On the morning COBRA was launched, Fliegerdivision 2 issued plans for an attack by 20 torpedo Ju 88s on shipping off the invasion beaches. The raid was to cross the coast at Fécamp at 2040 GMT and return over Dieppe a half-hour later. From there they would make for Dôle-Tavaux, a customary refuelling stop en route to their bases in Provence.

Initial orders for the Schnellkampf forces to attack Bénouville and Ranville were changed in favour of a concentrated attack on Ifs (just south of Caen) at 2130 hrs. The heavy units were to “reinforce the good effect achieved in the night of 24–25/7” by a concentrated attack on troop targets SSE of Caen at 2045 hours. Targets for KG 54 were Soliers and Grentheville while KG 2 was also assigned the area of the latter. KG 6 was to bomb Ifs, KG 30 Mondeville and KG 1 Cormelles. All units were to run in from south to north. I./KG 66 was drop red ground markers on the centres of Soliers and Ifs from 2241 hrs. and place a “carpet of incendiaries” across the centre of Cormelles. In addition a stick of yellow C50 flares to was to be released over middle of the target area, on an approximate line running from Soliers to Ifs. So that friendly aircraft were not endangered, the height of illumination should be limited to 800 m and KG 54 would renew this illumination with yellow C50 at 2250 hrs. Fliegerkorps IX also detailed three Ju 88 S of Einsatzgruppe/KG 101 to a cluster of six LC 50 flares 10 km off Ouistreham from 2240–2250 as a diversion. They were to fly out at Cap d’Antifer and return over Trouville.

Ground troops would indicate the front line with green Verey lights. If in doubt, crews were only to bomb beyond the British light AA positions. The II./KG 51 was also to hold aircraft ready for an intruder mission, should RAF Bomber Command raid targets in Germany. The German after-action reported noted that marking of Ifs had been accurate in time and place but the target had been hard to distinguish owing to haze. Overall:

Majority of bomb hits in target area, a number of detonations and some fires observed. An exceptionally large explosion producing further explosions was observed by many crews. In comparison with previous days, stronger defence, strong accurate AA of all calibres. Many well-directed searchlights and lively night fighter activity. Effect is estimated as good. No bombs observed to drop in own lines.

There is a definite sense of clutching at straws here: the crews could not distinguish targets but bombs had exploded and some had apparently caused fires—it would be surprising if they had not. The big explosion and secondary detonations point to something being hit but without any evidence of what it might have been.

In the event, most of the plan fell through: the torpedo attack was cancelled altogether and Bletchley Park reported that a change in the weather had seen units diverted to mining, Luftflotte 3 recording 93 such sorties while 50 machines attacked Ifs (probably Fw 190s and Me 410s along with a number of target markers and illuminators). Although crews of II./KG 51 remained at cockpit readiness from 2330–0140, no intruder missions were launched because it was recognised that RAF bombers would either regain their aerodromes in daylight or that said bases were out of range. Two of the Me 410s assigned for bombing had collided on take-off, blocking the runway, and both had burned up while fragments from exploding bombs had damaged two more. The British I Corps estimated that there had been up to 10 enemy aircraft operating over the Orne Valley, dropping flares and “a small number of bombs” but as of 0600 on the 26th no reports of damage had been received.

Intentions for the night were again to send the heavies against the outskirts of Caen (Giberville, Demouville and Mondeville) while I./SKG 10 and II./KG 51 would attack “occupied localities north of St. Lô”. The sky over the latter was cloudless, visibility was good and conditions were favourable for target illumination. The Schnellkampf units’ targets were bombed and strafed “with good effect”, small fires were seen and the defenders’ AA was well-aimed if not intense. The heavy bombers found the weather over Caen as forecast with patches of ragged cloud at 700 m but good visibility, and markers were placed accurately even if some were too late. Nevertheless the target area was illuminated well enough for bombing, crews reporting one large red explosion, many smaller ones and “several smallish fires”. Light and heavy AA fire was vigorous and well-aimed, assisted by searchlights, and night fighters were active.

It seems that 139 bombers were dispatched of which 122 bombed the target, Fliegerkorps IX stating afterward that, “the attack is regarded as having been good”. The I./LG 1 issued its own preliminary report on its contribution: 17 Ju 88 had left Melsbroek between 2157 and 2209 hrs and 14 of them carried out a glide attack on the target area from 2331–2340. “Good results” were observed, including fires and explosions and the raiders returned between 0033 and 0110. Two Ju 88s had however back within a half-hour of take-off, after suffering instrument failure; Obltn. Nickel’s machine had crashed 13 km north of Namur with injuries to its crew.

Many British Army units put in reports the next morning. According to I Corps:

Enemy air activity on increased scale east of River Orne during night … Prior to attack by enemy aircraft in [6 Airborne Division’s] area commencing 0125 hrs enemy FDLs [Forward Defence Lines] discharged green followed by white flares. One enemy crashed in FDLs at … shortly after start of raid. Considerable enemy activity over [PEGASUS and YORK bridges] and generally in area EAST of ORNE canal 0130–0845 hrs. 40 bombs dropped [in] area [of] bridges. No damage but some casualties. 20 bombs (HE and anti-personnel) area 122703. A few HE and many anti/pers bombs areas 138718 138712 134715 and BANVILLE to HEROUVILLETTE. Damage. Fires [in] gun area 128717, ammunition lorry exploded and 3 motorcycles smashed … Number of personnel killed and wounded.

Some 40 bombs fell in the vicinity of the bridges and five on the area held by B Company, 9 Parachute Battalion, where a direct hit on a dugout killed two men: “These were the first bombs we had had”. Captain Young of 7 Para was buried by debris but “rescued through prompt action of his batman”; one man of 12 Para was wounded. when anti-personnel bombs fell on the Battalion area. Several vehicles and some buildings were reported damaged and a number of units saw the German aircraft crash, placing this near Le Bas de Bréville. The hit on an ammunition dump at Colombelles or the reported explosion of an ammunition lorry may correspond to the “large red explosion” witnessed by German crews.

Fliegerdivision 2 was due to make a dusk attack in the Seine Bay, crossing out over Fécamp at 2040 hours and returning over Dieppe at 2150 or over Paimpol at 2230 hrs, according to where they found targets. During the day however, an attack by Allied fighters on Valence destroyed four torpedo Ju 88s and damaged another 16 but even so 24 torpedo attack aircraft operated off the mouth of the Orne, claiming a tanker and four transports sunk plus severe damage to a destroyer. In fact, no ships appear to have been lost to air attack and two bombers were claimed shot down by AA gunners.

Tactical Observation No. 41/44:

It is not commensurate with the most favourable degree of effect and with a rational expenditure of bombs if Trialen bombs are used for attacking ground targets. They are to be used exclusively in attacking shipping.

continued on next page …

PART TWO OF TEN

NOTE: All times in this article are GMT.

© Nick Beale 2022–25