More British excellence in documentary film making. We Americans view “The Few” who flew in Fighter Command and Bomber Command as the legends of valor they were. And we will never forget that it was the RR Merlin that gave our P-51D’s their famous purr - as it did the Spitfire, magisterial Mosquito, and illustrious Lancaster. Cheers Brit mates! 🇺🇸💛🇬🇧
Lord Beaverbrook "The Packhard Rolls-Royce engine is an example to the whole world." below 809 Hansard FLEET AIR ARM. HL Deb 27 January 1943 vol 125 cc794-829 "Rolls Royce had been aware of the Bendix-Stromberg Pressure type of carburettor for several years and versions of the carburettor were used on many American engines including the Allison V-1710. Notably, Packard built their Merlins in the USA with a version of the Bendix PD16 from the very start of Packard Merlin production." ROLLS-ROYCE MERLIN CARBURETTOR DEVELOPMENT page
I was blessed to spend a wonderful day with Canadian fighter pilot Don Burton before he passed. He flew on that mission, lost his best friend Henry Brown ( although he did not know it until he returned) and was piloting the Typhoon that passed in front of the camera Mosquito. He shared that day his gun camera footage, the events recorded in his log book and many stories from his flights. I have a photo on my wall that he carried in his wallet to his last day of his Typhoon on a hay field in France after D day. He earned the DFC. We are blessed to have known such men. Thanks for the great documentary
Hi there, thank you for sharing your story, It’s extremely wholesome to read and I only wish that both me and my mother could have been there with you for that, and for some context, my mother is Henry Browns little sister , although she was only just over 18 months old when he passed, so although she didn’t really remember him, she still had three older siblings as well as her parents that would tell her all about Harry, but it would have still been nice to have heard from fighter pilot Don Burton, but regardless, I plan on showing my mother your post tomorrow, and thank you !
Wing Commander Iredale Australian pilot flew on this mission ,survived the war returned to Australia and and never flew aircraft again,his son Michael served a tour in Vietnam in 1966,Mike asked his father how he kept getting promoted he replied they kept losing pilots and they promoted accordingly due to losses.
Thanks for this doco, a few new details I’ve not heard before. My great uncle PO Mervin Darrall, from the second flight first wave, survived the war and returned to NZ. As far as I am aware he never piloted a plane again and almost never spoke of the war except once to an airline pilot relative. Too many friends lost I think.
That generation is called the silent and greatest generation for a reason. I once asked my grandpa about his scar on his left calf when I was a kid. He didn't answer anything with his long stare eyes, and my grandma quickly said it's from a farming accident. After his funeral in 2011, my dad told me the truth. It's a scar from a rifle buttstock attack. He even spent his 18th birthday in 1945 during the 2nd day of a battle in Southeast asia fighting the Japanese army. Never told me anything when he's alive, just smiling.
I'm from Amiens, my grandfather was a teenager at the time and saw the planes fly over the city, he told me this story several times. I didn't know there were real footage of the attack, I'm amazed! Thank you for this video! Also does anyone know where I could find any information about a british pilot who was shot down and then hidden in a small village near Amiens? (It's a story from my grandmother this time but I don't have much information).
I bought a diecast model Mosquito plane a few weeks ago from an RAF museum and I was holding it and looking at it as I was watching this interesting mission story video. What a fantastic plane the mosquito was. It's one of my favourite WW2 planes because of how versitile it was.
The mosquito made of plywood with 2 merlin Rolls Royce engines the armaments it could carry,you had a bomber flying at 4.14MPH absaloutley unheard of,its number 1 weapon was it's speed christ it was quick,I've seen footage of a mosquito firing whilst on the ground when it fires ghe cannon it Rolls back about 15ft fantastic plane
The Amiens prison raid was another example of what British determination could achieve. Starting with Sir Geoffrey de Havilands determination to produce the Mosquito as a private enterprise when the narrow minded officials declined his original proposal. To the dedication of the crews themselves to see the job carried out, not just on this raid but others like the Gestapo HQ and from preventing Goerings broadcast. It is a shame that such heroism that these men displayed should be questioned after the war.
@@sjb3460 - there were questions raised after the war as to who actually requested the raid, and why so many French Prisoners died in the raid. Also, if there actually were any prisoners about to be executed and who they were. As Chris explains the raid was justified by the fact that some of those who escaped later went on to play a large part in slowing down the German response to D-Day.
The Amiens prison raid also proved that the allies were very well capable of precise aerial bombardment, which raises the question of why they persisted in undertaking massive and indiscriminate carpet bombings.
@@davidhoward4715 Allied bombing strategy is not responsible for this. The Lutwaffe was on its knees before D-Day, not because of Allied bombings but simply because Germany had bitten off more than it could chew. In 1944, the Lutwaffe was spread over a huge area, the war had lasted too long and the losses had been too high, especially on the Eastern Front, after 5 years of uninterrupted war, Germany was running out both of pilots and raw materials.
@@elouenmyas580 Low level precision bombing needed surprise, and huge skill. I don't think this would have been possible when attacking large heavily defended industrial targets.
Excellent documentary. I grew up in Bampton, Oxfordshire. The local bank employed a member of this raid. Max Sparks, originally from New Zealand. There is an interview, by Martin Shaw, he played " Doyle" in the tv series The Professionals. If I can locate the interview, I will post a link.
That New Zealand pilots led the Amiens Prison raid is a point of pride and a celebrated event for the Royal New Zealand Air Force, even today. N Z pilots made up 12% of the RAF during the Battle of Britain. Another point of pride for Kiwis. Alas, we lost our fighter arm of the RNZAF back in the late 1980s when we used Skyhawks.
