23.10.42.
 
  INTERPRETATION REPORT NO. S.A.154.  
     
          Photographs taken on 21.10.42.  
     
          LOCALITY:     LORIENT.  
     
  LORIENT.     (G.S.G.S. 4040B Sheets 88 N.E. and S.E.)  
     
U.S.A.A.C.
341/1
21.10.42
1300 hrs.
1/17,000
(F.L.12")
17,000'
'A'
"
342/5
"
"
1/17,000
"
17,000'
'A'
"
342/6
"
"
1/17,000
"
17,000'
'A'
"
414/9
"
"
1/19,500
"
19,500'
'A'
"
414/10
"
"
1/17,800
"
17,800'
'A'
"
414/11
"
"
1/17,100
"
17,100'
'B'
     
  (i) GENERAL  
     
          (a)     These photographs were taken during a daylight attack on the U-boat Shelters at LORIENT by B.17 Fortress aircraft escorted by fighters.  
     
          (b)     30 x 2,000 H.E. bombs were dropped.  
     
  (ii) BOMB BURSTS OBSERVED.  
     
          (a)     The majority of the bombs burst at approximately the same time and within the target area; it is, therefore, not possible to give either the total number of bursts observed or a detailed statement on the number of direct hits on the various parts of the target.  
     
          (b)     Apart from a group of bombs which are seen bursting about 1 mile S.W. of KERLIN BASTARD airdrome (341/1-11), all of the bursts seen are shown on the two prints (342/6-16 & 414/10-11) accompanying this report, which are annotated as follows.  
     
  PRINT NO. I.  
     
 
A.   Shows a group of bombs bursting about the camouflaged floating docks adjacent to the U-boat Shelters with apparently at least one direct hit on each of the 2 Northernmost floating docks.
     
B.   One 750 ton U-boat alongside the Central floating dock. Several bursts are seen on both prints about this vessel but it is not possible to state whether or not the vessel received a direct hit.
 
     
 
- 1 -
 
     
     

 

 
 

   
PRINT NO. II.
 
 
C.   Later stage of the bomb bursts shown at A on Print No. 1.
     
D.   Bomb bursts about the Southernmost floating dock.
     
E.   Many bursts between the central block of Shelters and the Southern incomplete block of Shelters, and about the Shelter entrance.
     
F.   Bursts in the Northern part of the incomplete block of Shelters.
     
G.   Bursts on and about small subsidiary buildings between the central block of Shelters and the Long Basin.
     
H.   Two direct hits on large building between central block of Shelters and the Long Basin.
     
I.   Shows a near miss to 2 trawler type auxiliaries.
 
     
     
 
DISTRIBUTION:
  
     
 
Bomber Command.            
P.I. Sub-section
4
3
   Admiralty
3
3
C. in C.
1
1
   A.M. War Room.
2
2
G/C Ops. (S.A.S.O.)
1
1
   A.I.3(c)
1
1
Ops. I.B.
1
1
   D.D.A.T.
1
1
Intelligence (B.C.)
1
-
   H.Q.F.C.
40
40
O.R.S.
1
1
   Q.B. Ops.
1
1
W/Cdr. Photos.
1
1
   M.I.14(h)
1
1
Narritive Officer
2
-
   Int. C.C.
2
1
P.R.O.
1
1
   P.R.U. Benson.
1
1
U.S.A.S. High
25
25
   P.I.S. Benson.
1
1
Wycombe (F/Lt.Boggis)
  D.P.R.

2
2
342 Squadron (U.S.A.S.)
  A.I.3 (U.S.A.)
11
11
 
1
1
   P.I.S. St. Eval
414     "          "
1
1
   (F/Lt. Brown)
1
1
 
  M.E.W. (Mr. Brodrick)
2
-
 
  A.D.I. (Ph)
6
6
 
     
  A.A.F. Station, Medmenham.  
     
  GDC/A/MMoI/B.  
     
 
- 2 -
 
     
     

 

PRINT I.          Annotated print of target taken as first bombs impact          Negative 342/6-16

 

PRINT II.          Annotated print of target taken at height of raid          Negative 414/10-11

 

Annotated print of target taken moments before bomb release          Negative 342/5-10

 

Annotated print of target at bomb release          Negative 414/9-27

 

Annotated print of target taken as first bombs impact          Negative 341/1-22

 

Annotated print of target taken at height of raid         Negative 414/10-11 (Same negative as Annotated PRINT II.)