WORLD WAR TWO CANADIAN BEAUFIGHTERS
74 FLYPAST September 2018
which concentrated its cannon
and machine gun fire on the flak
positions on all the vessels as best
it could through the developing
smoke. According to the unit’s
records, the anti-flak wave “quickly
silenced” the defenders.
This cleared the way for the
Torbeaus to do their work. Swinging
wide and low over the water to align
their selected targets, they launched
all seven torpedoes – but none
found their mark. As they engaged,
further flak was directed
at them from the shore between
Rostad and Kristiansand – it was
reported as “accurate for height but
short for range”.
The top cover Mosquitos from
235 Squadron may also have been
in action, for that piloted by Fg Off
D B Douglas came home with a
slightly damaged aileron. However,
this could have been the result
of a stray round, and nothing
alluding to direct combat is
recorded in the unit’s operations
record book (ORB).
The Buffaloes had delivered a
devastating blow. Sülldorf sank
quickly after that rupturing
explosion, while the dense smoke
clouding an otherwise clear sky
indicated that severe damage had
been inflicted on Iris, Pompeii and
Innsbruck. Although not sunk, all
three vessels would be out of service
for some time. To prevent her from
sinking, Iris had to be beached
nearby and underwent a few weeks
of repair work.WINGS AND PRAYERS
Having gone in ahead of the main
anti-flak wave, the 404 Squadron
rocketeers bore the brunt of the
enemy gunners’ response – three
aircraft sustained serious damage.
The squadron ORB notes
that “there was not much flak
experienced going in but what there
was, was very accurate.”Beaufighter NE341, flown by
Baribeau with Flt Lt C H Taylor as
navigator, was hit from below just
after roaring past the target vessel.
The damage prevented the young
pilot from regaining height but he
kept the heavy machine flying as
long as he could, before announcing
that he was ditching, which he
did – successfully, some five miles
due south of the action. Comrades
overflying the scene were relieved to
discover one member of this crew
waving from a dinghy.
Taylor had also clambered out but
as the aircraft sank, Baribeau lost
sight of him before he made it to the
safety of the yellow dinghy. Either
the freezing water temperature
had overcome the navigator or
he succumbed to an unreported
injury. Baribeau became a PoW after
the life raft washed ashore on the
Norwegian coast.
Beaufighter NE793 took a hit
to the armoured windscreen and
another to the starboard prop.
Although somewhat stunned by what
had happened, Art Menaul managed
to maintain control and successfully
left the target area. After realising
he’d sustained injuries to his face,
shoulder and arm from shards of
glass and Perspex, he also discovered
the intercom cable was severed. His
navigator, Fg Off Tomes, responded
immediately, coming forward to
render first aid and, after returning to
his station to plot a fix, he returned to
verbally provide a heading.
Although his forward vision was
impaired by the damage, and the
pain from injuries was extreme,
Menaul made a successful landing at
Banff, after which he collapsed in the
cockpit. Assisted out, he was rushed
to hospital. He and Tomes were both
awarded DFCs for their actions.
The third damaged aircraft was
NE766, flown by strike leader
Schoales and his regular navigator,
Flt Lt R A Jackson. Their ‘Beau’had been hit in several places, but
the starboard engine was the biggest
concern. Once Schoales assessed the
problem, he shut it down and, for the
second time in his long career, nursed
a damaged aircraft back from the
Norwegian coast on one engine. The
first had been a Blenheim that he
managed to return to the Shetlands
in December 1941.
Had it been equipped with just
two squadrons, as in April 1943,
the Strike Wing could well have
struggled, but in four-unit form it
had performed superbly. Although
the dangers involved were clear
to all, confidence had grown. For
multi-tour veterans such as Schoales
and Pierce, the contrast with their
relatively bleak Blenheim-equipped
days must have been stark.
The Buffaloes carried on as part of
the Banff Wing through to October
21, participating in 14 more major
‘ops’. During five of these, German
shipping was engaged and either sunk
or damaged. By the time Menaul
was back on duty in early November,
the two former Wick squadrons
had moved to RAF Dallachy not far
from Banff. Here they joined 455
(RAAF) and 489 (RNZAF), just up
from Langham, to establish the all-
Beaufighter Dallachy Strike Wing.
With four Mosquito units at Banff
(143 Squadron moved in after the
Bristols left) and the Beaufighters at
Dallachy sometimes operating as a
single strike force, 18 Group took its
toll on dwindling German shipping
on an almost daily basis, weather
permitting, until VE Day.
The Canadian-manned squadron
converted to RP-equipped
Mosquitos in April, and operated
once again as part of the Banff
Wing in the war’s final weeks. Their
actions had dealt a devastating blow
to the enemy’s supply lines – and
the courage of all airmen involved in
these hazardous missions should not
be underestimated.“...18 Group took its toll on dwindling German shipping on an almost
daily basis, weather permitting, until VE Day”
Above, left to right
LAC Ed Lee, an engine
mechanic, in front of his
charge at either Banff or
Dallachy in October 1944.
ED LEEAn early version of the
squadron crest that
either wasn’t approved,
or was not submitted for
approval. The symbol
nevertheless became
nose-art on at least two
Beaufighters, including
LZ451. ED LEEThe nose art on LZ451
while at Dallachy in
January 1945. The buffalo
and wing commander’s
pennant were applied in
August 1944 at Strubby.
ED LEE