:: Bombing the Dykes ::
At
the end of September '44, as it became clear that airborne action in
Walcheren would be too risky in terms of casualties, the GOC-in
C.of the 1st Canadian Army, Lt.-General Guy Granville Simonds decided
the Island should be recaptured by seaborne landings at Flushing and
Westkapelle.
In order to inflict as much damage as possible to the German defences, Lt.-General Simonds ordered flooding of Walcheren Island by bombing the
crusial seawalls. First at Westkapelle on the 3rd of October, then on the 7th
East (Rammekens) and West (Nolledijk) of Flushing and finally at Veere
on the 11th of October 1944. On the 2nd of October locals were urged
by radio and pamphlets to leave potential strategic objects
immediately. The Westkapelle seawall was bombed with almost 1270 ton of
explosives. 123 Lancasters bombed Flushing East with 385 ton and
Flushing West with 348 ton. Between Veere and Vrouwenpolder 375 ton
were dropped by 67 Lancasters. Later in October additional bombardments
(almost 5000 tons) on several German defences followed.
British documentary from 1945 by the Ministry of Information about the subsequent flooding of walcheren
Documents :: Operation Reports
Note that supporting planes, such as Mosquito's etc. are not mentioned.
Westkapelle Seawall 3-10-1944
Flushing Seawall 7-10-1944
Veere Seawall 11-10-1944