Haddock Force facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Haddock Force |
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| Part of the Battle of France | |
Map showing the location of bases in the Channel Islands and at Salon and the target cities of Turin and Genoa
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| Type | Bombing campaign |
| Location | Salon, France 43°36′23″N 005°06′33″E / 43.60639°N 5.10917°E |
| Objective | Disruption of the Italian war economy |
| Date | 11–17 June 1940 |
| Executed by | RAF Bomber Command |
| Outcome | Operational failure |
Haddock Force was the name for a group of Royal Air Force (RAF) bombers. These planes were sent to airfields in southern France. Their mission was to bomb factories and other important targets in northern Italy. This plan was made because it looked like Italy would soon join Germany in World War II.
Italy officially joined the war on 10 June 1940. The plan for Haddock Force then began. However, at first, French officials in the area stopped the RAF Vickers Wellington bombers from taking off. Instead, Armstrong Whitworth Whitley planes flew from England, stopping in the Channel Islands. They carried out the first bombing raid on the night of 11/12 June 1940.
After talks between the French and British governments, the Wellingtons were allowed to fly again. They started their missions on the night of 14/15 June. But bad weather caused most of the planes to turn back without dropping their bombs. Eight Wellington crews tried again the next night. Six of them reported bombing the city of Milan. This was the last time RAF Bomber Command flew missions from French bases until 1944.
Why Haddock Force Was Created
British codebreakers found out that Italy was likely to declare war about a month before it happened. This was during the final part of the Battle of France. Reports suggested that Italy was about to join the war alongside Germany.
Britain had few resources to help France against Italy. The main help they could offer was the RAF Bomber Command. On 31 May, British and French leaders decided that if Italy declared war, they would attack factories and oil plants. The main targets were the northern Italian cities of Turin and Genoa.
Armstrong Whitworth Whitley bombers could reach these targets from the Channel Islands. However, the Vickers Wellington bombers had a shorter range. They needed to refuel in southern France. The French Air Command offered airfields near Marseilles, including Salon-de-Provence. British teams arrived on 3 June to get these airfields ready. They were prepared when Italy declared war on 10 June.
Missions of Haddock Force
First Attempts: 11–17 June
Italy declared war just after midnight on 10 June 1940. A group of Wellington bombers from 99 Squadron left England for France. They arrived at Salon airfield on 11 June. French fighter planes, usually near the Italian border, had been sent north to fight the German air force (Luftwaffe).
Even though there was an agreement to attack Italy, local French officials had concerns. They worried that bombing Italy would cause Italy to bomb large fuel storage areas near Marseille. They wanted to avoid any attacks on French cities and civilians.
A French general in charge of the area refused to let the British planes take off. He said the French government was against the raid. The British force commander, Group Captain R. M. Field, received conflicting orders. French officials told him not to attack. But the British Air Ministry in London ordered him to proceed.
Group Captain Field decided to follow the orders from Britain. Around 12:30 a.m., as the first Wellington plane was getting ready to take off, French troops blocked the runway. They used lorries and carts. Field had no choice but to stop the mission. Most of the Wellingtons returned to England the next day.
British diplomats in France protested strongly. The French Prime Minister, Paul Reynaud, then ordered French officials to cooperate.
Meanwhile, from England, 4 Group sent 36 Whitley bombers. These planes refueled in Jersey and Guernsey in the Channel Islands. They then flew towards Italy. However, severe storms and ice caused most planes to turn back. Only 13 planes reached their targets in Turin and Genoa. Two planes did not return. Several bombers accidentally hit cities in Switzerland, like Geneva and Lausanne. This was 185 km (115 miles) from their targets. Four civilians died and eighty were injured.
After more discussions, the French finally allowed raids on Italy. This happened after the French city of Toulon was bombed. Six Wellingtons from 99 Squadron and 149 Squadron returned to southern France. Eight planes left on the evening of 15 June to bomb a factory in Genoa. Thunderstorms made it hard to navigate. Only one plane reached the target. The others returned with their bombs.
The next night, nine Wellingtons tried again. Only five reached their target. Soon after, France signed an agreement to stop fighting (an armistice). This prevented any more operations. British bombers did not fly from France again until 1944.
Outcome
Haddock Force faced many challenges, including bad weather and disagreements with French authorities. The missions did not achieve their goal of disrupting Italy's war efforts. The operations were considered a failure.
