Operation – Poissy, Paris – 2/3 April 1942
This was a most interesting and highly successful attack flown at low level in the face of intense flak opposition. The objective was the Matford factory along the River Seine which was manufacturing huge numbers of lorries for the German Army
The crews that participated were as follows :-
02-Apr-42 – Poissy - Ford motor vehicle factory – Wellington – DV697 – S/L DW Holford
02-Apr-42 – Poissy - Ford motor vehicle factory – Wellington – X9666 – F/L CK Saxelby
02-Apr-42 – Poissy - Ford motor vehicle factory – Wellington – T2617 – Sgt JW Potts - Hit by flak over Rouen. Rear gunner suffered facial injuries and shock when shell exploded in turret
02-Apr-42 – Poissy - Ford motor vehicle factory – Wellington – Z8843 – Sgt BJ Staniland - Hit by flak on commencement of run. Aircraft severely damaged with hydraulics unserviceable and elevator controls shot away. Landed at Tangmere
02-Apr-42 – Poissy - Ford motor vehicle factory – Wellington – Z1152 – F/L R Gillespie
02-Apr-42 – Poissy - Ford motor vehicle factory – Wellington – R1344 – F/S GH Gosman
02-Apr-42 – Poissy - Ford motor vehicle factory – Wellington – DV699 – P/O WGK Gorrie - Intercom failed shortly after take off but was repaired in flight.
02-Apr-42 – Poissy - Ford motor vehicle factory – Wellington – L7819 – P/O KH Wallis - Heavily engaged by light flak and was compelled to jettison 2 500lb bombs.
02-Apr-42 – Poissy - Ford motor vehicle factory – Wellington – R1667 – F/S FS Martin
02-Apr-42 – Poissy - Ford motor vehicle factory – Wellington – DV596 – P/O JF Brookes
02-Apr-42 – Poissy - Ford motor vehicle factory – Wellington – DV611 – W/O RJ Fulbrook - Hit by flak and caught fire. Jettisoned bombs. 2 bombs hung up. Fire extinguished.
02-Apr-42 – Poissy - Ford motor vehicle factory – Wellington – Z1140 – Sgt REV Pugh - Hit by flak and severely damaged. Rear turret rendered unserviceable.
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The 103 Squadron Operational Record Book adds little to what is shown above. 12 aircraft were detailed and visibility to the target was good with a bright full moon. Each aircraft carried 6 bundles of leaflets to be dropped around Paris. Opposition from light flak was intense and more than expected. There was also some heavy flak and 8 to 10 searchlights. Bombing was between 1500 ft and 4000 ft. 5 aircraft damaged by flak and one Air Gunner, Sgt Goldspink of the Potts crew, wounded in the face and hands when a cannon shell exploded in his turret. All crews returned to base except Sgt Staniland who landed at Tangmere.
The 1 Group Operational Record Book states that “ The Matford Factory at Poissy was again the target for the night's operation. 27 aircraft carrying H.E bombs taking part. The weather was very favourable, no cloud and good visibility prevailing and the majority of crews were able to identify the target very easily. Reports show that fires were observed both in the factory and surrounding area and it is the general consensus that the factory was very seriously damaged. There was a noticeable increase in light flak and one aircraft failed to return. This aircraft contained the Station Commander of RAF Snaith, Group captain Well, who was flying as second pilot to P/O Powell of 150 Squadron.
Le Havre was again attacked by 6 Fresher crews on good weather and bomb bursts were seen across the dock area.
Aircraft were provided as follows :-
Poissy
12 Squadron – 5 aircraft
103 Squadron – 12 aircraft
150 Squadron – 7 aircraft
460 Squadron - 3 aircraft
Le Havre
460 Squadron – 6 aircraft
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Paris/Poissy - 40 Wellingtons and 10 Stirlings carried out successful bombing of the motor factory . 1 Wellington lost.
Also that night Le Havre - 49 aircraft; crews claimed accurate bombing of harbour targets. No losses. 23 Hampdens and 7 Wellingtons minelaying in Quiberon Bay. 1 Hampden and 1 Wellington lost.
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The other flight I did with L7819 was on the 2/3 April 1942. This was a low level attack on the Matford works at Poissy near Paris which produced large numbers of motor vehicles for the German Army. That was a bright moonlit night with good views of the ground and the shadow of L7819 clearly visible. I flew to the River Seine then followed for the low level at Poissy. On the way to and from the target we dropped many thousands of leaflets. L7819 was shaken violently as her bombs went off on the target. We had bombed from 1,800 feet.
I then turned over a built up area of what must have been Paris and was enjoying looking down at it in the moonlight. Then, fortunately, I glanced ahead seeing the Eiffel Tower for the first time. It was straight ahead and way above our height. I was able to miss it by a sharp turn to starboard but I'll always remember the first time I saw the Eiffel Tower on that moonlit night.
In my log book I noted "Flak more than anticipated but it was a very successful night. Target Hit!" Ken Wallis
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Matford was a joint venture of Ford and Mathis which was created under the name of S.A.
Française Matford and established in 1934. The firm was reorganised in 1940 under the name Ford Société Anonyme Française and this company then used the Ford trademark instead of Matford.
The attack was carried out by 40 Wellingtons and 10 Stirlings. 103 Sq detailed 12 crews which included several other senior captains, notably S/L David Holford and F/L Clive Saxelby.
Five 103 Squadron aircraft are reported to have suffered varying degrees of damage from light flak but all were able to return to base.
The target was indeed hit and quite severely damaged. It has been suggested that, following this raid, the French Vichy government paid Ford Motor Company 38 million francs as compensation for damage done to the Poissy plant. This was, and still is, a lot of money.
Clearly this demanding low level night attack was a considerable success. Pictures of the burning plant even appeared in American newspapers although any reference to the Ford connection was omitted.
Leaflets were dropped from the aircraft during this raid.
The site is still associated with motor manufacturing and is now occupied by a very large Peugot plant.
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.
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