How we struck Hitler's rocket launch sites
From his cramped position on board a Halifax III Flight Sergeant John Cook became very familiar with the Normandy coast in the weeks leading up to D-Day.
John Cook then and now
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Raid after raid was flown by John and his crew in dangerous daylight conditions, aimed at destroying the German defences from the sky.
From their base at Burn in Yorkshire the crews of 578 Squadron would take off on their long missions over England to deliver their pay loads.
“In the period leading up to D-Day, 70,000 tonnes of bombs were dropped. Twice as many as were dropped by the Germans during the Battle of Britain,” says John, now aged 80 and living on Hall Park Hill, Berkhamsted.
Raids concentrated on strategic points like railways and troop concentrations.
“I think one of the most important things we did was destroy the launch sites of the V1 (Doodlebugs) and V2 rockets.”
London had suffered several deadly attacks from German doodlebugs.
The V2 was in development and a major launch site had been built by the Nazis near St Omer using slave labour.
Luckily the Germans never got the site fully functioning – largely due to the efforts of John and the rest of 578 squadron.
Had the site not been put out of action before D-Day London and the south east of England would have found itself under serious attack from a never before seen weapon. Fortunately only a handful were ever fired, none of which were from Normandy.
John kept a log of all his operations. D-Day was no exception:
JUNE 5th “Early morning take off. Heavy cloud and severe icing over Channel to target. We opened the Second Front, D-Day, at about five in the Morning. Saw the Massive Convoy Formations in the Channel.” JUNE 6th “Take-off at dusk, continuation of mass raids in support of Second Front. Marshalling Yards. Full Moon. Stupendous sight on return of cumulous clouds. Spotted ‘Spits' on return going on ‘Dawn Patrol'.”
John was commended on showing a ‘continuous outstanding ability' and was awarded a distinguished flying medal. Asked about how he felt about being part of such huge event he was modest: “We just got on with it!”
