FP_2015_05_

54 FLYPAST May 2015

194019401940

confirmed victory: “The Skuas

attacked from above, attracting the

attention of the German aircrew,

while the Roc, piloted by Day,

flew directly underneath and, as

described by Lt Barnes, one of the

Skua pilots ‘literally sawed it in half

with the four guns in its turret firing

upwards.’ They all then landed safely

at Detling.”

Patrols continued on May 30 in

deteriorating weather conditions,

but one section spotted an He 111

as it was about to attack a ship. The

Skuas engaged immediately and

forced the bomber to jettison its

load before it escaped into the cloud.

CONFUSED DEFENCE

The next day, 806 was joined

at Detling by a detachment of

Skuas from 801 Squadron. These

were to mount dive-bombing

confirmedvictory: “The Skuas SWORDFISH

AT DUNKIRK

On May 18 the Swordfi sh-equipped 825 Squadron moved to Detling for

operations with RAF Coastal Command to help cover the evacuation of

the BEF. Operations included anti-submarine and anti-E-boat patrols,

night reconnaissance and hazardous daylight attacks on enemy troops

and tanks attacking Calais. Lt Michael North’s crew were shot down and killed after

completing his attack near Calais; a second crew was also lost.

Some of 825’s Swordfi sh also spotted for the guns of HMS Arethusa and Galetea

bombarding Calais on the 26th. Sub Lt J B Kiddle’s Swordfi sh was attacked by two Bf

109s at 8,000ft and, in the violent manoeuvring to escape, the observer, Lt Geoffrey

Beaumont, was thrown out and fell to his death.

A pair of Swordfi sh were lost two days later, one ditching on the Goodwin Sands and

another over France, resulting in Lts Alex Neely and R G Wood becoming prisoners.

The blackest day was the 29th when fi ve aircraft were lost in an attack on the Albert

Canal. Among them was that of the CO, Lt Cdr James Buckley, who became a prisoner.

As the BEF began evacuation from Dunkirk, Norfolk-based 815 Squadron assisted the

extraction operation by mounting attacks against targets behind the front line. Later,

ports were also hit, but on May 31 the unit was returned to naval control.

Top

Skua L3012 of 806

Squadron fl ew patrols on

June 1 and 2. BLACKBURN

VIA J D OUGHTON

Above

The lumbering Roc

turret-fi ghter achieved a

confi rmed victory when

one from 806 Squadron

shot down a Ju 88 near

Dunkirk. BLACKBURN VIA J D

OUGHTON

52-56_Blitzkrieg_fpSBB.indd 54 13/03/2015 10:33