Summer 1944
Saint-Leu-d'Esserent in turmoil
En français
Between 17th March and 31st August 1944, the town of Saint-Leu-d'Esserent was the subject of a significant number of bombing raids and strafing (some sources mention a number of 18) from the 8th US Army Air Force, the 9th US Army Air Force and the Royal Air Force.
The targets were the marshalling yard of the Petit-Thérain, the railway line Creil-Pontoise, the river port, the Laversines bridge, the lock, the German anti-aircraft batteries and the underground quarries that housed V1s.
Petit-Thérain : bombing of 28th March 1944 around noon by the 9th US Army Air Force
(source NARA)
The attacks on southern England by the V1 flying bombs are a real menace for the people.
Steve Darlow, in his book "Sledgehammers for Tintacks" gives the following figures for the losses due to the V1s :
6,184 civilians killed, 17,981 seriously injured, 23,000 homes destroyed and hundreds of thousands damaged.
The bombing campaign, begun in 1943 (operation CROSSBOW) against the launching ramps, delayed and limited the number of V1s fired but did not annihilated them.
Aerial reconnaissance photograph dated 13th June 1944
On 29th June 1944, the depot of St-Leu (code LEOPOLD) becomes a priority target for Bomber Command to destroy the source of the launching ramps (two other depots are targeted : Nucourt (code NORDPOL) in the Val d 'Oise, and Rilly-la-Montagne (code RICHARD), in the Marne.
The raids on St. Leu and St. Maximin by the RAF, result a considerable number of casualties among the bomber crews :
54 four-engined aircraft destroyed, 264 airmen killed, 45 taken prisoner and 62 rescued in the Oise department and the neighbouring departments.
The first raid by the Royal Air Force takes place on Saint-Leu in the late afternoon of Tuesday 4th July 1944.
17 Lancasters, 1 Mosquito and 1 Mustang of the famous 617 Squadron, nicknamed the "Dambusters", drop 11 Tallboy bombs. The dust and the smoke generated by the terrible explosions prevent the release of six other giant bombs. Not one aircraft is lost.
The second raid is an immediate consequence of the first and takes place on the night of 4th to 5th July 1944.
231 Lancasters 15 Mosquitos of the RAF 5th Group drop approximately 1,157 tons of explosive bombs and 5 tons of incendiary bombs in 3 waves between 1:31 am and 1:45 am (UK Time). The bombardment is reported as accurate by the RAF. The town of Saint-Maximin, although not targeted, is hit hard. 13 Lancasters do not make it back to England. The RAF suffers 77 airmen killed in action.
A German report intercepted by the British on 5th July indicates that the entrance of the quarry is not affected, the access road and railway track are destroyed although repairable in 24 hours. Human losses at the depot amount to 5 men missing. Of the Flak gunners (AAA) 5 are killed, 6 are wounded and 6 or 7 are missing.
The third raid takes place, again over Saint-Leu, on the night of Friday 7th to Saturday 8th July 1944.
208 Lancasters and 13 Mosquitos of the 5th Group bomb, between 1:16 am and 1:30 am (UK Time), off loading, in 3 waves coming from the southwest, 1,121 tons of explosive bombs and 4 tons of incendiary bombs. 32 aircraft are lost. It is the deadliest bombing for the inhabitants of the town. 10 inhabitants lose their lives. The RAF suffer 142 killed in action and 30 taken prisoner but 47 airmen are rescued by individuals and the French Resistance.
Target : quarries housing V1s
Right: view of the quarry of the Couvent
(photos taken in September 1944)
The fourth raid takes place in the afternoon of Wednesday 12th July 1944.
168 Halifaxes, 46 Lancasters and 8 Mosquitos of the 4th, 6th and 8th Groups bomb the quarries of Thiverny. The target is covered in cloud and the result cannot be observed. Not one aircraft is lost.
The fifth raid targets the quarries of Trossy-Saint-Maximin. In the afternoon of Wednesday 2nd August 1944, 94 Lancasters and 8 Mosquitos drop 2,650 tons of bombs. All the aircraft return to their base.
The sixth raid again targets Trossy-Saint-Maximin. It takes place in the afternoon of Thursday 3rd August 1944.
191 Lancasters, 40 Halifaxes and 2 Mosquitos drop 1,700 tons of bombs. 5 Lancasters are lost. The smoke generated by the explosions considerably hampers the second wave. The town of Saint-Maximin is destroyed more than 90%.
The seventh attack consisting of 5 Mosquitos and 61 Lancasters bomb Trossy-Saint-Maximin takes place on Friday 4th August 1944. 2 Lancasters are destroyed.
