Ruins of the French railway yard at Villeneuve-St-Georges, near Paris, France, c. October 1944. Part of the original caption to this image, intended for public consumption, read: 'A mass of twisted metal was all that remained of the repair shops'. Four times between April and July 1944, Bomber Command mounted operations against this important railway facility and marshalling yard, initially in support of the coming invasion of Europe on 6 June, and later to disrupt enemy communications and resupply for the battle being fought there against Allied ground forces in Normandy. Prior to the raid of 14–15 July 1944, Bomber Command had received reports from local French sources that huge amounts of rolling stock, loaded with military supplies, were awaiting shipment through Villeneuve-St-Georges. The three Australian Lancaster squadrons—Nos 460, 463 and 467—all participated in these raids, as did No. 466 Squadron with its Halifax aircraft. From the evidence of the photograph, considerable damage was done to this target. [AWM SUK13137]
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