history · 07 February 1944 · 80 years ago
British Air Marshal Ralph Cochrane ordered Leonard Cheshire's 617 Squadron to attack the important aero-engine plant at Limoges in mid-France. The War Office was extremely nervous about this operation as it was known, from resistance sources, that 500 French women were employed at the plant, and a large number of civilian fatalities would have serious political consequences. Instructions were therefore issued that no bombs were to be dropped until the factory was clear of workers. Arriving over the target Cheshire twice swooped his Lancaster bomber at 50 feet in order to alert the workers below. Then on the third pass a member of his crew said "There they go" and hundreds of women were seen running away from the factory. All this was recorded by a film cameraman worked by Moya of the RAF film unit. Just before midnight Cheshire dropped his markers right on top of the factory, and minutes later five 1200-lb bombs from 617 Squadron's Lancasters hit the factory and destroyed the greater part of it.
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