The eighth and last raid targets Saint-Leu-d’Esserent again. Early in the afternoon of Saturday 5th August 1944, an initial armada of 456 aircraft of the RAF (441 take part in the raid, according to some sources), including 60 Lancasters, 196 Halifaxes and 7 Mosquitos for the first wave, then 189 Lancasters and 6 Mosquitos for the second, drop approximately 2,193 tons of bombs.
A Halifax crashes near the Carrefour des Ripailles (north of Chantilly), a second Halifax crashes on its return to England. The list of victims of the town grows since three inhabitants die during the attack.
The bombing of 5th August is the largest ever conducted over the Oise department. The municipalities of Gouvieux, Lamorlaye, Creil, but especially Précy-sur-Oise (12 killed) are not spared.
In early September 1944, after the Liberation, Saint-Leu-d'Esserent is a ghost town. Much of the 1,600 inhabitants had evacuated because of the bombings. The town is devastated at 85%, of which 45% totally. Apart from the area of the town hall miraculously spared, the people no longer recognize their town. It is just a scene of desolation and ruins.
Saint-Leu-d'Esserent : down the street Henri Barbusse Saint-Leu-d'Esserent : rue Christine
Saint-Leu-d'Esserent : near the Quai d'Amont Saint-Leu-d'Esserent : rue de l'Hôtel-Dieu
The church, jewel of the town, suffered severe destruction. Years of work will be needed for its restoration. Livestock has been decimated. The road Saint-Leu/Creil is no longer passable and this for many long months. No trains or barges circulate. Supplies are hard to come by. Everything is lacking.
On 20th October 1944, the municipality requests the adoption of the town by a British or an American city :
"Because of the extensive damage of the bombing ... which affected 85% of the population, historical monuments such as the church, much of the farmland and mushroom growing areas, the bombing also crippled local industry by the destruction of major industrial establishments (Candy, Petit-Thérain, the harbor wharfs etc ..). "
It may be noted that on 28th December 1944: "The gas and electricity work but the water supply is still being repaired. There are no means of transport for providing barracks for the victims".
In 1945, Saint-Leu-d'Esserent remains for many long years ravaged by war. A great number of people who suffered damage live in temporary cabins or in half-destroyed buildings. Supplies are insufficient and heating is difficult.
V1 rocket exhibited in Paris in 1945
On 11th November 1948, the 39/45 Croix de Guerre with a citation “à l’Ordre du Régiment” is awarded to the town of Saint-Leu-d'Esserent.
Since the end of WWII, many veterans of the RAF and families of those missing have come on pilgrimage to Saint-Leu-d'Esserent.
Insignia offered in October 1983 to the municipality of Saint-Leu-d'Esserent
by F/L Keith J. Stevens of the Royal Australian Air Force.
His Lancaster was shot down on the night of 7th to 8th July 1944.
31 civilians, including 16 inhabitants of Saint-Leu-d’Esserent, were killed during the different bombings of the year 1944. We can add 15 others killed in the neighbouring towns, Saint-Maximin, Précy-sur-Oise and Lamorlaye in August 1944 when the town of St. Leu was targeted.
The tonnage of bombs falling from the sky in July/August 1944 is estimated at 9,000 tons.
Date |
Aircraft |
Serial number |
Squadron |
Target |
Killed |
POW |
Evaded |
| 4-5 July 1944 | Lancaster | LL785 | 9 | Saint-Leu | 8 | - | - |
| 4-5 July 1944 | Lancaster | ME699 | 44 | Saint-Leu | 6 | - | 2 |
| 4-5 July 1944 | Lancaster | PB195 | 49 | Saint-Leu | 7 | - | - |
| 4-5 July 1944 | Lancaster | JB486 | 57 | Saint-Leu | 7 | - | - |
| 4-5 July 1944 | Lancaster | JB723 | 57 | Saint-Leu | 7 | - | - |