Another outstanding documentary from you guys 👏🏻 i love the detail you guys go into the footage and graphics used to tell the tale and paint the picture are on point too! 👍🏻
Good that you emphasised the fact that the prison was run and staffed mostly by guards who were French and consequently therefore technically….no actually…in the pay of a collaborationist government. As a French girlfriend once said to me: “ You go to France now and EVERYBODY’S family was in the Resistance!” 🙄
This has been, is still and will continue to be a touchy subject in France. It’s easy for those who weren’t occupied to say ‘oh you were all traitors’ but in France it was a complicated subject given that for instance until Operation Barbarossa the Nazis and Soviets were not at war. As a result Stalin through the Comintern ordered French Communists to not resist either the Nazis or the Vichy regime.
@@nigeh5326 Agreed. In a similar manner, it’s also easy for people who weren’t there to accuse all the people in Germany as having been Nazis. This is also a highly complicated subject and one that is grossly oversimplified and inaccurately portrayed by those who have no understanding of society under that totalitarian regime. The reality is not that every one was a Nazi. It is equally true that…..not every one wasn’t a Nazi! I think my point above is that ‘popular’ history…Hollywood movies etc…describes and perpetuates a very different black and white, “good guys v bad guys” narrative. Probably, in most people’s mind then, the image of that raid above would have of patriotic hapless, French Resistance ‘freedom-fighters’, having been rounded up by evil Gestapo Policemen, in long leather coats and awaiting slaughter at the hands of square-headed, faceless SS automaton thugs. As you say, the reality was that French men were involved in this process too but that there were complicated reasons as to why. I spent a lot of my childhood growing up in the 1960s and 70s in Germany, so lots of the adults around were still very much protagonists in that era of Nazi Germany and the war. Yet, by seemingly quite incredible coincidence, I never ever met someone who been a Nazi. In the same manner, my French girlfriend of a similar age, quite coincidentally, never ever met anyone whose family wasn’t in the Resistance. What a remarkable pair of coincidences, huh?
Two of my mothers' brothers were in the active resistance in occupied Belgium during the war . They were part of the "witte brigade" or "white brigade" which was a fairly general name. A third brother was deported (but came back) But, when speaking to my mother about the resistance and subsequently the revenge actions at the end of the war, she always expressed her anger and repulsion at those who only became "resistance fighters" when the fighting was over. Just by name, not by deeds... Those were often the people who treated a lot of so-called collaborators very cruelly, just think about the all those women who at some point simply had a fling with some German soldier...
@@nigeh5326Well as it is always said," The first casualty of war is the truth ," and also " the histories of war are always written by the Victors, never the vanquished " I have just read about the " little ships of Dunkirk ".It is very illuminating and goes with the French attitude regarding this raid discussed here .According to the documentary on TV a few years ago the French were incensed about it ,and many still incensed to this day .Instead of attacking me just avail yourself of some history books of WW2 ,not tainted by nationalistic propaganda ,or the fanciful fictional WW2 accounts thought up by Martin Gilbert ,( dec )
In December of 1958, as an RAF airman, I was posted to RAF Jever, near Wilhemshaven, north Germany. The C.O. of Jever was Group Captain Irving "Black" Smith, one of the mosquito pilots who flew on the Amien Raid. He was a tough, unncompromising C.O., but though he could be extremely demanding, he was also very much admired and liked by every man on the unit.
Well said. It’s easy to shout ‘oh France gave in they ran away from the Nazis’ etc. But in reality it was a multitude of factors that meant France lost. But plenty of French people fought in the Allied forces as well as in France in the resistance.
My dad, born 1930, was a senior sales manager for Lever Bros (a major UK soap company). His boss was a chap called Jack Southern who was a Mosquito pilot during the war. I remember my dad telling me that Jack had said to him he could recall the flak coming towards him but never once believing it was going to hit him. Jack's wife Marjorie used to come for a coffee morning at our house and I remember her telling me she had a boyfriend that was a Spitfire pilot who was shot down over France, walked over the Pyrenees into Spain and flown home to rejoin his unit only to be shot down and killed a few weeks later. I just wish that I had the opportunity to talk in depth to them both about their lives during the war. The thought that Jack would be such a heroic figure during the war would become a soap company sales manager after the war seems very humdrum. But there again everyone returned to normal life after the war. That generation that gave so much is now dwindling at an ever increasing pace.
It's so hard to imagine, the complete chaos, of the whole war, ....both ! Thank you guys, for your total devotion!! You are all heroes, large and small ! God Bless. Giving everyone life, is indescribable!
Great video on a great story. It would be awesome if you would cover the story of Private William Beesley VC. He's the great grandad of a close friend of mine. He won his VC in Bouquoy in northern France on the 8th of May 1918 after all the commanding officers in his group and many of his comrades were killed by a German machine gun position. He rushed the position, killing all of the German soldiers within, single-handedly. That's what he won the VC for. However, he then held the position with one other Private, against a night of determined enemy counter attacks, finally withdrawing back to the British positions in the morning. He performed numerous feats of unbelievable bravery throughout his time on the front line but official information is patchy at best. But despite this, my mate's uncle had built up an impressive dossier on Pt William Beesley VC over the years. Enough to write a book! I'll be happy to put you in contact with him if you're interested?
These men are all HEROES, as are all who fought in WW2; We shall never know of the personal courage & anxiety many suffered during this conflict. WE shall remember them. R.I.P. heroes.
Fascinating original documentary - I eat this stuff up practically everytime. Good docs are not nearly as common as you'd hope, anyboedy that brings the past alive like this, it is worth a watch.
Wonderful. I ‘fly’ DCS and this raid is one of my favourite missions available in the sim. A well put together doc, which gives context and adds gravitas to the virtual mission. If it’s anything like the real thing, flak is the biggest danger, especially that in Amiens where, low and slow, the Mozzies have to fly straight for long enough to drop the bombs accurately. If anyone who finds this history interesting has a chance, I highly recommend this DCS mission which requires the map and the Mosquito module.
