RAF Thorney Island, 14th July 1944, 1600hrs
Air Vice Marshal Basil Embry, Commander of 2 Group, stands and addresses the assembled aircrew.
"Good afternoon gentlemen.
"A change to your usual solo night intruder and interdiction duties. This evening you are to strike an SS and Gestapo encampment in Bonneuil-Matours."
The curtain behind the AVM is drawn aside and a large briefing map is revealed...
Embry continues:
"The camp is located in the grounds of the Château de Marieville, which itself is being used by the Gestapo as a headquarters to direct the hunt against local Maquis and their assisting Allied Special Operations Team. These teams have been tasked with harassing the enemy deep in the rear echelons, hampering reinforcements and delaying their progress to the Normandy beachhead.
"Indeed, a mission flown by this wing a little over a month ago to bomb a train carrying fuel reserves for the 2nd SS Panzer Division came as a direct result of intelligence passed on from this very team.
"Alas, it seems the team in this area was betrayed; their camp location was identified to the Nazis and they surrounded and assaulted the place with heavy casualties to both the Allied Special Operations Team and the Maquis. Only a handful escaped death or capture. Even those who surrendered were given short shrift. One of the few escapees witnessed the Nazi's brutality being administered; they bashed somebody’s head in with a rifle butt as he lay wounded and unarmed. There is also ominous silence about the status of any of the other wounded or those taken prisoner. It seems that they too, may have been murdered.
"As if this was not enough, there are rumours that this same SS Division is responsible for the razing of an entire French town a few days after D-Day, and the massacre of every last civilian - men, women and children - therein.
"So you're going to pay the Nazis a visit and dole out a healthy dose of retribution for their crimes.
"The operation is timed to reach the target just before dusk. This is thought to be when the Nazis will be assembled for their evening meal, thereby catching the maximum number of soldiers in the buildings.
"We have no reconnaissance photos for you, however a good description of the target layout has been provided.
"The target is to the south of the town on the south bank of the river. It is on the north facing slope of a hill. The chateau is the southern most, tall, grey building, with a further seven wooden barrack block located some 100 yards closer to the river.
"We'll attack from the south. There is a water tower and pumping station on the road about 5 miles south of the target. That is your IP.
"Flatten the lot. Show no quarter. If time, fuel and enemy defences permit, repeat your attacks with guns. Let the bastards burn.
"Flak at the target is expected to be light but keep your wits about you. Otherwise, the route chosen to and from the target has been selected to avoid the worst known concentrations, but as ever, Jerry does like to keep us on our toes so be wary; there maybe some we don't know about.
"Air escort is provided by Mustangs of 65 Squadron, they will rendezvous with you in the Bay of St Michael and escort you as far as they can whilst daylight permits, though they will likely have to break off early to make sure they can land before the light fails.
"Finally, gentlemen, before you leave, a word of warning: should you get shot-down and be taken prisoner yourselves, don’t shoot your mouth off about retaliation. You can’t out-piss a skunk and we do not want to set off a series of potentially disastrous tit-for-tat responses that could have consequences for the local population. Should you be pressed, it is Bastille Day, so make some excuse that it was thought that coming on such a symbolic day would help boost the morale of the French.
"That is all, gentlemen. Best of luck."