Operation Jericho - The Jailbreakers by Gerald Coulson

It was January 1944, and the mood in London was somber, as chilling as the cold January air that permeated the damp, dark cells of the Gestapo-held prison in Amiens. Among those incarcerated behind the 3-ft thick, towering prison walls were several hundred members of the French Resistance, all condemned to death for their role in assisting the Allies. Some had been betrayed, some had already been shot and the future of the others, including two Allied intelligence officers, looked bleak.

London has now received information that more executions were set to be carried out at dawn on Saturday 19 February. The prisoners needed help, and fast, before the entire Resistance movement in northern France, whose involvement was crucial to Allied plans for the forthcoming invasion, was finished.

What followed was one of the most daring low-level bombing operations of World War II; codenamed ‘Operation Jericho’, it would involve a force of 19 de Havilland Mosquito’s. Led by Wing Commander ‘Black’ Smith, the Mosquitoes of 487 Sqn RNZAF would first breach the 20-ft high outer wall, followed closely by 464 Sqn RAAF – led by Wing Commander Bob Iredale – whose task was to hit the main building and demolish the guards’ quarters in the hope that the cell doors would be sprung open, allowing the prisoners to make a dash to freedom. The operation, under the command of Group Captain ‘Pick’ Pickard, required precision flying of the highest order.

If the task ahead wasn’t difficult enough, on the morning of Friday 18 February snow was falling from murky skies as the Mosquitoes left RAF Hunsdon and headed south towards Amiens to liaise with their Typhoon escort en-route.

Gerald Coulson’s powerful painting depicts the moment when Group Captain Pickard, the last over the prison, departs the scene just as the first time-delay bombs begin to explode. Within seconds the walls will be breached, the barracks destroyed and the cell doors flung open as planned, allowing the prisoners to clamber through the debris into the surrounding fields. More than 150 men will escape to re-join the Resistance. However Group Captain Pickard, one of the RAF’s most decorated and highly regarded pilots, did not survive the mission.

Signatures - Published in 1993, each print is personally signed by a staggering collection of seventeen veterans of ‘Operation Jericho’, representing Britain, Australia, Ireland, Canada and New Zealand plus a French resistance veteran who escaped as a result of the raid. This truly remarkable EIGHTEEN signature collector’s piece is a fitting tribute to all those who took part in such a daring mission.

487 Sqn (RNZAF) Aircrew

Wing Commander L.S “BLACK” SMITH CBE DFC* – Pilot, C.O 487 Sqn / 8 victories

Pilot Officer MAXWELL SPARKS AFC – Pilot, 487 Sqn

Pilot Officer ARTHUR DUNLOP – Navigator, 487 Sqn

Flight Lieutenant BRIAN “TICH” HANAFIN DFC – Pilot, 487 Sqn

Pilot Officer FRANK REDGRAVE – Navigator, 487 Sqn

Pilot Officer BOB FOWLER DFC RNZAF – Pilot, 487 Sqn

464 Sqn (RAAF) Aircrew

Wing Commander BOB IREDALE DFC* Croix de Guerre avec Palme – Pilot, C.O 464 Sqn

Flight Lieutenant GEOFFREY ATKINS – Navigator, 464 Sqn

Flight Lieutenant TOM MCPHEE DFC DFM – Pilot, 464 Sqn

Squadron Leader IAN MCRITCHIE DFC – Pilot, 464 Sqn

21 Sqn (RAF) Aircrew

Flight Lieutenant “BUCK” TAYLOR DFC – Pilot, 21 Sqn

Flight Lieutenant ARTHUR WHEELER DFC – Pilot, 21 Sqn

140 Wing Master Navigator

Air Commodore E.B “TED” SISMORE DSO DFC** AFC AE – Navigator 140 Wing

174 Sqn (RAF) Fighter Escort

Flight Sergeant FRANK WHEELER DFC – Pilot, 174 Sqn

Flight Lieutenant IAN MALLETT AFC – Pilot, 174 Sqn

Pilot Officer DON BURTON DFC RCAF – Pilot, 174 Sqn

Flying Officer HARRY MARKBY DFC – Pilot, 174 Sqn

Amien Prison escapee

RAYMOND BONPAS (Fr)