What a fantastic, easy to follow story! The fact that this footage exists, and you can still see the scars of war on the walls, and the ground... telling the story will always bring recognition and respect to those who fought and died, for their families, homes, and country. Great watch!
Group Captain Basil Embry was not allowed on this mission not because of his seniority, but because he was a wanted man by the Germans, having earlier, in 1940, escaped capture by killing his German guard, in contravention of the Geneva Convention at the time. He would legitimately have been shot by the Germans if captured again. He did, however, later take part on the Shellhaus raid in Copenhagen, although he flew with a different identity of Wing Commander Smith (just in case).
Chuck Yeager was also shot down and escaped back to Britain because of French civilians and resistance agents. There was a rule in place then that aircrew shoot down who escaped to home could not then fly operationally over enemy territory in case they were shot down again and captured. If that happened the pilot may give away members of the resistance he had met on his earlier escape. Yeager had to appeal to Ike or another senior US officer (not sure which officer allowed him to fly again) to get permission to fly over Europe again.
The film ‘Bombardment’ gives an interesting perspective on Operation Jericho, although being an amazing feat of human endeavour there was a most definite civilian cost that may have been avoided. Good documentary
In these modern times of general derelict of education in our youth, there is no greater and braver mission than preserving the stories of our greatest heroes of WWII. Well done sir! I salute you!
"By the time German soldiers got to the prison some 258 prisoners had escaped, including 79 members of the Resistance. However, 155 of the escapees were recaptured. 102 prisoners were killed in the raid by the bombs." "The story put out at the time was that the raid was requested by the French Resistance to allow as many imprisoned Resistance fighters to escape as was possible as they faced execution. In December 1943, twelve members of the Resistance had been executed at Amiens but none were planned when the raid took place. It is now accepted that the Resistance did not, in fact, request the raid and according to a French historian, Jean-Pierre Ducellier, the official RAF version is “sheer lies”. So who did?" "After Amiens was liberated, the RAF sent one of their officers to the city to find out why the raid was ordered. Squadron Leader Edwin Houghton found out nothing - not even a list of supposed executions that were meant to have been carried out by the Gestapo of men who were saved by the RAF." History Learning site UK Operation Jericho page
Often during the war missions were so secret that someone not associated with the planning would blab falsehoods to gain popularity amongst his compatriots. Maybe a plausible explanation.
I watched this video on the Mark from the States channel and had to come over here to tell you how impressive I thought it was. I knew of this raid, but it had never been recounted so clearly, nor with so many 'new to me' facts. The bravery of those who took on the mission is second to none. It was a successful mission, but it is sad that brave and heroic men lost their own lives while trying to rescue their allies from the firing squad. Thank you for making this video.
Unless I missed it, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING of this raid was that the weather was BAD and the bureaucrats wanted to cancel the mission. The French resistance fighters would die. THE AIRCREWS of the Mosquito fighter-bombers said, "NO, we will go". THAT--is the COURAGE this nihilist generation lacks. Gotta love that Max Sparks guy, too.
"Rode" along with the raid in 1993 at the IWM in London. They had a simulator rigged to the footage and rode it a number of times, as it was the last day of the exhibit when I was there. Would love to get a copy of the footage.
Brilliant video. I would like very much to learn more about the Aarhus raid on Gestapo H.Q. 31st. October 1944. 21, 464, and 487 squadrons, I know, but I can find next to nothing about the crews of the 25 Mossies. Thank you again.
This video on the Mosquito has some details on the Amiens raid and the Aarhus raid you mention above. The Amiens raid is portrayed as a success, but this mentioned that many of the prisoners were recaptured, which is not mentioned in this other video: ruclips.net/video/_bmvod96-0U/видео.html
Thansk so much for posting up . A audacious mission indeed 💪. Well Done to all concern and those that braver came back , You did Britain proud and sure will always have the upmost respect of the French people 🇫🇷
They've even made a movie about this story! What an awesome piece of archival film history to have rediscovered This would be equivalent to finding the footage of Doolittle's raid going over Tokyo, Or the actual footage of the USS Johnston in its final action.
It wasn't strictly called 'Jericho' after a 1946 film but 'JERICHO' from the Bible in which the Walled citry of Jericho' was brought tumbling down and allowed the Isralites to enter Canaan! This city had very High and strong walls but apparently the Isralites marched around the walls 7 times whilst carrying the arc of the covenant! 'Bringing the walls of Jericho down!' That was where the operation got it's name from! Guess more people were bible savy in those days!
Great job and great plane by our beloved British ally along with the Australians/New Zealand. 🇺🇸🤝🇬🇧🇦🇺 I'm surprised the prison had so many French guards, because I've never met a French man who's family wasn't part of the resistance.😁
Well Vichy France and the French overseas territories were allied to Nazi Germany. You should look into when France fell and the Royal Navy blockaded the French Mediterranean fleet and asked their navy to hand over the ships or be sunk. There was a huge fear of the Germans commandeering them to use against the allies. I'll let you find out the rest of the story, quite amazing.
Wonderful video. I question your description of the de Havilland Mosquito as "largely untested". Wasn't it in service with the RAF from late 1941 or 42? Congrats on a well presented vid.
Your comment is very kind. We were all in the same boat facing a ruthless enemy. Vive ententre cordiale and salute all Allies, France, USA, Britain and all those souls who lost their lives.
I remember my grandpa telling me about this raid. Being from Widford and working on a farm with his dad next to RAF Hunsdon, he watched these planes fly off to this raid. Thank you Dan @BattleGuide 🥺
You mentioned at the beginning of the video, several factions of the French Resistance. It's a shame that their political vision sometimes outweighed what should have been their joint mission to fight the Germans.
