visibility cloud being 8/10 at 6000-8000ft enabling the target to be clearly identified. Tremendous damage and fires were reported by the majority of crews throughout the target area. The petrol and diesel test shops were burning fiercely, a gasometer was hit and surrounding buildings collapsing like a pack of cards.
A returning aircraft attacked an aerodrome firing on aircraft dispersed and setting one on fire. Only very slight opposition was encountered in the target area with flak of a light and medium type.
Photo reconnaissance reveals that the raid was most successful with tremendous damage done to the entire plant. One photo revealed tanks lying in a damaged state.
Information from Paris reveals the inhabitants were delighted with the attack regarding the attack of great importance and the most significant in France since the signing of the Armistice.
This is interesting in view of the fact that 650 workers were killed and 1500 injured and Marshal Petain's speech that followed condemned the attack as cruel and cowardly.. Viewed from all angles the effort was highly successful and it remains to be seen what repercussions occur.
The aircraft fro the night's effort were supplied as follows :-
12 Sqn – 12, 142 Sqn – 5, 103 Sqn – 10, 150 Sqn – 9.
36 aircraft were detailed to attack the primary target and 35 took off.
33 aircraft attacked the Primary, 1 aircraft believed to have attacked the Primary and 1 early return due to engine trouble.
Above - Destruction at the Renault Billancourt factory after the attack
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3/4 March 1942 - The Renault factory, in the town of Boulogne-Billancourt just west of the centre of Paris, was making an estimated 18,000 lorries a year for the German forces. 235 aircraft - 89 Wellingtons, 48 Hampdens, 29 Stirlings, 26 Manchesters, 23 Whitleys, 20 Halifaxes - were dispatched in 3 waves, the crews of the leading wave being selected for their experience. The plan called for the massed use of flares and a very low bombing level so that crews could hit the factory without too many bombs falling in the surrounding town. There were no Flak defences. 223 aircraft bombed the target, reporting excellent results. Only 1 Wellington was lost. The main raid lasted 1 hour and 50 minutes. Many records were broken that night. The number of aircraft sent to this one target - 235 - was the greatest by the R.A.F. to a single target so far in the war; the previous record was 229 to Kiel on 7/8 April 1941. The concentration of bombers over the target - averaging 121 per hour - exceeded Bomber Command's previous best rate of 80 per hour; there were no collisions. A record tonnage of bombs was dropped, although the exact tonnage is in doubt, official records giving 412 and 470 tons. A significant tactical point was the mass use of flares and the selection of some experienced crews to open the raid, thus foreshadowing some of the 'pathfinding' methods to be used later in the war. Gee was not used, being not yet ready for operations. The raid was considered a great success and the destruction caused in the factory received much publicity. Unfortunately, French civilian casualties were heavy. There were many blocks of workers' apartments very close to the factory.
Minor Operations: 4 Wellingtons to Emden, 4 Blenheim Intruders to Dutch airfields but these were recalled. 4 Lancasters minelaying off the north-west German coast, 2 Whitleys on leaflet flights to France. 1 Wellington lost on the Emden raid.
Total effort for the night - 249 sorties, 2 aircraft (0.8 per cent) lost. The Lancaster mining sorties, flown by 44 Squadron, saw the introduction into operational service this new type of aircraft.
Compiled by David Fell mostly from 103 and 576 Squadron ORBs, 1 Group ORB, By Day and by Night: Bomber War in Europe, 1939-45. Ken Merrick, Middlebrook's Bomber Command War Diaries. Photos from my archive.
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