Saint-Leu-d'Esserent

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Coordinates: 49°13′05″N 2°25′22″E / 49.2180555556, 2.42277777778

Commune of Saint-Leu-d'Esserent
Location
Saint-Leu-d'Esserent (France)
Saint-Leu-d'Esserent
Administration
Country France
Region Picardie
Department Oise
Arrondissement Senlis
Canton Montataire
Intercommunality Communauté de communes Pierre - Sud - Oise
Mayor Alain Blanchard
(2001-2008)
Statistics
Elevation 25 m–137 m
(avg. 29 m)
Land area¹ 13.08 km²
Population²
(1999)		 4,867
 - Density 372/km² (1999)
Miscellaneous
INSEE/Postal code 60584/ 60340
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
2 Population sans doubles comptes: residents of multiple communes (e.g. students and military personnel) only counted once.
France

Saint-Leu-d'Esserent is a small town and commune situated on the banks of the river Oise, in France. During World War II, the mushroom caves of 'Saint Leu' were one of three major underground V-1 flying bomb bases, including Nucourt and Rilly La Montange. In addition to the caves, the facility included blockhouses, bunkers, flak emplacements and railway links.

See also: List of V-1 storage depots

[edit] Bombing of Saint-Leu-d'Esserent during World War II

Main article: Operation Crossbow

Along with Nucourt, Allied intelligence firmly identified late in June 1944 that Saint-Leu-d'Esserent was a V-1 flying bomb storage depot.[1]

Bombing of Saint-Leu-d'Esserent during World War II
June 27, 1944: Initial bombing by the US Army Air Force[2][3]
July 4/5, 1944: Tallboy bombs were used in an attempt to collapse the limestone roof of the caves.[1][4] The bombing started on July 4 by 17 Avro Lancasters, 1 de Havilland Mosquito and 1 P-51 Mustang of No. 617 Squadron RAF and was accurate and without loss. After the 617 Squadron bombing, No. 5 Group RAF attacked St Leu d'Esserent immediately (Bomber Command records show the 617 Squadron operation as a day raid and the 5 Group operation as a night raid.) The second wave continue to July 5 and was accurate, but 13 Lancasters were lost to German fighters.[5]
July 7, 1944: An evening raid by 208 Lancasters and 13 Mosquitos (mainly No 5 Group but with some Pathfinders)[5] successfully blocked the tunnels. 31 planes were shot down by German night-fighters.[6]

[edit] References & Notes

  1. ^ a b Collier, Basil [1964] (1976). The Battle of the V-Weapons, 1944-1945. Yorkshire: The Emfield Press, p68,82,84. ISBN 0 7057 0070 4. 
  2. ^ 8th Air Force 1944 Chronicles. Retrieved on 2007-05-25.
  3. ^ Taylor, Graham. Leopold. Leopold. Retrieved on 2007-05-16.
  4. ^ Irving, David (1964). The Mare's Nest. London: William Kimber and Co, p168,220,245,246. 
  5. ^ a b Campaign Diary. Royal Air Force Bomber Command 60th Anniversary. UK Crown. Retrieved on 2007-05-24.
  6. ^ Richards, Denis [1964] (1994). The Hardest Victory - RAF Bomber Command in the Second World War, p241.