This was so well done. I'm beyond impressed 👍. I never seen this and glad it's popping up in my feed. So many great acts of selfless nature and courage. So much bad allowed to surface in Europe and Asia during WW2.
According to latest studies, it seems that the goal of the operation was not to free resistance fighters, the prisoners were not aware of what was coming and no coordination was set up with the resistance.
It was impossible to inform the resistance movement before hand because of the fractured nature of the organisation . There were numerous different movements all fighting for supremacy, at times literally fighting. Instead of all fighting the common enemy internal politics made it so that a number of them were untrustworthy . In the event it was safest not to tell anyone. Very sad state of affairs.
@@robinwatters572 This argument doesn't hold water, the resistance in France was mostly unified by that time, and whenever they wanted during the war the allies proved very well capable of involving the french resistance and coordinate actions.
@@colinjames2469 For more details you can read for example "The Amiens Raid: Secrets Revealed" by JP Ducellier which was written in light of documents declassified in the 2000s.
My Grandad will have cooked their breakfast. Great watch, it's a very famous raid, my Grandad was justifiably proud of being a small part of the support team.
My wife's Uncle was John "Alan" Broadley, affectionately known as Alan. He was Pickards navigator for many years and as good friends and airmen they died together on that fateful day 80 years next February.
I live very close to the destroyed house of Kleykamp in the Hague which was also subject of a Mosquito raid. My father in law witnessed the attack as a 14 year old because he lived only 200 meters away from it
Very informative video on the Amiens raid, however I would like to make one correction regarding the name given in the video to my uncle, Flight Lieutenant John Alan Broadley, DSO, DFC, DFM. He was never referred by the name 'Jim', but by his preferred name of 'Bill'.
These men had courage, honour and high morals in spades, why wouldn't they have given this mission a resounding " sounds like a worthwhile mission that needs doing to me !" Having that JG airfield so close was unfortunate but didn't deter them. Because of men like these here, evil would never have prevailed. 🇬🇧 🇦🇺 🇳🇿
Good movie, but I don't like the in-movie commercial. I pay RUclips, for not having to watch commercials, so when commerce is inbedded in a placed movie, RUclips is cheating.
Where did you get all that live footage? I have probably watched every RUclips video on the Amiens Raid, and the Mosquito, but I have never seen any of this footage. And I remember the 1960's movie about the Mosie. I am that old.
one small mistake , dehaviland aircraft museum is not in hatfield , but it is located at Salisbury Hall, Shenley, London Colney AL2 1BU, otherwise awesome video.
Excellent presentation. As a New Zealander, it was great to see our guys taking part. With this kind of real-world stuff on offer, it is even more time wasting to watch the woke movie sh$t on offer.
![Lethal Company Music Video 🎵 "Follow The Orders" [VERSION A]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/QeooZB4Z7RA/mqdefault.jpg)
More British excellence in documentary film making. We Americans view “The Few” who flew in Fighter Command and Bomber Command as the legends of valor they were. And we will never forget that it was the RR Merlin that gave our P-51D’s their famous purr - as it did the Spitfire, magisterial Mosquito, and illustrious Lancaster. Cheers Brit mates! 🇺🇸💛🇬🇧
Lord Beaverbrook "The Packhard Rolls-Royce engine is an example to the whole world."
below 809
Hansard FLEET AIR ARM. HL Deb 27 January 1943 vol 125 cc794-829
"Rolls Royce had been aware of the Bendix-Stromberg Pressure type of carburettor for several years and versions of the carburettor were used on many American engines including the Allison V-1710. Notably, Packard built their Merlins in the USA with a version of the Bendix PD16 from the very start of Packard Merlin production."
ROLLS-ROYCE MERLIN CARBURETTOR DEVELOPMENT page
I tip my hat to you, you certainly know your stuff.
Nice one Glen mate.
Excellent, very well said!
🇺🇸 🇬🇧
We do work well together.
The brave US airmen flying day time bombing
We're amazing. True hero's
I was blessed to spend a wonderful day with Canadian fighter pilot Don Burton before he passed. He flew on that mission, lost his best friend Henry Brown ( although he did not know it until he returned) and was piloting the Typhoon that passed in front of the camera Mosquito. He shared that day his gun camera footage, the events recorded in his log book and many stories from his flights. I have a photo on my wall that he carried in his wallet to his last day of his Typhoon on a hay field in France after D day. He earned the DFC. We are blessed to have known such men. Thanks for the great documentary
Hi there, thank you for sharing your story, It’s extremely wholesome to read and I only wish that both me and my mother could have been there with you for that, and for some context, my mother is Henry Browns little sister , although she was only just over 18 months old when he passed, so although she didn’t really remember him, she still had three older siblings as well as her parents that would tell her all about Harry, but it would have still been nice to have heard from fighter pilot Don Burton, but regardless, I plan on showing my mother your post tomorrow, and thank you !
Wing Commander Iredale Australian pilot flew on this mission ,survived the war returned to Australia and and never flew aircraft again,his son Michael served a tour in Vietnam in 1966,Mike asked his father how he kept getting promoted he replied they kept losing pilots and they promoted accordingly due to losses.
Bob later visited the prison when he was in a ground LO role.
Thanks for this doco, a few new details I’ve not heard before. My great uncle PO Mervin Darrall, from the second flight first wave, survived the war and returned to NZ. As far as I am aware he never piloted a plane again and almost never spoke of the war except once to an airline pilot relative. Too many friends lost I think.
That generation is called the silent and greatest generation for a reason. I once asked my grandpa about his scar on his left calf when I was a kid. He didn't answer anything with his long stare eyes, and my grandma quickly said it's from a farming accident.
