Can anyone identify this attack

[Dénes Bernád]

Originally Posted by Chris Goss

Quite a well known photo said to be Merignac but I am not convinced due to the surrounds and the Bf 109 D bottom left. Any ideas what unit, where and when?

I don't believe the aircraft is a Bf 109, as it has straight landing gears (perpendicular to the wing).

[Chris Goss]

I have looked closely at the plane-possible decoy?

[Dénes Bernád]

Originally Posted by Chris Goss

I have looked closely at the plane-possible decoy?

If we judge by the fake cow and cart in front of the hangar, it's quite probable (although the photos of such decoys I've seen show the wings being supported by wooden sticks from the underneath).

[VoyTech]

I don't want to nit-pick, but if you put an artificial cow in a field (presumably to camouflage a real airfield by pretending it is just a pasture) then why would you also put an artificial aeroplane there (presumably to pretend it is a real airfield while in fact it is not)?

[Larry deZeng]

Originally Posted by VoyTech

I don't want to nit-pick, but if you put an artificial cow in a field (presumably to camouflage a real airfield by pretending it is just a pasture) then why would you also put an artificial aeroplane there (presumably to pretend it is a real airfield while in fact it is not)?

To intentionally sow confusion among the enemy photo interpreters that morphs into a loud argument that becomes violent with drawn guns and results in the death or severe injury of everyone in the Photo Interpretation Section, thus causing the war to last 4 months longer than it would have while replacement P.I. technicians are trained? Chalk up one for the Germans.

L.