Operation Glimmer D-Day

[Steve Smith]

Hi,

I have seen it in a few books that aircraft were dispatched to investigate the "Spoof" invasion fleet heading toward Cap Griz-Nez and Boulogne. Can anyone please confirm if this is accurate, and if it is, what units was involved.

Thank you.

Steve

[Nick Beale]

Little Luftwaffe activity was detected by the Allies on the night of 5/6 June but for known activities on the 6th (including a recce to the Thames Estuary) see here: http://www.ghostbombers.com/recon/Wa...tml#Postscript

[Roundway]

Steve (I've copied this from your thread on RAF Commands),

I might be able to help a little with your query; the following comes from page 123 of the first draft of the RAF Narrative: The Liberation of North West Europe (available on-line at http://www.cms.airpowerstudies.org.u...dyLandings.pdf ).

Operation Glimmer.

This operation was a Naval-Air feint against the beaches on eiher side of Boulonge in which No 218 Squadron (W/C R M Fenwick-Wilson AFC) assisted by creating the impression that a large convoy was approaching at seven knots. The Air operation concerned only six aircraft, three of them for 2.75 hours and three for 1.75 hours. The method of producing echoes on the enemy radar was exactly the same as in Operation Taxable.

This feint scored an important success. Searchlights and guns opened up on the convoy, ABC aircraft put up to jam enemy night fighter radio control transmission were mistaken for cover over the convoy, and the bulk of the enemy night fighter aircraft was put up against the ABC patrol, with the result that there were several encounters leading to combats with one enemy night fighter destroyed. One of our own aircraft (from 101 Squadron) was lost. E-boats were also sent against the Naval convoy.

I've deliberately not described Operation Taxable as your query referred specifically to Op Glimmer and German reconnaissance aircraft. So, yes, the Glimmer operation was intercepted, but by night fighters, not reconnaissance aircraft..

Brian

[Roundway]

So I guess the next question is " Which unit(s) lost an aircraft (or aircraft) over the English Channel between Folkestone and Cap Gri-Nez on the night of 5/6 June 1944?"

Brian