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Aviation History
1938
1938 - 0972.PDF
FLIGHT APRIL 7, 1938. "Flight." photograph*. The flagship " Nelson " and (above) H.M.S. " Revenge " and oneof her sister ships just after a concerted attack by Ansons of No. 217 squadron. The morning sun was still low when the Ansons trickled out on to the dewy aerodrome and took up their formation in preparation for the take-off, to be signalled from the tarmac by a Very light. For this first raid the squadron was being led by a Flight Lieutenant, beside whom we took our place. The Anson was aptly described to us as "a real Wing Commander's aeroplane." Having the more desirable qualities of a conservatory combined with good aero dynamic form, it has attained great popularity. Whether it was the comfort of the machine or the re- assuring efficiency of the crew, one experienced not the slightest qualms as the coast slipped under our wings and the fifteen Ansons nosed out over the patchy grey sea on a course for the Casquets, those rugged little islands which rise out of the sea like strange mammals west of Alderney. We cruised at a steady no knots at about a thousand feet; No. 206 Squadron, which passed us in the distance on our way out. was under orders to fly at a higher speed. Striking out from the Casquets we droned on lor what must have been about three-quarters of an hour until the inelegant outline of the Courageous relieved the monotony. After a few minutes a cruiser on our starboard bow turned its searchlight in our direction to stimulate Archie fire, but we were after bigger game. And the Flight Lieutenant was not long in spotting it, signalling the news to the neighbouring machines with the time-honoured "thumbs up." Our intention was to take advantage of the clouds and to '' snake in'' low over the convoy by flights, so we played hide-and-seek round the Fleet while the Flight Lieutenant loaded his Very pistol and laid it tenderly on his lap. It was, to some extent, a matter of luck whether or not we came through the clouds in a favourable position for low-bombing the capital ships. But we did, bursting through the lowest wisps at about 200 m.p.h. with Nelson and Rodney steaming broadside to us; Ramillies and the rest were astern. The searchlights glared and plop! went our Very pistol. Close Quarters One will always remember that • first sudden view ol those great ships, their shining decks arrayed tidily with strange nautical gear, turrets marked with a broad red, white and blue band just to confirm their nationality, though their identity could hardly be mistaken with the squat "Queen Anne's Mansions" and the apparently in- adequate funnel crammed toward the stern, giving pride of place to the fifteen-inch guns. Exhilarated, we set a course for Start Point, skirted the coast and landed by flights to learn that we had time for a snack before join- ing company with the Vildebeests of No. 42 Squadron for a combined attack with bombs and torpedoes. This second raid was headed by the Squadron Leader, who led the Ansons to a rendezvous over Thorney Island. As we crossed the aerodrome the Perseus-VildeLeests were just taking off and we made a circuit to allow them to climb to our level and take up their position astern. Then the force of twenty-seven machines swept westward down the Channel. By this time the convoy was much nearer, although since the last reports of its position had been received it had changed course and was about twenty miles from its estimated position. But the Ansons duly led the big biplanes to the target The Vildebeests attacked in two waves and we saw the splashes of the torpedoes as our nose went down for a low bombing attack. We caught the convoy just as it turned to avoid the mouldies, zoomed up, and watched destroyers retrieving the red-nosed projectiles. We celebrated what we counted a successful raid with a bar of chocolate and went home to tea. Whatever the " lessons " (if any) of the exercise, it did demonstrate the efficiency of the new General Recon- naissance squadrons. The keenness of the youthful per- sonnel was something to marvel at; after a raid filler caps were off almost before the Ansons had finished taxying. . •. . ... •.-.Ik Fliijhl" piiotm/raph. Quick fill-up : No. 217 Squadron's Ansons about to be replenished by "Mr. Zwickv " at Tangmere.
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