Aerial Torpedo Attack on Ajaccio Harbour.

[Alex Smart]

Many thanks to you all for the excellent response.
Alex

[Rémi Baudru]

The whole story, from the french fighters side is in the book "Pilotes français sur la l'Afrique du Nord et la Corse" written by Daniel et Alain DECOT (printed in 2000).
One of the DO 217 shot down made the mission without bomb : the captured crew explained that they where only in charge of filming the attack.

RB

[mjbollinger]

Alex,

For what it is worth, I cover this attack in some detail in my book Warriors & Wizards.

To be clear, the guidance system was for the Hs 293. II./KG 100 was not equipped at the time to carry the Fritz-X.

Several of the weapons missed their target and fell into the water. The British recovered major sections of these weapons. This was a vital part of the effort to develop countermeasures for these guided weapons. The details of this recovery are recorded in the UK National Archives.

The presence of an ESM aircraft was significant since it suggested the Luftwaffe was prepared to detect jamming signals. There was no jamming in effect at the time and the loss of the aircraft (one of only two equipped for this) became significant later when the Luftwaffe failed to detect the sophisticated Allied jamming. Had they done so, they could have reverted to alternative frequencies or even a wire-guided version.

Interesting that the crew of the Do 217E-4 claimed they were only filming the attack. A clever cover story for their real mission.

Happy to provide more details if desired.

Marty

[Nick Beale]

Another reference to this attack in my notes from TNA AIR23/6790 (MAAF Air Intelligence Weekly Summaries Nos. 33-58, July-Dec. 1943): According to a PoW, 10 Do 217 of II./KG 100 went in with Hs 293s at 17.00 hrs.

North West African Air Force ORB (AIR24/975) entry for 1 October 1943, says three Do 217 attacked Ajaccio harbour from 9000 ft and all three were claimed destroyed. An LST was hit and on fire, there was a near miss on a French destroyer.

At 1545, two Spitfires of GC 1/3 had shot down a recon Ju 88 off the west cast of Corsica and 10 Do 217 were plotted heading for Ajaccio. Four Spitfires of GC 1/3 and two of GC 2/7 intercepted them 12 miles out. They claimed three, breaking up the formation so that only three bombs were dropped.

(I can't currently find the reference for the quote I posted earlier — it was before TNA allowed cameras, and I've got too much paper to look through).