'Carpetbaggers' - Les parachuteurs de nuit de l'OSS à la 8th Air Force

Les agents Jeds, OSS, Interalliés et autres conseillers militaires chargés de former les maquisards aux arts de la guerre ne tombaient pas simplement du ciel.
Des équipages courageux avaient été formés pour survoler la France, la nuit, dans des avions solitaires peints en noir, pour apporter les fameux containers tellement attendus et les agents alliés.
Nom de code : 'Carpetbarggers'

Les missions de la 8th Air Force étaient lancées par des escadrilles spéciales au départ de l'Angleterre, qui décollaient de l'aérodrome secret d'Harrington.
Un musée exceptionnel y a pris place. Voyez ce site absolument unique en son genre et passionnant.
In English again tough...

http://harringtonmuseum.org.uk/OpCarpetbagger.htm





BoM

un truc de dinguo! :
Y'a des gars qui essaient de compiler Toutes les missions des Carpetbaggers, et de déterminer toutes les insertions d'agents à partir d'Angleterre avec le n° de l'avion et le nom du pilote, du terrain... mois par mois.
Avec un peu de chance, vous trouverez votre mission!

http://home.comcast.net/~801492bg.historian/Agents/Agents01.htm


Pour les photos des avions, des B24 spéciaux allégés pour le vol en rase-mottes, et entièrement peints en noir:

http://home.comcast.net/~801492bg.historian/Aircraft/B24s/B24s-01.htm





BoM

C'est pas beau ca?!
Un Liberator noir, un peu édenté certes, dépourvu d'une bonne partie de ses mitrailleuses pour les incursions de nuit, contrairement au dessin ci-dessus...
Seules les mitrailleuses permettant de tirer vers d'éventuels poursuivants, à l'arrière, étaient conservées.




BoM

Le premier article; que j'avais loupé est fort interressant :il confirme bien l'utilisation du casque de saut "sorbo helmet" en mousse noire pendant toute la durée du conflit .Le Boss du musée ,était present a l'expo ,dans le Vercors cette année .

LO GRAND a écrit:

Le premier article; que j'avais loupé est fort interressant :il confirme bien l'utilisation du casque de saut "sorbo helmet" en mousse noire pendant toute la durée du conflit.

Oui, j'ai cru comprendre que le casque Sorbo était considéré comme démodé et 'jetable', et donc approprié pour les parachutages d'agent 'à sens unique'.


BoM

Pas certain ;car en fait il a été utilisé conjointement ,avec le casque cam Soe a grés des missions .De toute maniere tous les modéles de combi SOE et tous les modéles de casques , ne devaient que servir pour un aller simple ;et les consignes etaient leur enfouissement a l'atterissage.Il est aussi vrai que l'on peut voir des para Polonais s'entrainer avec des sorbos ,alors que le matos spécifique au Soe n'a pas profité;a l'armée réguliere . Alors le sorbo helmet ;matos déclassé ;récupéré par le Soe qui a fait feu de tous bois et qui beaucoup improvisé ;bien possible.

Ce que j'aimerais mieux connaitre, ce sont les aménagements spécifiques de ces Liberators particuliers :

- Quel était par exemple le 'Bomb Sight' utilisé pour les parachutages? Etait-ce le fameux Norden, comme pour les bombardements? Car la cabine avant et le poste du bombardier semblent totalement redessinés sur ces appareils.
Il y avait-il des appareils spéciaux de vision nocturne, des adaptations à la pénombre?

- Il semble aussi que les ouvertures latérales prévues pour les mitrailleurs de bord aient été comblées avec des glasses? Qui mettait on à ces postes?

- Le pilotage de nuit était-il assisté par radar? On parle de différents modèles de radars, notament chez les bombardiers 'Pathfinders' dans les unités de combat classiques. Ces radars permettaient aux bombardiers alliés de mener à bout leur mission malgrés les intempéries et l'absence totale de visibilité. En était il de meme pour les parachutages de nuit?


