SZ/AEAF/1/9/2 - Interruption of rail traffic, 19/5/44

SZ/AEAF/1/9/2

Item

Interruption of rail traffic, 19/5/44

1944

1 leaf

United Kingdom. Air Force. Air Support Command, 9th

Zuckerman, Solly,
Leigh-Mallory, Trafford Leigh,recipient

Loose minute reporting that "preliminary studies made by the IX Air Support Command show that it is possible to plan in advance and in a clean cut way for the interruption by Fighter Bombers of all important links in a rail network" and that he has had discussions "with the people concerned" on conducting similar studies for areas deeper in France [than the Pas de Calais] and coordinate their work with the transportation experts with whom AEAF was working. SZ had also enquired as to the "usefulness of being in any such track-cutting programme with a train-smashing plan" and suggests to Leigh-Mallory laying on "some operational tests outside the NEPTUNE area to determine whether Fighter Bomber attacks would be more profitable if directed against embankments or cutting as opposed to open lines." He concludes by pointing out that if "a Fighter Bomber scheme proves successful" priorities of the plan to use heavy bombers in that tactical phase of an operation against rail targets, support of Operation Overlord would need to be considered.