I admit to having been more than hooked on the official story line for a long time, I think we all were. When I first heard about Dr Ducelliers research from Julian Evan-Hart, I was very apprehensive, even hostile to the fact that Pickard & Broadley did not get to the prison. How dare someone suggest that my boyhood hero did not bomb the prison!
I have now read Amiens-Secrets Revealed three times. I am more aware now, especially after reading another good book called ‘Operation Fortitude’ by Joshua Levine that this Country is a past master of deception, double cross, and general skullduggery.
The likelyhood that AVM Basil Embrey probably knew exactly who called for the raid are apparent, and his involvement in the cover story of the raid bears his stamp. His own books ‘Wingless Victory’ and ‘Mission Completed’ read like Boys own annuals, I suspect that the stories of his escape when shot down in France had more than a slice of ‘poetic license’ added to it. Couple that with the story of the Amiens raid and it seems a surety that the story covering the loss of Pickard part on the raid was embellished a fair bit. One thing has always intrigued me, Embrey did not fly on the Amiens raid due to the possibility of him being shot down, but he later took part in the Aarhus Gestapo raid in Denmark ? could not the same scenario happen then, or was it because the Normandy connection was now well past its sell by date?
One thing we cannot deny is that the aircrew were briefed that day and flew the operation. Their bravery and dedication will always stand the test of time. I still think Pickard was a gentle soul who cared for his aircrew, he proved himself a great leader with a long standing career in bombers and as a exceptional pilot while on 161 (SD) Squadron where he most probably encountered many of the agents dropped into France. I know Prof M.R.D Foot met him briefly before the raid while he (Foot) was at the combined Operations Headquarters . He told us a strange story about Pickard asking if he knew of a safe address in France in case he was shot down in the future.
Back to the anniversary, it is strange that for what was always referred to as ‘one of the RAF’s most daring and audacious raids’ Nothing official has been done, The Dambusters had their 70th, with all the attendant television coverage and ‘celebs’ getting flights in Lancasters,. For this raid…nothing. Except the gathering in Amiens on a very small scale this year where George Broadley, Flt Lt Broadleys younger brother has gone for the last time. And as Dave has reported, Flt Lt Dick Sampsons niece Jenny, along with a good few others gathered in New Zealand at the Cambridge memorial where Dick’s name is remembered, and our Service at the airfield it was flown from. At least a few of us remember…and still care 🙂
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