Sinon, voilà un nouveau lien bien intéressant concernant les parachutages à partir de l'Angleterre :
>> http://www.801492.org/index.html

L'étude des photos de ce site montre ceci :
- Les B24 du 801st sous livrée noire n'étaient pas tous réaménagés de la meme facon. Peut-etre il y a t'il eu des périodes, des aménagements et des améliorations successifs?
Certains portent encore leurs mitrailleuses de nez...
- Détail amusant, les avions portaient des surnoms et des mascottes peints comme sur les bombardiers classiques.
(Attention, pas mal de photos montrent les avions dans leur 'vie d'avant', avant qu'ils n'aient été repeints en noir)


A vot'service,

BoM

Le traffic aérien lié aux opérations de parachutage en France, à partir des bases de la 8th Air Force :
Voici les opérations dites 'Carpetbagger', nom de code pour les opérations clandestines aériennes, entre Juillet et Novembre 1944.

J'ai également mis en rouge les opérations menées par des C-47 'Skytrain' (ou DC3 Dakotas en terminologie britannique). Je pense que plus d'un lecteur sera surpris par le volume d'opérations clandestines menées avec ce type d'appareil, particulièrement lors des dernières missions de la 1ère quinzaine de Septembre 1944.

J'ai laissé également les missions de largage de pamphlets de propagande pour donner un élément de comparaison...
nb: Cette liste exclue les dépots et 'pick-up' d'agents à l'aide d'avions légers, ainsi que les bombardements conventionnels bien entendu

On remarque aussi que lorsque les nuits sont propices, ce sont des petites nuées de B24 qui franchissent les cotes Francaises et se dispersent pour parachuter agents et containers... Jusqu'à une quarantaine d'appareils au dessus de la France certaines nuits, 46 le 5 Septembre !!!

,,,
SATURDAY, 1 JULY
18 B-24s participate in CARPETBAGGER missions in France.

SUNDAY, 2 JULY
37 B-24s CARPETBAGGER missions in France during the night.

TUESDAY, 4 JULY
36 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions during the night; 3 airmen are MIA after a plane crashes.

WEDNESDAY, 5 JULY
During the night, 8 of 8 B-17s drop leaflets in France with the loss of 1 B-17;
8 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions.

THURSDAY, 6 JULY
Mission 457: 7 of 7 B-17s drop leaflets in Belgium and France during the night.
20 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions; 1 B-24 is lost.
A C-47 makes the first landing at a secret airstrip in the Ain, France area.

FRIDAY, 7 JULY
Mission 459: 6 of 6 B-17s drop leaflets in France and Belgium during the night.
19 B-24s participate in CARPETBAGGER operations during the night.

SATURDAY, 8 JULY
Mission 461: 4 of 5 B-17s drop leaflets in France during the night.
17 B-24s are dispatched on CARPETBAGGER missions.

SUNDAY, 9 JULY
Mission 464: During the night, 5 of 6 B-17s drop leaflets in France.
37 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions during the night.

MONDAY, 10 JULY
Mission 465: 6 of 6 B-17s drop leaflets in France and the Netherlands during the night.
12 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions during the night.

TUESDAY, 11 JULY
Mission 467: During the night, 6 of 6 B-17s drop leaflets on France.
29 of 30 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions during the night.

WEDNESDAY, 12 JULY
Mission 470: During the night, 6 of 6 B-17s drop leaflets in France.

THURSDAY, 13 JULY
28 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions during the night.

FRIDAY, 14 JULY
Mission 472: In a morning mission 319 of 359 B-17s drop 3,700 containers of supplies to French interior forces in S France; They claim 5-2-2 Luftwaffe aircraft; 15 B-17s are damaged.
Escort is provided by 465 P-47s and P-51s; they claim 4-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft.

SATURDAY, 15 JULY
Mission 475: 6 of 6 B-17s drop leaflets in France during the night.
27 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions to France during the night.

