Operation Jericho

[_AH_Boosher]

February 18th, 1944

Amiens Prison, in Amiens, France

Nearly 700 prisoners are being held at this high security prison, almost 500 of whom are fighters for the French Resistance. They are scheduled to be executed tomorrow, on the 19th of February. But for the past several weeks the resistance fighters who have not been captured  have been in contact, indirectly, with officers at the RAF. Together they have planned an escape attempt. It is a long shot, but given the knowledge contained within those walls, the resistance and the allies do not want to take any chances. If the one prisoner privy to the plans about Operation Overlord talked, the entire plan would have to be thrown out and Hitler's Atlantic Wall would be made even stronger. Therefore, the RAF devised a plan requiring precision bombing by three of the best Mosquito Squadrons in their arsenal.

The plan -

Bomb the walls, prison, and guardhouse so that the prisoners can escape. Assured by the French Resistance fighters that they would rather die by RAF bombs than by Nazi firing squads, the squadrons set out to hit their target.

The Catch - a 15 minute window

Due to the guard change at noon, the bombing strike had to hit in a very small window of time, 15 minutes, otherwise the guard population would be too far secluded. By attacking between 1200 and 1215 hours, the RAF could assure that most of the guards would be at lunch in their quarters while minimal staff were in the prison, thus giving the prisoners who survive the bombing maximum time to escape.
_________________________________________________________________________

I've re-built this mission for us and would like to run it this Saturday, December 3rd. The mission will be similar in format to the Yamamoto mission though probably won't last quite as long.

Please let me know if this date is acceptable.

[_AH_BBQhead]

S~. sounds good.. how long of a mission can we expect?

[_AH_Boosher]

In total I would assume anywhere between 1.5 to 2.5 hours. It depends on how we do.

[_AH_BBQhead]

S~.. how many slots?   and how many should we have as a minimum to fly it?

i would like to fly it.. but my concern is guys showing up after 1/2 hour or so into the mission..

sooo.. let's see how many guys think they'll be able to make it by posting here.. or in a sign up thread.. and i guess we'll need an expected start time, too...

if we get enough, we'll put it on the calendar.

[_AH_Stiffy]

I've re-built this mission for us and would like to run it this Saturday, December 3rd. The mission will be similar in format to the Yamamoto mission though probably won't last quite as long.

I'm assuming the December 3rd is really January 3rd?

[_AH_taldrg]

~S~ 1.5 hours is OK but anythimg over that .......

[_AH_Jack]

I should be around for this one, if it's on a Saturday.  Friday evenings will get busy with indoor soccer beginning the 9th.

[_AH_BBQhead]

S~.. jan 3?    wow that's comin right up... 2011 is a little far off to be planning stuff.. 

[_AH_Boosher]

There are plenty of slots - 27.

18 attack Mosquitos, one PRU (mis. commander), and 8 escorts. I don't see how it would be any different from a Slot campaign mission. We need at least 19 to fly it. The escorts are unnecessary, but would be useful. We need all the Mosquitos to get off the ground with pilots. If that date doesn't work we can work out a date that will.

[_AH_Moggy]

I'm IN!

[_AH_BBQhead]

S~. Sounds like we oughta at least put it on the calendar.. if we get enough by go time.. we'll fly it.

  with the possibility that it can run as long as three hours..let's go with a 9 pm EST launch.. with briefing  and slotting before that..

 

[_AH_Boosher]

Sounds good to me. The only way it would go 3 hours is if we have people not following the mission directives, but that shouldn't be a problem.

[_AH_Toccs]

AH not follow mission directives? Never happen.... :happy-112:

[_AH_Boosher]

If possible, I need someone to volunteer to be the CO for this mission. The job will require these things:

- A watch (set to the mission time)
- Knowledge of how to fly the Mosquito Mk.IV
- The ability to lead a 19 plane flight from the rear of the formation
- A meeting with me approximately a day or so before the mission. Fri. or Early Sat. to go over the mission.

EDIT - Post has been taken up by AH_Ring.

[_AH_BBQhead]

S~>

good fun breakin the prisoners out tonight. THanks for putting it together, Boosher.

nice job taking the reins, Ring.  Good flying, guys... not to mention the no crashes on taxi and take off.  i was starting to think the game might not support that.  :surprised-027: 

[_AH_Toccs]

sorry i missed it.