Library Reference Number: 114
Operation Crossbow - Peenemunde
Along with the successful destruction of Invasion Barges which had threatened Britain being occupied by German Forces like other countries, another highly significant RAF raid, if unsuccessful, could have had a major impact on the eventual outcome of WW2. This was the Peenemunde Raid which was survived by two Saltire Branch members, Iain Nicolson, DFC,DFM, and Harry Fisher, both of whom have given accounts of their recollections.
Three German 'V' for 'vengeance weapons' were under development:- the V1, a flying bomb which would fall at random and detonate wherever its fuel ran out; the V2, a true rocket which could reach targets hundreds of miles away; and an abortive supergun, which was to be installed in the cliffs of northern France and bombard England.
Bomber Command had learnt through photo-reconnaissance missions and Intelligence reports that new secret weapons the V1and V2 rockets were being tested on the Baltic coast, at Peenemunde. Fearing that these would be used against Britain, Churchill ordered "Operation Crossbow" to take priority with Bomber Command, so the R.A.F ordered 596 heavy-bombers to attack the site on August 17, 1943, the site was bombed killing 735 people and many scientists, including one of the most important, Dr Tiel, who was the technician behind the (A4) V2 rocket engine. The Peenemunde Raid was deemed successful, as it held up production of unmanned weapons for several valuable months. On this one mission alone, the R.A.F lost 40 bombers and 270 members of aircrew.
The main intention of the German air ministry had been to produce a minimum of 3,500 V1s per month when the final production amount was reached and launch sites built and ready. The Germans would launch their new terror weapon at a rate of 1 every 12 minutes, day and night at least 500 a day...at London! To counteract this, Peenemunde became the first raid under 'Operation Crossbow.'
There were several novel features. This was the first occasion the Bomber Command's Pathfinder Force used the technique where one aircraft controlled the progress of the entire raid while orbiting above the target area. It was the only occasion in the second half of the war when the whole of Bomber Command attempted a precision raid by night on such a small target. For the first time, there was a Master Bomber controlling a full-scale Bomber Command raid. Harry Fisher gives his recollection of the event:-
"Since it was such a heavily fortified target, and we realised attacking it meant so much to thousands of British civilians living in London and southern England, this raid was probably the highlight of my operational career. Our aim was to prevent the development of the indiscriminate bombing of British civilians by V1 and V2 rockets. From intelligence sources and subsequent photo-reconnaissance sorties, it was established that highly secret work was going on at Peenemunde, a rocket and jet experimental station on the Baltic coast. Because of this threat, plans were made for a moonlight precision attack on the site. When we were informed at briefing that the target was Peenemunde, none of the crews had ever heard of the place - but we were about to find out."
"Our squadron was in No.3 Group flying Stirlings, and our point of attack along with No.5 Group was to be the Experimental Station. Other Groups were to attack the Workshops and to bomb the specialised workforce with a view to disposing of them. There was to be a 'spoof' raid on Berlin by Mosquitoes which might successfully draw off German fighters until much of the main force had attacked their major targets. Because of the large number of planes involved, the plan was to enter the target area in three separate waves, I was detailed for 1st wave."
"With some apprehension we took off from Downham Market on the night of 17th August, 1943, and set course for Peenemunde. To reach Peenemunde involved a long flight through well-defended areas making heavy losses likely. However, the objective was worth maximum effort, and probably to boost our egos, we were considered to be some of the most skilled personnel and most reliable Stirlings in No.3 Group. I can not recall the reason, but probably because it was unserviceable, we were not even flying our usual aircraft. From a total force of 596 aircraft which took part, there were just 54 Stirlings from No.3 Group and only 5 from our Squadron, all five returning safely. Surprisingly, only 2 Stirlings out of the 40 aircraft lost, failed to return. This was due in no small way to the success of the Berlin feint by Mosquitoes, which the German fighters were first vectored to engage. They had only turned their attention in our direction after the Peenemunde bombing raid was well under way."
"Attacking in the first wave, initially we encountered virtually no searchlights or flak, but guns did begin to open up and several fighters appeared as the raid developed. Visibility was good and we bombed from 8,000 feet - low level stuff for Bomber Command - aiming at the green target indicators. The distance from base to target and back was about 1250 miles, and our actual flying time was 6 hours 55 minutes. As Iain Nicolson mentioned later, the third wave in which he was involved, encountered much stiffer opposition, hence the greater casualties. In our case we had achieved a certain degree of surprise when the main German defences were taken up elsewhere by the diversionary attack on Berlin. By the time the second and third wave entered the target area however, the element of surprise had gone, and they were exposed to the full might of the German defence systems, which had regrouped after the spoof raid on Berlin."
