RAF Bomber Command vs Railway YardsAulnoye Railroad Yards DestroyedThe R.A.F. Bomber Command’s heavy attack on Aulnoye, France, the night of April 27/28, 1944, caused specially heavy damage in the area of the sorting sidings. Each of the 32 tracks in this area was cut in several places and damage and destruction amongst the large concentration of rolling stock was very severe. There is 80 percent damage to the carriage and wagon repair shops. British official photos show:
Above - The target after two attacks in March and April but before the R.A.F. Bomber Command’s concentrated attack of April 27/28. (c. 4330)
Below - After the attack - almost complete obliteration. Tracks have been cut and rolling stock scattered in complete confusion. The series of curves, which now form the road at the top, have been made by vehicles and people passing around the craters and debris. The same type of paths can be seen in the railroad yard and have been made by people trying to get to the scene of devastation. (c.4331)
Railroad Yards at Juvisy, ParisOn the night of April 18/19, 1944, R.A.F. Bomber Command dispatched over 1,000 aircraft on a large number of operations. In particular, forces of four-engined Lancasters and Halifaxes left England just before midnight to attack railroad targets near Paris. One of these was Juvisy, a dozen miles further up the Seine. British official photos show:
Left - The Juvisy yards before the R.A.F. attack. (c.4295)
Right - Exactly the same area on the afternoon of April 19. Note the complete disappearance of workshops, repair depots, signaling apparatus, warehouses, roundhouses and nearly all facilities. Rolling stock can be seen lying between the shattered tracks in grotesque positions. (c.4297)
Permanent Way Depot at Chambly, North of ParisClaimed to be one of the most important and up-to-date permanent way depots in Europe, Chambly was the target of R.A.F. Bomber Command’s attack the night of May 1/2, 1944. British official photos show:
Above - The target before the R.A.F. attack. (c. 4328)
Below - The same area after attack. The points and crossings shop and the railroad ties impregnation plant, with their allied buildings, have been almost totally destroyed. The stores yards - which were well filled with stores prior to the attack - are saturated with craters and the majority of the contents destroyed or damaged. Many of the buildings have been completely obliterated. (c. 4329)