After his funeral in 2011, my dad told me the truth. It's a scar from a rifle buttstock attack. He even spent his 18th birthday in 1945 during the 2nd day of a battle in Southeast asia fighting the Japanese army. Never told me anything when he's alive, just smiling.
I'm from Amiens, my grandfather was a teenager at the time and saw the planes fly over the city, he told me this story several times. I didn't know there were real footage of the attack, I'm amazed! Thank you for this video!
Also does anyone know where I could find any information about a british pilot who was shot down and then hidden in a small village near Amiens? (It's a story from my grandmother this time but I don't have much information).
Hi, post the details & I'll see what I can find for you.
Just simply cannot get enough of the Legend that is The Mossie & the hero’s that crewed this amazing aircraft !
I bought a diecast model Mosquito plane a few weeks ago from an RAF museum and I was holding it and looking at it as I was watching this interesting mission story video. What a fantastic plane the mosquito was. It's one of my favourite WW2 planes because of how versitile it was.
You need to get along to see the real thing at the museum! Its amazing.
@@BattleGuideVT which museum is it?
@@ashleelmb www.dehavillandmuseum.co.uk/
The mosquito made of plywood with 2 merlin Rolls Royce engines the armaments it could carry,you had a bomber flying at 4.14MPH absaloutley unheard of,its number 1 weapon was it's speed christ it was quick,I've seen footage of a mosquito firing whilst on the ground when it fires ghe cannon it Rolls back about 15ft fantastic plane
The Amiens prison raid was another example of what British determination could achieve. Starting with Sir Geoffrey de Havilands determination to produce the Mosquito as a private enterprise when the narrow minded officials declined his original proposal. To the dedication of the crews themselves to see the job carried out, not just on this raid but others like the Gestapo HQ and from preventing Goerings broadcast.
It is a shame that such heroism that these men displayed should be questioned after the war.
@@sjb3460 - there were questions raised after the war as to who actually requested the raid, and why so many French Prisoners died in the raid. Also, if there actually were any prisoners about to be executed and who they were. As Chris explains the raid was justified by the fact that some of those who escaped later went on to play a large part in slowing down the German response to D-Day.
The Amiens prison raid also proved that the allies were very well capable of precise aerial bombardment, which raises the question of why they persisted in undertaking massive and indiscriminate carpet bombings.
@@elouenmyas580 To draw out the Luftwaffe and render it ineffective before D-Day; which was achieved.
@@davidhoward4715 Allied bombing strategy is not responsible for this. The Lutwaffe was on its knees before D-Day, not because of Allied bombings but simply because Germany had bitten off more than it could chew. In 1944, the Lutwaffe was spread over a huge area, the war had lasted too long and the losses had been too high, especially on the Eastern Front, after 5 years of uninterrupted war, Germany was running out both of pilots and raw materials.
@@elouenmyas580 Low level precision bombing needed surprise, and huge skill. I don't think this would have been possible when attacking large heavily defended industrial targets.
Excellent documentary. I grew up in Bampton, Oxfordshire. The local bank employed a member of this raid. Max Sparks, originally from New Zealand. There is an interview, by Martin Shaw, he played " Doyle" in the tv series The Professionals. If I can locate the interview, I will post a link.
That New Zealand pilots led the Amiens Prison raid is a point of pride and a celebrated event for the Royal New Zealand Air Force, even today.
N Z pilots made up 12% of the RAF during the Battle of Britain. Another point of pride for Kiwis.
Alas, we lost our fighter arm of the RNZAF back in the late 1980s when we used Skyhawks.
Those exact Skyhawks are still flying today in the States with a contractor.
Excellent video! As a visual learner, I found the computer animation and historical photos (and the maps) to be very helpful. Keep up the good work.
Amazing video. May France and Britain's friendship last until the end of time!
Bien dit mon ami
@@bhall4996 I hope so if any major nuclear power goes to war with another nuclear power anywhere we are all in trouble 😔
Another outstanding documentary from you guys 👏🏻 i love the detail you guys go into the footage and graphics used to tell the tale and paint the picture are on point too! 👍🏻
Thanks so much!
Good that you emphasised the fact that the prison was run and staffed mostly by guards who were French and consequently therefore technically….no actually…in the pay of a collaborationist government.
As a French girlfriend once said to me: “ You go to France now and EVERYBODY’S family was in the Resistance!” 🙄
This has been, is still and will continue to be a touchy subject in France.
It’s easy for those who weren’t occupied to say ‘oh you were all traitors’ but in France it was a complicated subject given that for instance until Operation Barbarossa the Nazis and Soviets were not at war. As a result Stalin through the Comintern ordered French Communists to not resist either the Nazis or the Vichy regime.
@@nigeh5326 Agreed. In a similar manner, it’s also easy for people who weren’t there to accuse all the people in Germany as having been Nazis.
This is also a highly complicated subject and one that is grossly oversimplified and inaccurately portrayed by those who have no understanding of society under that totalitarian regime.
The reality is not that every one was a Nazi. It is equally true that…..not every one wasn’t a Nazi!
I think my point above is that ‘popular’ history…Hollywood movies etc…describes and perpetuates a very different black and white, “good guys v bad guys” narrative.
Probably, in most people’s mind then, the image of that raid above would have of patriotic hapless, French Resistance ‘freedom-fighters’, having been rounded up by evil Gestapo Policemen, in long leather coats and awaiting slaughter at the hands of square-headed, faceless SS automaton thugs.
As you say, the reality was that French men were involved in this process too but that there were complicated reasons as to why.
I spent a lot of my childhood growing up in the 1960s and 70s in Germany, so lots of the adults around were still very much protagonists in that era of Nazi Germany and the war. Yet, by seemingly quite incredible coincidence, I never ever met someone who been a Nazi.
