Did British planes bomb Pärnu, Estonia Sept. 23, 1944?

[Kari Lumppio]

Hello!

This is actually an age old arguing question among Estonians. According rumours British planes bombed Estonian town Pärnu (Pernau) Sep. 23rd, 1944 just before Soviet troops moved in. Pärnu is situated in the Western coast of the mainland and is the main harbour there.

Additionally it is written about some "The World Almanack 1949 and Book of Facts", which writea about the date 23.09.1944 "In Estonia British planes bombed the port of Pearnu..."

Is there any truth in this legend? I could think about minelaying operations, but just before Soviets (allies) move into the town?


I am hoping that someone could give a definitive answer to this question.


Thanks in advance,
Kari

[Juha]

Terve Kari

According to Middlebrook's and Everitt's The Bomber Command War Diaries (1987 edition) the BC didn't attack Pärnu 22.9. - 25.9.44.

HTH
Juha

[Laurent Rizzotti]

It would be a very long range mission for British AC. I don't see how they can reach Estonia without flying over Sweden and this will have left a trace somewhere at least. And this don't fit in any of the usual missions of Bomber or Coastal Command.Much probably the bombers attacking at night were Soviet, maybe US or British-made bombers. Soviet had a numerous night bombing force in 1944 and bombed Helsinki, Narva and Talinn in the spring among other towns. Such "tactical" bombing is far more close to the usual Soviet night raid than to British ops.