Violette Szabo June 8th 1944

[Steve Smith]

Hi,

Can anyone confirm who dropped Violette Szabo and two other agents into France on June 8th 1944. I was under the impression it was Tempsford but I have been told it was a Yank outfit the 801st 'Carpetbaggers'

Can anyone confirm this please, I am aware of Wiki. The reason I am asking is that a Stirling rear gunner of No.149 reported a B24 at low level dropping 'Agents' on this night ?

TIA
Steve

[RSwank]

This is from the old (and I believe no longer maintained) 801492.org website:

http://www.801492.org/Air%20Crew/Fen...nsterCrew.html


The crew was the Fenster crew from the 36th BS, 801st BG based at Harrington.

"Claim to Fame: On the night of 7/8June 1944 the crew dropped four agents to the STATIONER 110B DZ. The agents were Phillip Liewer, Robert Malouber, Violette Szabo, and Jean Guiet. Reportedly organized by Phillip Liewer (Hamlet also known as Maj Charles Staunton), their circuit "SALESMAN" was near Limoges. The drop became famous because the female courier, a young French widow named Violette Szabo (Corinne), was martyred at Ravensbruck after being trapped by the Gestapo a few days after being dropped. In a long letter, dated 6 June 1998, Jean Guiet informed Thomas Ensminger that "We were dropped near the village of Sussac, about 50km to the SE of Limoges. I know there were two runs with two of us going out the hole on each run." Now living in the United States, Jean Guiet recently contacted the Air Force Academy to donate his papers, but not before sending them to the webmaster for scan."


The mission report: http://www.801492.org/Air%20Crew/B24...er-08Jun44.jpg


(J)-"Joes" are the agents, other codes: C (Metal Containers), P (Wicker Packages), N (Nickles, i.e. leaflet packs), PH (Pigeon(s) Holder with parachute).

(Note they dropped 4 agents (not 3) and made 3 runs over the drop zone.)

Example of Pigeon Holder:

https://www.aiolfi.com/vente/455-ven...geon-voyageur/

[Steve Smith]

RSwank,

Sincere thanks.

Steve

[Nick Beale]

For infiltrations into France generally, the following database is a very good reference which includes notes of sources for the information in each case:

http://www.plan-sussex-1944.net/angl...nto_france.pdf

The 'Table of History of Agents In/Exfiltrated during WWII into/from France from 1940 to 1945' starts on page 28.