SUNDAY, 16 JULY
Mission 477: 5 of 5 B-17s drop leaflets in France during the night.
24 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions during the night.

MONDAY, 17 JULY
Mission 480: 5 of 5 B-17s drop leaflets in France and the Netherlands during the night.
16 B-24s participate in CARPETBAGGER missions during the night.

TUESDAY, 18 JULY
25 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions in France during the night;
1 B-24 collides with an RAF aircraft over France and is lost.

WEDNESDAY, 19 JULY
Mission 483: 5 of 5 B-17s drop leaflets in France and Belgium during the night.
5 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions during the night.

THURSDAY, 20 JULY
Mission 485: 6 of 6 B-17s drop leaflets in France during the night.
12 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions.

FRIDAY, 21 JULY
Mission 487: 8 of 8 B-17s drop leaflets in France during the night; 1 B-17 is damaged.

SATURDAY, 22 JULY
Mission 489: 7 of 7 B-17s drop leaflets in France and the Netherlands during the night.
44 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions during the night.

SUNDAY, 23 JULY
Mission 491: 6 of 6 B-17s drop leaflets in France during the night.
21 of 25 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions during the night.

MONDAY, 24 JULY
Mission 493: 7 of 7 B-17s drop leaflets in France during the night. 6 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions during the night.

TUESDAY, 25 JULY
17 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions during the night.

WEDNESDAY, 26 JULY
Mission 497: 7 of 7 B-17s drop leaflets in France during the night.
9 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions.

THURSDAY, 27 JULY
Mission 500: 7 of 7 B-17s drop leaflets in the Netherlands and France during the night.

FRIDAY, 28 JULY
Mission 502: 6 of 6 B-17s drop leaflets in France during the night.

SATURDAY, 29 JULY
Mission 504: 6 of 6 B-17s drop leaflets in France during the night.
44 B-24s are dispatched on CARPETBAGGER missions; 12 abort.

SUNDAY, 30 JULY
Mission 506: 1 B-17 is dispatched on a night leaflet mission but is recalled.
31 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions.

MONDAY, 31 JULY
13 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions.

TUESDAY, 1 AUGUST
Mission 509: 6 of 6 B-17s drop leaflets on France and Belgium during the night.

WEDNESDAY, 2 AUGUST
42 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions during the night.

FRIDAY, 4 AUGUST
Mission 522: 6 of 6 B-17s drop leaflets in the Netherlands and France during the night.
19 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions during the night.
In England, HQ 492d Bombardment Group (Heavy) moves from North Pickenham to Harrington;
and the 406th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 8th Air Force Composite Command [attached to 801st Bombardment Group (Provisional)], moves from Harrington to Cheddington with B-24s.

SUNDAY, 6 AUGUST
Mission 526: 7 of 7 B-17s drop leaflets in France during the night.
36 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions in France; 1 B-24 is MIA.

MONDAY, 7 AUGUST
5 of 5 B-17s fly a leaflet mission over France during the night.

TUESDAY, 8 AUGUST
Mission 532: 5 of 5 B-17s drop leaflets in France during the night.

WEDNESDAY, 9 AUGUST
Mission 536: 6 of 6 B-17s drop leaflets in France and the Netherlands during the night.

THURSDAY, 10 AUGUST
Mission 539: 1 of 1 B-17s drops leaflets on Brest, France.
Mission 540: 4 of 4 B-17s drop leaflets in France and Norway during the night.
In England, the 492d Bombardment Group (Heavy) move from North Pickenham to Harrington with B-24s (the squadrons fly CARPETBAGGER missions until Apr 45).

FRIDAY, 11 AUGUST
Mission 544: 6 of 6 B-17s drop leaflets in France during the night.
28 of 31 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions in France.

SUNDAY, 13 AUGUST
Mission 551: 6 of 6 B-17s drop leaflets in France, the Netherlands and Belgium during the night.
36 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions during the night.

