Skua: The Royal Navy’s Dive-Bomber by Smith Peter

Author:Smith, Peter [Smith, Peter]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781783409716
Publisher: Pen & Sword
Published: 2007-03-28T00:00:00+00:00

No. 806 Squadron tries again

After their earlier debacle, No. 806 Squadron had been tethered while the lessons were digested and gone over in detail. However, on 16 May German warships were again reported to be at Bergen and the Skuas were despatched to strike once more. Strangely enough against warship targets, only the 250 lb/20 lb bomb mix was carried by each of the nine Skuas on this full-strength mission. Again, RAF Blenheims were supposed to have co-operated in the attack, but failed to make contact so the Skuas went in alone.

Again, Hogg provided a personal account.

One attempt was frustrated by bad weather but we eventually took off about 11.00 one morning. Two flights were to bomb oil tanks while we attacked a jetty. Owing to the position of this jetty our section had to fly further round behind the town than the others and, consequently, dived some 5 minutes after the remainder of the Squadron had finished.

The anti-aircraft fire was heavy but bursting behind us so we maintained an icy calm – what the eye does not see, the heart does not grieve over. When the others had finished their job, the AA gunners concentrated on us three, still getting into a good diving position. Unharmed, we dropped our heavy bombs on the jetty and then hurtled across the harbour at 1,000 feet, towards the oil tanks. We found these shattered by the rest of the Squadron.

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