| 4-5 July 1944 | Lancaster | EE186 | 61 | Saint-Leu | - | 5 | 2 |
| 4-5 July 1944 | Lancaster | ME832 | 106 | Saint-Leu | 6 | - | 1 |
| 4-5 July 1944 | Lancaster | ND339 | 106 | Saint-Leu | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 4-5 July 1944 | Lancaster | LM125 | 207 | Saint-Leu | 7 | - | - |
| 4-5 July 1944 | Lancaster | ND570 | 207 | Saint-Leu | 6 | 1 | - |
| 4-5 July 1944 | Lancaster | HK536 | 463 | Saint-Leu | 7 | - | - |
| 4-5 July 1944 | Lancaster | ME614 | 463 | Saint-Leu | 8 | - | - |
| 4-5 July 1944 | Lancaster | ME867 | 630 | Saint-Leu | 7 | - | - |
| 7-8 July 1944 | Lancaster | JA690 | 9 | Saint-Leu | 1 | - | 7 |
| 7-8 July 1944 | Lancaster | JA957 | 9 | Saint-Leu | 6 | - | 1 |
| 7-8 July 1944 | Lancaster | JB116 | 9 | Saint-Leu | 4 | 3 | - |
| 7-8 July 1944 | Lancaster | LM631 | 44 | Saint-Leu | 2 | - | 5 |
| 7-8 July 1944 | Lancaster | ME634 | 44 | Saint-Leu | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| 7-8 July 1944 | Lancaster | ME859 | 44 | Saint-Leu | 7 | - | - |
| 7-8 July 1944 | Lancaster | LL976 | 49 | Saint-Leu | 7 | - | - |
| 7-8 July 1944 | Lancaster | LM541 | 49 | Saint-Leu | 7 | - | - |
| 7-8 July 1944 | Lancaster | PB207 | 49 | Saint-Leu | - | - | - |
| 7-8 July 1944 | Lancaster | DV227 | 50 | Saint-Leu | 7 | - | - |
| 7-8 July 1944 | Lancaster | DV363 | 50 | Saint-Leu | 7 | - | - |
| 7-8 July 1944 | Lancaster | PA996 | 50 | Saint-Leu | 6 | - | 1 |
| 7-8 July 1944 | Lancaster | JB370 | 57 | Saint-Leu | - | 3 | 4 |
| 7-8 July 1944 | Lancaster | LM522 | 57 | Saint-Leu | 7 | - | - |
| 7-8 July 1944 | Lancaster | ME868 | 57 | Saint-Leu | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| 7-8 July 1944 | Lancaster | ND867 | 61 | Saint-Leu | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| 7-8 July 1944 | Lancaster | R5856 | 61 | Saint-Leu | 7 | - | - |
| 7-8 July 1944 | Lancaster | ND966 | 83 | Saint-Leu | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| 7-8 July 1944 | Lancaster | JB641 | 106 | Saint-Leu | 7 | - | - |
| 7-8 July 1944 | Lancaster | ME668 | 106 | Saint-Leu | 4 | 3 | - |
| 7-8 July 1944 | Lancaster | ME789 | 106 | Saint-Leu | - | 6 | 1 |
| 7-8 July 1944 | Lancaster | ME831 | 106 | Saint-Leu | - | 2 | 5 |
| 7-8 July 1944 | Lancaster | PB144 | 106 | Saint-Leu | 7 | - | - |
| 7-8 July 1944 | Lancaster | LM129 | 207 | Saint-Leu | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| 7-8 July 1944 | Lancaster | LM218 | 207 | Saint-Leu | 5 | - | 2 |
| 7-8 July 1944 | Lancaster | ME805 | 207 | Saint-Leu | - | 2 | 5 |
| 7-8 July 1944 | Lancaster | ND567 | 207 | Saint-Leu | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| 7-8 July 1944 | Lancaster | ND866 | 207 | Saint-Leu | 6 | 1 | - |
| 7-8 July 1944 | Lancaster | LM219 | 467 | Saint-Leu | 6 | - | 2 |
| 7-8 July 1944 | Lancaster | LM338 | 467 | Saint-Leu | 7 | - | - |
| 7-8 July 1944 | Lancaster | ME745 | 619 | Saint-Leu | 2 | - | 5 |
| 7-8 July 1944 | Lancaster | ND688 | 630 | Saint-Leu | 6 | 1 | - |
| 3 August 1944 | Lancaster | PA162 | 61 | Saint-Maximin | 6 | - | 1 |
| 3 August 1944 | Lancaster | ME839 | 166 | Saint-Maximin | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| 3 August 1944 | Lancaster | PB125 | 460 | Saint-Maximin | 7 | - | - |
| 3 August 1944 | Lancaster | ME568 | 619 | Saint-Maximin | 7 | - | - |
| 3 August 1944 | Lancaster | LM163 | 625 | Saint-Maximin | 2 | 4 | - |
| 4 August 1944 | Lancaster | PA983 | 635 | Saint-Maximin | 8 | - | - |
| 4 August 1944 | Lancaster | ND811 | 635 | Saint-Maximin | 3 | - | 4 |
| 5 August 1944 | Halifax | LL594 | 425 | Saint-Leu | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| 5 August 1944 | Halifax | MZ828 | 433 | Saint-Leu | 2 | - | - |
| TOTAL OF LOSSES | 54 | 264 | 45 | 62 |