Another survivor of the Peenemunde raid gives his account. As an RAF Navigator, Iain Nicolson eventually completed 31 operations with 5 Group Bomber Command, and 65 operations with RAF Pathfinder Force. However, for the sheer number of aircraft being shot down, Iain Nicolson still has vivid memories of this event:-
"Peenemunde was on the Baltic Coast due north of Berlin. A diversionary raid on Berlin by Mosquitoes of 8 Group was laid on with the hope that German fighters would be drawn to the defence of the capital. It was hoped that the 1st, 2nd and even the 3rd waves of bombers would be able to drop their load without the interference of fighters. We were attacking from 7,000 feet in full moonlight, unusual for Bomber Command."
"Gone unchecked, this rocket project could have been sufficiently developed to spread havoc even further afield. Who knows, if uninterrupted may even have reached inter-continental range, even to the shores of USA. We all had a feeling that this raid was something special. We took off at 21.40 hrs on 17th August, 1943, and climbed to 18,000 feet midway to the Danish coast where all the aircraft converged. On crossing the coast in the moonlight we started to descend to 7,000 feet. Then by 00.15 hrs, we could see the start of the attack, the night was very clear and although fighters were the main worry, no activity was seen. The first wave of two hundred aircraft was due to start the attack at 00.15, with the second attacking at 00.30 and the third at 00.45 hrs."
"We were in the third wave flying at 7,000 feet on a course to the north point of Rugen Island. Our first pin point, due north of the Southern point was where the time and distance run started. The run into the target was counted out, and after 15 seconds we were over our target."
"Bombs gone at 00.45 - photo flash - set course for Mando Island West of Danish Coast. An aircraft flying ahead of us and slightly below, suddenly exploded - the fighters had arrived!! Fire was all around us, aircraft were falling, weaving, as we headed out of the area. I logged many aircraft going down in the vicinity of the target - and then we were clear. Kiel and Flensburgh south of track opened up on aircraft. One aircraft went down over Flensburgh at 01.50. Then Mando Island at 02.10 hrs. Set course for home and landed at 04.27. Debriefing and bed by 06.00 hrs. One more operation to do to finish our first operational tour - but that's another story!!"
"Details of Losses:
596 Aircraft took part on the raid: 40 Aircraft lost - 6.7 % of total: 29 Aircraft of 40 lost were in the last wave.
"I remember the Peenemunde raid so well, much more clearly than all my previous raids. Even the Pathfinder operations in which I later took part, did not provide the tension that the Peenemunde raid did. After all those years, the memory of the Lancasters going down still remains vivid." - Iain Nicolson.
Harry Fisher concludes:- "Unfortunately, the initial marking and bombing fell on a labour camp for forced workers which was situated 1.5 miles south of the first aiming point, but the Master Bomber and the Pathfinders quickly brought the bombing back to the main targets, which were all bombed successfully.
The breakdown of the 40 aircraft missing was as follows:- Lancasters -23 (17 out of 117 from No.5 Group): Halifaxes - 15:Stirlings - 2.
"Like other events during World War 2, the 60th Anniversary brings us closer to the end of active commemoration by the actual participants of those historical acts which secured our national freedom. It also seems reasonable that these eye-witness accounts should be recorded at first-hand, instead of supposition by others at a later date.
I do not know the extent of the damage we inflicted on Peenemunde that night over 60 years ago, but feel sure it delayed by a considerable time the eventual V1 and V2 rocket attacks on London and southern England later in the war. By February 1944, the RAF had badly damaged the Peenemünde armaments factory and successfully destroyed 73 out of the 96 launch sites built by the Germans for the V1 Flying Bomb and the V2 Rocket.
Footnote: Luftwaffe General Jeschonnek, the Chief of Staff, committed suicide on 19 August after criticism for the Peenemunde and Schweinfurt raids. At the end of World War II, von Braun and most of the scientists fled westwards to ensure their capture by the Americans. The Soviets and British captured the site and most of the technicians, who feared trial for war crimes for the V-2 attacks on London.
In accordance with an agreement, the Red Army destroyed the site with explosives. Most destruction of the technical facilities of Peenemünde took place between 1948 and 1961. Only the power station, in what has now become a museum, the airport, and the railway link to Zinnowitz remained functional. The plant for production of liquid oxygen lies in ruins at the entrance to Peenemünde. Very little remains of most of the other buildings and facilities.