Twokidsnosleep wrote: ↑Sun Nov 02, 2025 9:46 pm
Sweet, almost done!
There was a great story of a Beaufighter flying into occupied Paris and strafing German headquarters and dropping pamphlets
Operation Scrabble - June 12, 1942.
A lone British Bristol Beaufighter (T4800, ND-C), flown by Flight Lieutenant Alfred Gatward and navigator Sergeant Gilbert Fern of 236 Squadron, took off at 11:29 Hrs from RAF Thorney Island, crossed the Channel at extremely low level and flew to occupied Paris. Their goal was to boost French morale by dropping a large French tricolor flag over the Arc de Triomphe and strafing a German parade as well as the German naval headquarters. Although they found no German parade as expected as it was still forming up they successfully completed their other objectives.
* Dropped a Tricolour over the Arc de Triomphe.
* Shot up the Kriegsmarine HQ in the Ministre de la Marine on the Place de la Concorde.
* Dropped a second Tricolour on the Place de la Concorde.
The flight crossed the French coast near Fecamp, crossed over Rouen then headed to.Paris. Crossing the suburbs they encountered light flak before circling the Eiffel tower where they suffered a bird strike on the Starboard engine. The mission continued, completing the objectives, and the Beaufighter returned to base, landing at 13:53 Hrs without further incident. The bird strike was found to be a French Crow in the Starboard radiator.
Flight Lieutenant Gatward was awarded the DFC.
Flight Sergeant Fern was awarded the DSO
Both men survived the war.
The French Crow was interred with due solemnity at Thorney Island.
The primary goal of the mission - to raise the spirits of the French Resistance was 100% achieved
