Dated 18th February 1943, this reconnaissance photograph taken by 540 Squadron, R.A.F. gives no clue as to its location. It is clearly the mouth of a river which has gun emplacements and slit trenches guarding the beach. AIR27/2007/10, the Record of Events for 540 Squadron for February 1943 gives the following: Date:18.2.1943. Aircraft Type & Number: Mosquito W4059. Crew: F/O H.J. Hugo, P/O M.L.H. Rose. Duty: Photo reconnaissance. Time up: 1025. Time down: 1545. Details of Sortie or Flight: Photographs taken at Bordeaux and southern half of West coast of France. Weather good, height 25,000 ft.
A quick look at Google Maps shows that it is the mouth of the River Adour just north of Biarritz near the Spanish border. The Lac du Boucau can clearly be seen just south of the river mouth. Google Maps
Hardly suitable for a landing, because of the strong oceanic surf prevailing almost everywhere from the Spanish border to Bordeaux. These beaches are actually great for surfing, but very dangerous in places for even the good swimmer, as the slope of the beach is steep and groundswell sucks you out and deep down into the waves. The fact that the dangerous spots move about with time doesn't help either... Michel
I am sure that you are absolutely right about the prevailing currents but nevertheless somebody thought that it was worth defending.