In the same manner, my French girlfriend of a similar age, quite coincidentally, never ever met anyone whose family wasn’t in the Resistance.
What a remarkable pair of coincidences, huh?
@@nigeh5326 They were traitors and should have resisted.
Two of my mothers' brothers were in the active resistance in occupied Belgium during the war . They were part of the "witte brigade" or "white brigade" which was a fairly general name. A third brother was deported (but came back) But, when speaking to my mother about the resistance and subsequently the revenge actions at the end of the war, she always expressed her anger and repulsion at those who only became "resistance fighters" when the fighting was over. Just by name, not by deeds... Those were often the people who treated a lot of so-called collaborators very cruelly, just think about the all those women who at some point simply had a fling with some German soldier...
@@nigeh5326Well as it is always said," The first casualty of war is the truth ," and also " the histories of war are always written by the Victors, never the vanquished " I have just read about the " little ships of Dunkirk ".It is very illuminating and goes with the French attitude regarding this raid discussed here .According to the documentary on TV a few years ago the French were incensed about it ,and many still incensed to this day .Instead of attacking me just avail yourself of some history books of WW2 ,not tainted by nationalistic propaganda ,or the fanciful fictional WW2 accounts thought up by Martin Gilbert ,( dec )
In December of 1958, as an RAF airman, I was posted to RAF Jever, near Wilhemshaven, north Germany. The C.O. of Jever was Group Captain Irving "Black" Smith, one of the mosquito pilots who flew on the Amien Raid. He was a tough, unncompromising C.O., but though he could be extremely demanding, he was also very much admired and liked by every man on the unit.
Say what you will about France, however, they helped win the war in MANY small, and large victories! Thanks guys !!! God Bless..
Lol
Well said. It’s easy to shout ‘oh France gave in they ran away from the Nazis’ etc.
But in reality it was a multitude of factors that meant France lost.
But plenty of French people fought in the Allied forces as well as in France in the resistance.
My dad, born 1930, was a senior sales manager for Lever Bros (a major UK soap company). His boss was a chap called Jack Southern who was a Mosquito pilot during the war. I remember my dad telling me that Jack had said to him he could recall the flak coming towards him but never once believing it was going to hit him. Jack's wife Marjorie used to come for a coffee morning at our house and I remember her telling me she had a boyfriend that was a Spitfire pilot who was shot down over France, walked over the Pyrenees into Spain and flown home to rejoin his unit only to be shot down and killed a few weeks later. I just wish that I had the opportunity to talk in depth to them both about their lives during the war. The thought that Jack would be such a heroic figure during the war would become a soap company sales manager after the war seems very humdrum. But there again everyone returned to normal life after the war.
That generation that gave so much is now dwindling at an ever increasing pace.
That's the same route Chuck Yeager used to get out of France and back to flying missions. It's well described in his autobiography.
It's so hard to imagine, the complete chaos, of the whole war, ....both ! Thank you guys, for your total devotion!! You are all heroes, large and small ! God Bless. Giving everyone life, is indescribable!
Great video on a great story.
It would be awesome if you would cover the story of Private William Beesley VC. He's the great grandad of a close friend of mine. He won his VC in Bouquoy in northern France on the 8th of May 1918 after all the commanding officers in his group and many of his comrades were killed by a German machine gun position. He rushed the position, killing all of the German soldiers within, single-handedly. That's what he won the VC for. However, he then held the position with one other Private, against a night of determined enemy counter attacks, finally withdrawing back to the British positions in the morning. He performed numerous feats of unbelievable bravery throughout his time on the front line but official information is patchy at best. But despite this, my mate's uncle had built up an impressive dossier on Pt William Beesley VC over the years. Enough to write a book! I'll be happy to put you in contact with him if you're interested?
These men are all HEROES, as are all who fought in WW2; We shall never know of the personal courage & anxiety many suffered during this conflict. WE shall remember them. R.I.P. heroes.
It was no picnic you bastard
Well said Sir .....
A cracking episode. Always loved this story.
Wonderful work, just bloody wonderful, both to the Mosquito crews and the BGVT team for this documentary.
Bless.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Ive known about this raid for decades but this is the most informative video/written word story Ive ever seen on the subject. Thank you, WELL DONE!
Fascinating original documentary - I eat this stuff up practically everytime. Good docs are not nearly as common as you'd hope, anyboedy that brings the past alive like this, it is worth a watch.
Wonderful.
I ‘fly’ DCS and this raid is one of my favourite missions available in the sim. A well put together doc, which gives context and adds gravitas to the virtual mission. If it’s anything like the real thing, flak is the biggest danger, especially that in Amiens where, low and slow, the Mozzies have to fly straight for long enough to drop the bombs accurately. If anyone who finds this history interesting has a chance, I highly recommend this DCS mission which requires the map and the Mosquito module.
What a fantastic, easy to follow story! The fact that this footage exists, and you can still see the scars of war on the walls, and the ground... telling the story will always bring recognition and respect to those who fought and died, for their families, homes, and country. Great watch!
Group Captain Basil Embry was not allowed on this mission not because of his seniority, but because he was a wanted man by the Germans, having earlier, in 1940, escaped capture by killing his German guard, in contravention of the Geneva Convention at the time. He would legitimately have been shot by the Germans if captured again.
He did, however, later take part on the Shellhaus raid in Copenhagen, although he flew with a different identity of Wing Commander Smith (just in case).
Chuck Yeager was also shot down and escaped back to Britain because of French civilians and resistance agents.
There was a rule in place then that aircrew shoot down who escaped to home could not then fly operationally over enemy territory in case they were shot down again and captured. If that happened the pilot may give away members of the resistance he had met on his earlier escape.
Yeager had to appeal to Ike or another senior US officer (not sure which officer allowed him to fly again) to get permission to fly over Europe again.