MONDAY, 14 AUGUST
Mission 553: 6 of 6 B-17s drop leaflets in France during the night;
37 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions in France; 1 B-24 is lost.
The 36th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 8th Air Force Composite Command, moves from Harrington to Cheddington, England with B-24s; the squadron will convert from [CARPETBAGGER to ECM missions over Europe.

TUESDAY, 15 AUGUST
12 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions during the night.

WEDNESDAY, 16 AUGUST
Mission 557: 8 of 8 B-17s drop leaflets in France during the night.

THURSDAY, 17 AUGUST
33 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions during the night.

FRIDAY, 18 AUGUST
Mission 564: 7 of 7 B-17s drop leaflets in France during the night.

WEDNESDAY, 23 AUGUST
Mission 567: 6 of 6 B-17s drop leaflets in France and Belgium during the night.

THURSDAY, 24 AUGUST
Mission 569: 1 B-17 drops leaflets on Brest, France during the night.

FRIDAY, 25 AUGUST
Mission 573: 6 of 6 B-17s drop leaflets on France and Belgium during the night.
1 C-47 flies a CARPETBAGGER mission during the night.

SATURDAY, 26 AUGUST
Mission 582: 6 of 6 B-17s drop leaflets in France and Belgium during the night.

SUNDAY, 27 AUGUST
Mission 585: 6 of 6 B-17s drop leaflets in France and the Netherlands during the night.

MONDAY, 28 AUGUST
Mission 588: 6 of 6 B-17s drop leaflets in France and the Netherlands during the night.

WEDNESDAY, 30 AUGUST
Mission 592: 6 of 6 B-17s drop leaflets in France and Belgium during the night.
Mission 594: 6 of 6 B-17s drop leaflets in France during the night.
37 B-24s and C-47s fly CARPETBAGGER missions during the night.

FRIDAY, 1 SEPTEMBER
31 of 44 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions during the night.

SATURDAY, 2 SEPTEMBER
2 C-47s fly CARPETBAGGER missions to France.

SUNDAY, 3 SEPTEMBER
40 B-24s and 4 C-47s fly CARPETBAGGER missions during the night.

TUESDAY, 5 SEPTEMBER
46 B-24s and 2 C-47s fly CARPETBAGGER missions during the night; 1 B-24 is lost.

SATURDAY, 9 SEPTEMBER
Mission 618: 7 of 7 B-17s drop leaflets on Belgium, France and Germany during the night.
40 B-24s and C-47s fly CARPETBAGGER mission during the night.

SUNDAY, 10 SEPTEMBER
Mission 621: 3 of 3 B-17s fly a radar and photo reconnaissance mission over Germany; leaflets are also dropped.
6 of 7 B-17s drop leaflets on France, the Netherlands and Germany during the night.
35 B-24s and C-47s fly CARPETBAGGER missions during the night.

MONDAY, 11 SEPTEMBER
Mission 625: 6 of 6 B-17s drop leaflets on France and Germany during the night.
38 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions during the night.

TUESDAY, 12 SEPTEMBER
Mission 627: 7 of 7 B-17s drop leaflet in France, the Netherlands and Germany during the night.
36 B-24s and C-47s are dispatched on CARPETBAGGER missions during the night.

SATURDAY, 16 SEPTEMBER
Mission 636: 7 of 9 B-17s drop leaflets in France, Germany and the Netherlands during the night.
32 B-24s and C-47s are dispatched on CARPETBAGGER missions; 1 B-24 is lost.

MONDAY, 18 SEPTEMBER
3. Mission 641: 8 of 8 B-17s drop leaflets in France, the Netherlands and Germany during the night.

WEDNESDAY, 27 SEPTEMBER
Mission 651: 8 of 10 B-17s drop leaflets in France, the Netherlands and Germany during the night.

SUNDAY, 1 OCTOBER
Mission 661: 5 B-24s and 3 B-17s drop leaflets in the Netherlands, France and Germany during the night.

