Operation Haddock
Encyclopedia
Operation Haddock was the codename for a 1940 British plan to support their French allies by bombing northern Italian cities, in the event of Italy joining the war
. When Italy declared war
on 10 June, the plan was put into effect, but achieved little.
was nearing its final phase when intelligence reports suggested that Italy
was preparing to enter the war on the side of her Axis
partner, Germany
. There were few resources available to Britain which could be used to support France against the Italians, with the exception of the RAF
's strategic bomber fleet
. Accordingly, a plan was devised to bomb industrial targets in the northern Italian cities of Turin
and Genoa
, which was agreed at the highest level between the Allied governments. Armstrong Whitworth Whitley
bombers would be able to reach their targets from the Channel Islands
, while the shorter-ranged Vickers Wellington
s would have to refuel in the south of France; the airfield at Salon-de-Provence
outside Marseilles was selected and an advance party arrived there on 7 June.
and 149 Squadron
s, part of No. 3 Group, left England for France and arrived at Salon at 15:30 hours on 11 June. While they were refuelling, Group Captain R M Field who commanded the force, received a telephone call from commander of the local French bomber group, who told him that Italian targets were not to be attacked. There were few French fighters in the area and there was concern that the raid might lead to retaliation against French cities that were barely defended. Shortly afterwards, Field received orders from the Air Ministry
in London that the aircraft should take off as planned. There was a flurry of telephone calls from various French authorities, culminating in a call from General Vuillemin
to the British Air Forces in France headquarters. Field however, followed his orders, but as the first Wellington taxied into position for takeoff, French troops blocked the runway with a line of lorries and carts. Field had no choice but to abort the mission.
Meanwhile, Whiteleys of Nos. 10
, 51
, 58
, 77
and 102 Squadron
s, a total of 63 aircraft had refuelled on Jersey
and Guernsey
and were on their way Italy. Heavy storms and severe icing caused the majority of the aircraft to turn back and only 13 reached their targets at Turin and Genoa. Two aircraft failed to return.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. When Italy declared war
Italian invasion of France
The Italian invasion of France in June 1940 was a small-scale invasion that started near the end of the Battle of France during World War II. The goal of the Italian offensive was to take control of the Alps mountain range and the region around Nice, and to win the colonies in North Africa...
on 10 June, the plan was put into effect, but achieved little.
Background
The Battle of FranceBattle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
was nearing its final phase when intelligence reports suggested that Italy
Fascist Italy
"Fascist Italy" refers to Italy under the rule of Benito Mussolini and Italian Fascism. The Fascists led two polities:*The Kingdom of Italy , under the National Fascist Party, and,...
was preparing to enter the war on the side of her Axis
Axis Powers
The Axis powers , also known as the Axis alliance, Axis nations, Axis countries, or just the Axis, was an alignment of great powers during the mid-20th century that fought World War II against the Allies. It began in 1936 with treaties of friendship between Germany and Italy and between Germany and...
partner, Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
. There were few resources available to Britain which could be used to support France against the Italians, with the exception of the RAF
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
's strategic bomber fleet
Bomber Command
Bomber Command is an organizational military unit, generally subordinate to the air force of a country. Many countries have a "Bomber Command", although the most famous ones were in Britain and the United States. A Bomber Command is generally used for Strategic bombing , and is composed of bombers...
. Accordingly, a plan was devised to bomb industrial targets in the northern Italian cities of Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
and Genoa
Genoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
, which was agreed at the highest level between the Allied governments. Armstrong Whitworth Whitley
Armstrong Whitworth Whitley
The Armstrong Whitworth A.W.38 Whitley was one of three British twin-engine, front line medium bomber types in service with the Royal Air Force at the outbreak of the Second World War...
bombers would be able to reach their targets from the Channel Islands
Channel Islands
The Channel Islands are an archipelago of British Crown Dependencies in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They include two separate bailiwicks: the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey...
