Operation Jericho
Operation Jericho (Ramrod 564) took place on 18 February 1944 during the Second World War. Allied aircraft bombed Amiens Prison in German-occupied France at very low altitude to blow holes in the prison walls, kill German guards and use shock waves to spring open cell doors. The French Resistance was waiting on the outside to rescue prisoners and spirit them away.
| Operation Jericho | |||||||
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| Part of Second World War | |||||||
Dust and smoke from Amiens prison during the raid | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
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Royal Air Force Royal New Zealand Air Force Royal Australian Air Force French Resistance |
Gestapo Luftwaffe | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 9 bombers, 12 fighters |
Anti-aircraft guns 2 Fw 190 fighters | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
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aircrew: 4 killed, 2 POW inmates: 37 killed escaping 260 reprisal killings aircraft: 2 Mosquitos 2 Typhoons | 50 killed | ||||||
Amiens Amiens, a city and commune in northern France | |||||||
Mosquito fighter-bombers breached the walls, prison buildings and destroyed the guards' barracks. Of the 832 prisoners, 102 were killed by the bombing, 74 were wounded and 258 escaped, including 79 Resistance members and political prisoners; two-thirds of the escapees were recaptured.
Two Mosquitos and a Typhoon fighter escort were shot down and another Typhoon was lost at sea. The raid is notable for the precision and daring of the attack, which was filmed by a camera on one of the Mosquitos. There is debate as to who requested the attack and whether it was necessary.