Canadian Airmen Help Hammer a U-boat Source
Wellington bombers in formation. Photo credit - brave bombers, express.co.uk
In March 28, 1942, a few Canadians in RCNVR (and possibly in Combined Operations) were involved in the successful but costly raid on St. Nazaire (France) aimed at putting a very large dry dock out of working order. The dry dock was a significant target because it was large enough to service and repair Germany's largest battleship, the Tirpitz. With St. Nazaire out of working order, Tirpitz's range (and subsequent damage it could do to Allied shipping) would be limited.
An newspaper article published on January 10, 1942 in The Halifax Herald informs us that the German submarine pens at St. Nazaire were targets as well. It follows, with a connection to Canadians in action.
Nova Scotians Help Pound St. Nazaire
London, Jan. 9 -- CP -- Canadian airmen, flying over 600 miles of land and sea in below zero weather, raided the Nazi base of St. Nazaire on the French coast two nights ago to hammer one U-boat source and thereby aid the Battle of the Atlantic.
The airmen, telling the story of the raid tonight, said tons of bombs were dropped and big fires were started despite heavy enemy opposition.
Members of the Royal Canadian Air Force Wellington squadron under Wing Cmdr. R. M. Fenwick-Wilson of Rock Creek, B.C., which has seen a lot of action lately, carried out the raid in weather they described as "treacherously cold" with heavy clouds and fog over their target.
"I could see the fires 20 minutes after we left," said Sgt. G. R. Montgomery of Chapleau, Ont., who was rear gunner aboard one of the big twin-engined bombers.
Two Type VIIs undergo refit in the massive U-boat pens in
St. Nazaire, occupied France. Photo credit - U-Boat Aces
Sqdn. Ldr. John Fauquier of Ottawa, a former bush pilot and flying instructor at Trenton, said he saw more searchlights over France than he had ever seen before.
"They sure were throwing up flak when we reached St. Nazaire," he said. "To add to the party there were plenty of aircraft about. One passed right over my head. When we bombed they shoved up the stuff at us. There were a number of fires burning when we left."
Sgt. H. M. Lascelle of Toronto, rear gunner in a Wellington piloted by Sqdn. Ldr. W. B. Keddy, D.F.C., of Burnside, Nova Scotia, saw a white fire start just as his bombs dropped from his aircraft.
All the Canadians on the raid told of fires they saw started. They included Sgt. F. J. Tatro, wireless operator-air gunner of Toronto, Sgt. R. L. Turnbull, Digby, and Sgt. W. H. Baldwin of Ottawa.
Fauquier, Tatro and Turnbull participated in the big raid on Emden Dec. 29 last in which many fires were started.
Link here for Short Story re St. Nazaire, "Code name CHARIOT, 1942"
Please link to Context for Combined Ops, "Training in Commando Work"
Unattributed Photos GH
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