The film ‘Bombardment’ gives an interesting perspective on Operation Jericho, although being an amazing feat of human endeavour there was a most definite civilian cost that may have been avoided. Good documentary
I have seen that film. I was near to tears watching it.
Excellent documentary! Very well presented! I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Awesome, thank you!
In these modern times of general derelict of education in our youth, there is no greater and braver mission than preserving the stories of our greatest heroes of WWII. Well done sir! I salute you!
Amen brother
"By the time German soldiers got to the prison some 258 prisoners had escaped, including 79 members of the Resistance. However, 155 of the escapees were recaptured. 102 prisoners were killed in the raid by the bombs." "The story put out at the time was that the raid was requested by the French Resistance to allow as many imprisoned Resistance fighters to escape as was possible as they faced execution. In December 1943, twelve members of the Resistance had been executed at Amiens but none were planned when the raid took place. It is now accepted that the Resistance did not, in fact, request the raid and according to a French historian, Jean-Pierre Ducellier, the official RAF version is “sheer lies”. So who did?" "After Amiens was liberated, the RAF sent one of their officers to the city to find out why the raid was ordered. Squadron Leader Edwin Houghton found out nothing - not even a list of supposed executions that were meant to have been carried out by the Gestapo of men who were saved by the RAF."
History Learning site UK Operation Jericho page
Often during the war missions were so secret that someone not associated with the planning would blab falsehoods to gain popularity amongst his compatriots. Maybe a plausible explanation.
Well put together. Thanks so much for this important part of WWII / military history!
Thank you for this video, I first read of this raid nearly fifty years ago. Your telling explains well how it was a commonwealth effort.
I watched this video on the Mark from the States channel and had to come over here to tell you how impressive I thought it was. I knew of this raid, but it had never been recounted so clearly, nor with so many 'new to me' facts. The bravery of those who took on the mission is second to none. It was a successful mission, but it is sad that brave and heroic men lost their own lives while trying to rescue their allies from the firing squad. Thank you for making this video.
Awesome documentary. Very well done. Thanks for posting! Subbed!
Thank you gentlemen, after so many years and passing decades, we salute you.
Rip, V.
Unless I missed it, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING of this raid was that the weather was BAD and the bureaucrats wanted to cancel the mission. The French resistance fighters would die. THE AIRCREWS of the Mosquito fighter-bombers said, "NO, we will go". THAT--is the COURAGE this nihilist generation lacks. Gotta love that Max Sparks guy, too.
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Are you the same man that does Tic history? Sounds like the same voice?
nope @@sherirobinson6867
What an amazing Documentary! Very much appreciated seeing it.
A story of amazing bravery and a superb video. Many thanks.
"Rode" along with the raid in 1993 at the IWM in London. They had a simulator rigged to the footage and rode it a number of times, as it was the last day of the exhibit when I was there. Would love to get a copy of the footage.
What a powerful account. Amazed to learn that South Australians were Flight 2. This stuff should be more widely known.
Brilliant video. I would like very much to learn more about the Aarhus raid on Gestapo H.Q. 31st. October 1944. 21, 464, and 487 squadrons, I know, but I can find next to nothing about the crews of the 25 Mossies. Thank you again.
Noted!
This video on the Mosquito has some details on the Amiens raid and the Aarhus raid you mention above. The Amiens raid is portrayed as a success, but this mentioned that many of the prisoners were recaptured, which is not mentioned in this other video: ruclips.net/video/_bmvod96-0U/видео.html
Brilliant documentary!
Great job on the video gentlemen! Very interesting subject also.
Superb, thank you. That wall looks a lot higher than 11 feet.
Great documentary for some very brave men.🇬🇧
Thansk so much for posting up . A audacious mission indeed 💪. Well
Done to all concern and those that braver came back , You did Britain proud and sure will always have the upmost respect of the French people 🇫🇷
Mossie not new in February '44. Introduced in 1942-3.
They've even made a movie about this story! What an awesome piece of archival film history to have rediscovered
This would be equivalent to finding the footage of Doolittle's raid going over Tokyo, Or the actual footage of the USS Johnston in its final action.
What's the name of the movie?
I worked with a gentleman who was a pilot on that raid. Cool guy!
It wasn't strictly called 'Jericho' after a 1946 film but 'JERICHO' from the Bible in which the Walled citry of Jericho' was brought tumbling down and allowed the Isralites to enter Canaan!
This city had very High and strong walls but apparently the Isralites marched around the walls 7 times whilst carrying the arc of the covenant! 'Bringing the walls of Jericho down!'
That was where the operation got it's name from!
Guess more people were bible savy in those days!
And they had trumpets, hence Jericho trumpets - the sirens carried by the Ju 87.
Thank you so much for sharing this great Video Documentary!
some new facts here about a mission already well documented well done thanks.
Great job and great plane by our beloved British ally along with the Australians/New Zealand. 🇺🇸🤝🇬🇧🇦🇺
I'm surprised the prison had so many French guards, because I've never met a French man who's family wasn't part of the resistance.😁
And how many Frenchmen do you know?
Well Vichy France and the French overseas territories were allied to Nazi Germany.
You should look into when France fell and the Royal Navy blockaded the French Mediterranean fleet and asked their navy to hand over the ships or be sunk. There was a huge fear of the Germans commandeering them to use against the allies. I'll let you find out the rest of the story, quite amazing.
BAAAHAHAHAHA!!!!!😅
If it wasn't for France America would still be a British outpost. Shush.
@@rexbarron4873 Too many....
Back in the 60's we used to go camping at Hunsdon. The main runway was still intact at thet time.
Wonderful video. I question your description of the de Havilland Mosquito as "largely untested". Wasn't it in service with the RAF from late 1941 or 42? Congrats on a well presented vid.