, while the shorter-ranged Vickers Wellington
Vickers Wellington
The Vickers Wellington was a British twin-engine, long range medium bomber designed in the mid-1930s at Brooklands in Weybridge, Surrey, by Vickers-Armstrongs' Chief Designer, R. K. Pierson. It was widely used as a night bomber in the early years of the Second World War, before being displaced as a...
s would have to refuel in the south of France; the airfield at Salon-de-Provence
Salon-de-Provence Air Base
Salon-de-Provence Air Base is a base of the French Air Force located south Salon-de-Provence in southern France.It hosts the training facilities for the officers of the air force:* École de l'Air: for young students** pilot commissioned officers...
outside Marseilles was selected and an advance party arrived there on 7 June.
Operations of 11/12 June
Italy declared war at midnight on 10 June 1940. Accordingly, a detachment Wellingtons from Nos. 99No. 99 Squadron RAF
No. 99 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was a bomber squadron in both first and second world war. At present it operates the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III from RAF Brize Norton, the RAF's air transport hub. The squadron was the first RAF unit to receive the Avro Aldershot, Handley Page Hyderabad,...
and 149 Squadron
No. 149 Squadron RAF
No. 149 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron between 1918 and 1956. Formed 1918 in the Royal Flying Corps as a night-bomber unit, it remained in that role for the rest of its existence which spanned three periods between 1918 and 1956.-World War I:...
s, part of No. 3 Group, left England for France and arrived at Salon at 15:30 hours on 11 June. While they were refuelling, Group Captain R M Field who commanded the force, received a telephone call from commander of the local French bomber group, who told him that Italian targets were not to be attacked. There were few French fighters in the area and there was concern that the raid might lead to retaliation against French cities that were barely defended. Shortly afterwards, Field received orders from the Air Ministry
Air Ministry
The Air Ministry was a department of the British Government with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the Royal Air Force, that existed from 1918 to 1964...
in London that the aircraft should take off as planned. There was a flurry of telephone calls from various French authorities, culminating in a call from General Vuillemin
Joseph Vuillemin
General Joseph Vuillemin was a French military aviator who took part in both world wars.-First World War:In June 1915, he was promoted to captain and became a squadron commander in February 1918...
to the British Air Forces in France headquarters. Field however, followed his orders, but as the first Wellington taxied into position for takeoff, French troops blocked the runway with a line of lorries and carts. Field had no choice but to abort the mission.
Meanwhile, Whiteleys of Nos. 10
No. 10 Squadron RAF
No. 10 Squadron was a Royal Air Force squadron. The squadron served in a variety of roles over its 90 year history...
, 51
No. 51 Squadron RAF
No. 51 Squadron of the Royal Air Force most recently operated the Nimrod R1 from RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire until June 2011. Crews from No. 51 Squadron are currently training alongside the US Air Force on the Boeing RC-135, which is planned to enter service with the RAF over the next seven years...
, 58
No. 58 Squadron RAF
No. 58 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force.- History :No. 58 Squadron was first formed at Cramlington, Northumberland, on 8 June 1916 as a squadron of the Royal Flying Corps....
, 77
No. 77 Squadron RAF
No. 77 Squadron RAF was formed on 1 October 1916 at Edinburgh, and was equipped with B.E.2 and B.E.12 aircraft. The squadron disbanded at RAF Turnhouse on June 13, 1919....
and 102 Squadron
No. 102 Squadron RAF
No. 102 Squadron was a Royal Air Force night bomber squadron in World War I and a heavy bomber squadron in World War II. After the war it flew briefly as a transport squadron before being reformed a light bomber unit with the Second Tactical Air Force within RAF Germany. Its last existence was as a...
s, a total of 63 aircraft had refuelled on Jersey
Jersey
Jersey, officially the Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown Dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. As well as the island of Jersey itself, the bailiwick includes two groups of small islands that are no longer permanently inhabited, the Minquiers and Écréhous, and the Pierres de Lecq and...
and Guernsey
Guernsey
Guernsey, officially the Bailiwick of Guernsey is a British Crown dependency in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy.The Bailiwick, as a governing entity, embraces not only all 10 parishes on the Island of Guernsey, but also the islands of Herm, Jethou, Burhou, and Lihou and their islet...
and were on their way Italy. Heavy storms and severe icing caused the majority of the aircraft to turn back and only 13 reached their targets at Turin and Genoa. Two aircraft failed to return.