SOE Out Distance Group and the Failed Attack on Škoda Plzeň Works in 1942 (1 Viewer)

[yahya]

I am looking for the technical details on the failed attempt to guide RAF bombers in 1942 by the SOE Out Distance Group on the Škoda Plzeň Works, which was a Czech armament factory, using a beacon transmitter.

On 28 March 1942 the SOE Out Distance group was parachuted into the Protektorat. It comprised three operators, Lt Opalka, WO Curda and Cpl Kolarik. The group is believed to have brought a clandestine beacon transmitter, which was a forerunner of the Eureka transponder used in conjunction with the Rebecca system installed on an aircraft. The idea was to place the beacon within the Škoda Plzeň Works so that the RAF bombers could find the factory easily by homing in on the signal originating from the beacon.

Unfortunately, Kolarik lost his forged documents upon landing, and the Gestapo started to trace him. In consequence, he committed suicide and the equipment of the group was taken over by the Germans. Later, Curda betrayed the group, which led to the tragic fate of the team that assassinated Reichsprotektor and the RSHA Chief Reinhard Heydrich.

My questions are:

1. What kind of beacon was brought by the Out Distance Group? Was is an early Eureka? Or something different?
2. What type of bombers equipped with the receivers able to pick up the signals from the above mentioned beacon were supposed to participate in the raid? The Halifax? Or Stirling?
3. Was the attack on Škoda Plzeň scheduled for April or May 1942 by the RAF?

 

[yahya]

Meanwhile I only found that that it was Operation Cannonbury that involved the bombing of the Škoda Plzeň Works.

Canonbury | Operations & Codenames of WWII

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Does anyone have the details on the content of the AIR 14/826 file on the op?

Operation "Cannonbury" | The National Archives

The official archive of the UK government. Our vision is to lead and transform information management, guarantee the survival of today's information for tomorrow and bring history to life for everyone.

discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk

 

[ThomasP]

re

Q#3. Was the attack on Škoda Plzeň scheduled for April or May 1942 by the RAF?

There were actually 2 attacks as part of Operation Canonbury. The 1st attack, on the night of 25/26 April, failed to cause any damage. The 2nd attack, on the night of 4/5 May, did cause some damage.

Q#2. What type of bombers equipped with the receivers able to pick up the signals from the above mentioned beacon were supposed to participate in the raid? The Halifax? Or Stirling?

Stirlings were used on both attempts.

 

[yahya]

Thank you for the answer. I presume that the Outdistance group was given an early model of the Eureka ground beacon, which was to reply to the interrogating signals from the Rebecca set installed on an aircraft. Their Eureka unfortunately got into German hands. I wonder if there are any historical reports from British, Czech or former German documents mentioning that very Eureka.

Outdistance | Operations & Codenames of WWII

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Canonbury | Operations & Codenames of WWII

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