As usual, Brits doing the best docu .
And it's a frog who writes that.
You had such a bunch of super pilots.
Thanks for liberating my country 😘
Your comment is very kind. We were all in the same boat facing a ruthless enemy. Vive ententre cordiale and salute all Allies, France, USA, Britain and all those souls who lost their lives.
Glad you enjoyed it
I remember my grandpa telling me about this raid. Being from Widford and working on a farm with his dad next to RAF Hunsdon, he watched these planes fly off to this raid. Thank you Dan @BattleGuide 🥺
You mentioned at the beginning of the video, several factions of the French Resistance. It's a shame that their political vision sometimes outweighed what should have been their joint mission to fight the Germans.
This was so well done. I'm beyond impressed 👍. I never seen this and glad it's popping up in my feed. So many great acts of selfless nature and courage. So much bad allowed to surface in Europe and Asia during WW2.
@ 12.11 mins - I think the navigator was John 'Alan' Broadley, not Jim.
in 20/20 hindsight it would appear that attacking that nearby Luftwaffe airfield as part of this raid might have been a good idea.
Good documentary. No need for any background music. Even if it is quiet
According to latest studies, it seems that the goal of the operation was not to free resistance fighters, the prisoners were not aware of what was coming and no coordination was set up with the resistance.
It was impossible to inform the resistance movement before hand because of the fractured nature of the organisation . There were numerous different movements all fighting for supremacy, at times literally fighting. Instead of all fighting the common enemy internal politics made it so that a number of them were untrustworthy . In the event it was safest not to tell anyone. Very sad state of affairs.
That's right damn I miss fighting those bastards
@@robinwatters572 This argument doesn't hold water, the resistance in France was mostly unified by that time, and whenever they wanted during the war the allies proved very well capable of involving the french resistance and coordinate actions.
without sources.... nope!
@@colinjames2469 For more details you can read for example "The Amiens Raid: Secrets Revealed" by JP Ducellier which was written in light of documents declassified in the 2000s.
Excellent video! Well done 👍
that last comment by one of the pilots is legendary !
My Grandad will have cooked their breakfast. Great watch, it's a very famous raid, my Grandad was justifiably proud of being a small part of the support team.
Operation Jericho, gotta love the way the British have with words...
I remember a movie called the Mosquito squadron. It was loosely based on this raid. It was a good war movie for the time it was made.
My wife's Uncle was John "Alan" Broadley, affectionately known as Alan.
He was Pickards navigator for many years and as good friends and airmen they died together on that fateful day 80 years next February.
Awesome story and so well presented!
de Havilland Mosquito is the most handsome twin engine WW2 strike bomber.
Mosquito, the best plane ever!
Very interesting thank you. Something I never knew about but do now. Brave pilots all of them.
3:04 - Just FYI ... Bing Maps doesn't obscure the modern day facility.
Very well told doco. Good work chaps. Lest we forget.
Thank you kindly
Excellent video many thank
I live very close to the destroyed house of Kleykamp in the Hague which was also subject of a Mosquito raid. My father in law witnessed the attack as a 14 year old because he lived only 200 meters away from it
Thank you, so much for this content!
Very informative video on the Amiens raid, however I would like to make one correction regarding the name given in the video to my uncle, Flight Lieutenant John Alan Broadley, DSO, DFC, DFM. He was never referred by the name 'Jim', but by his preferred name of 'Bill'.
These men had courage, honour and high morals in spades, why wouldn't they have given this mission a resounding " sounds like a worthwhile mission that needs doing to me !" Having that JG airfield so close was unfortunate but didn't deter them. Because of men like these here, evil would never have prevailed. 🇬🇧 🇦🇺 🇳🇿
Good movie, but I don't like the in-movie commercial. I pay RUclips, for not having to watch commercials, so when commerce is inbedded in a placed movie, RUclips is cheating.
Fantastic documentary!!!
Very well made documentary.
Where did you get all that live footage? I have probably watched every RUclips video on the Amiens Raid, and the Mosquito, but I have never seen any of this footage. And I remember the 1960's movie about the Mosie. I am that old.
Out fucking standing chaps. !
Best one I've seen on the subject. You've done them men proud. Thank you.
Instant sub. Brilliant 👍💛👊
I am related to Group Captain Pickard. He was my grandmothers cousin....
Great video!
Absolute heroes every last one of them
Its a great story to tell.
I thank the men, and their families for the sacrifices that were made.
Truly, I thank you!
one small mistake , dehaviland aircraft museum is not in hatfield , but it is located at Salisbury Hall, Shenley, London Colney AL2 1BU, otherwise awesome video.
Massive , huge thank you , to each fighter who some lost their life for freedom , for my country , my countryside ... History is so moving around .
Brave, brave men. We truly stand on the shoulders of giants.
Hank you that was very interesting,An I feel well edited, very good history lesson. Best regards Michael.
Considering the technology of the day they did very well. Excellent documentary.
Thanks Simon!
Very Interesting stuff.
Not sure we're making chaps like this today..
Yes we do, despite the attempts of traitors like Boris Johnson and Donald Trump to sell us out to the Russians.
Don’t underestimate the younger generation. They may not show it every day but I think they may step up when required.
Also Great Footage from that Very Brave Ca mera Man and his Pilot !
One of the most incredible military aviation stories ever! Those RAF aircrew had b***s of steel.
say it BALLS OF STEEL IN AN AIRCRAFT MADE OF WOOD ,,,???
The Resistance had everyone from communists to Gaullists and everyone in between.
Aussies, Kiwis and Brits working together to achieve success.
Excellent presentation. As a New Zealander, it was great to see our guys taking part. With this kind of real-world stuff on offer, it is even more time wasting to watch the woke movie sh$t on offer.