page_title: Leonard Cheshire
section_title: Raid on the V3 site at Mimoyecques
hierarchical_section_title: Leonard Cheshire / Military career / 617 Squadron / Raid on the V3 site at Mimoyecques
caption_attribution_description: English: Low-level oblique aerial photograph of the bomb-cratered German secret weapon site at Mimoyecques, near Marquise, France. The concrete slab covering the V3 guns which were intended to bombard London. The site was attacked by No. 617 Squadron RAF in daylight on 6 July 1944 with 12,000 'Tallboy' deep penetration bombs. The bombs caused the collapse of some galleries and one of the gun shafts, and blocked any further work on the weapon until the site was overrun by the Canadian Army the following month
context_page_description: Geoffrey Leonard Cheshire, Baron Cheshire, VC, OM, DSO & Two Bars, DFC was a highly decorated Royal Air Force pilot and group captain during the Second World War, and a philanthropist.
  Among the honours Cheshire received as a pilot was the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. He was the youngest group captain in the RAF and one of the most highly decorated pilots of the war.
  After the war he founded a hospice that grew into the charity Leonard Cheshire Disability. He became known for his work in conflict resolution. In 1991 he was created a life peer in recognition of his charitable work.
context_section_description: On 6 July 1944 the Mimoyecques V-3 site finally was attacked. This was the mission he had been waiting for. In a daylight attack, Cheshire marked the target for the 617 Squadron heavies, which each carried a Tallboy. The caves collapsed, bringing the V3 threat to an end.
  On the night of 7/8 July 617 Squadron with Cheshire in his Mustang flew against the limestone cave at St. Leu d’Esserent being used to store V-1s and V-2s. It was his 100th mission, and would be his last with Bomber Command. Tallboy strikes caused a partial collapse of the cave, and the tunnels were blocked off. The following day Cochrane took Cheshire off ops. At the same time he stood down Shannon, Munro and McCarthy, the surviving 617 Dams raids pilots. 
  After the completion of his fourth tour of duty in July 1944 Cheshire was awarded the Victoria Cross. The Victoria Cross is usually bestowed for a particularly marked event of bravery. In Cheshire's case, the award was given for his behaviour over the course of his entire operational career. At the investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace, both Cheshire and warrant officer Norman Jackson were to receive the VC from King George VI on that day. Despite the disparity in rank, Cheshire insisted they approach the King together. Upon reaching the King, Jackson recalled Cheshire offering "This chap stuck his neck out more than I did – he should get his VC first." The King kept to protocol and awarded the Group Captain first, but Jackson noted he would "never forget what Cheshire said."
caption: Concrete slab at the bomb-cratered German secret weapon site at Mimoyecques
exif: {}