TUESDAY, 3 OCTOBER
Mission 663: 6 B-24s and 4 B-17s drop leaflets in France, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium during the night.

WEDNESDAY, 4 OCTOBER
Mission 664: 5 B-24s and 4 B-17s drop leaflets in the Low Countries, France and Germany during the night.

THURSDAY, 5 OCTOBER
Mission 666: 8 of 10 bombers drop leaflets in France, the Netherlands and Germany during the night.

FRIDAY, 6 OCTOBER
Mission 668: 6 B-24s and 4 B-17s drop leaflets in Germany, the Netherlands and France during the night without loss.

SATURDAY, 7 OCTOBER
Mission 671: 2 B-24s drop leaflets in the Netherlands during the night.

WEDNESDAY, 11 OCTOBER
Mission 673: 9 aircraft drop leaflets in France, the Netherlands and Germany during the night.

THURSDAY, 12 OCTOBER
Mission 675: 8 aircraft are dispatched to drop leaflets in the Netherlands, France and Germany during the night; 2 B-24s are lost.

SUNDAY, 15 OCTOBER
Mission 679: 5 B-17s and 4 B-24s fly a night leaflet mission over the Netherlands, France and Germany without loss.

MONDAY, 16 OCTOBER
Mission 680: 2 B-17s and 7 B-24s are dispatched on a night leaflet mission to France, the Netherlands and Germany.

THURSDAY, 19 OCTOBER
Mission 684: 5 B-17s and 5 B-24s are dispatched to drop leaflets in France, the Netherlands and Germany during the night.

MONDAY, 23 OCTOBER
Mission 686: 6 B-24s and 3 B-17s drop leaflets in France and the Netherlands during the night.

THURSDAY, 26 OCTOBER
Mission 690: 2 B-17s and 7 B-24s drop leaflets on 38 locations in the Netherlands, France and Germany during the night.

SATURDAY, 28 OCTOBER
Mission 692: 3 B-17s and 6 B-24s drop leaflets in France, the Netherlands and Germany during the night.

TUESDAY, 31 OCTOBER
Mission 695: 3 B-17s and 5 B-24s drop leaflets in the Netherlands, France and Germany during the night.

SATURDAY, 4 NOVEMBER
Mission 701: 3 B-17s and 6 B-24s drop leaflets in France, the Netherlands and Germany during the night.

SUNDAY, 5 NOVEMBER
Mission 703: 3 B-17s and 7 B-24s drop leaflets in France, the Netherlands and Germany during the night without loss.

WEDNESDAY, 8 NOVEMBER
Mission 706: 5 B-17s and 12 B-24s (2 abort) drop leaflets in France, the Netherlands and Germany during the night without loss.

THURSDAY, 9 NOVEMBER
Mission 708: 5 B-17s and 12 B-24s drop leaflets in France, the Netherlands and Germany during the night.

MONDAY, 13 NOVEMBER
Mission 713: 4 B-17s and 8 B-24s drop leaflets in the Netherlands, France and Germany during the night.

WEDNESDAY, 15 NOVEMBER
Mission 714: 6 B-17s and 6 B-24s drop leaflets in the Netherlands, France and Germany during the night.

SATURDAY, 18 NOVEMBER
Mission 717: 4 B-24s and 6 B-17s drop leaflets in Belgium, the Netherlands and France during the night.

MONDAY, 20 NOVEMBER
Mission 719: 6 B-17s and 7 B-24s drop leaflets on the Netherlands, France and Germany during the night.

TUESDAY, 21 NOVEMBER
Mission 721: 7 B-17s and 5 B-24s drop leaflets in France, the Netherlands and Germany during the night.

THURSDAY, 23 NOVEMBER
Mission 724: 7 B-17s and 6 B-24s drop leaflets in France, the Netherlands and Germany during the night.

SUNDAY, 26 NOVEMBER
Mission 726: 8 B-17s and 6 B-24s drop leaflets on France, the Netherlands and Germany during the night.