- Below is a list of aircraft
which took part in the RAF Coastal Command Fly-Past on Tuesday 16th
March. The Fly-Past aircraft formed-up at Southwold at approx.12:05
and departed south for Westminster Abbey at 12:37 to over fly the
abbey at 12:57 (See picture above).
Among those watching from the abbey steps were Her Majesty Queen
Elizabeth II and the RAF's only surviving holder of the Victoria
Cross, John Cruickshank. On 17th July 1944, as Flight Lieutenant
Cruickshank (then 24 years old), he had been a Captain of a 210
Squadron, Coastal Command Catalina, flying out of Sullom Voe in the
Shetland Isles.
His aircraft was patrolling near the Lofoten Islands off northern
Norway, when a German U-boat appeared on the surface. During his first
attack the weapons did not release so despite marginal visibility a
second attack was carried out against the U-boat now ready to fight
back. During the run in to the target the Catalina was hit by heavy
cannon fire which killed the navigator and damaged the aircraft. Flt
Lt Cruickshank sustained 72 shrapnel wounds, but he pressed the attack
home and successfully released the weapons. Despite heavy damage to
the Catalina, height was maintained and the aircraft nursed back to
the Shetland Isles.
On arrival at Sullom Voe the sea was found to be very rough. The
co-pilot who was not qualified to land the aircraft, bounced the
aircraft off the sea on the first attempt to land. Despite his painful
injuries and loss of blood, Flt Lt Cruickshank took the controls and
made a successful landing, running the aircraft onto the beach. RAF
Coastal Command lost 10,875 allied airmen between 1939 and 1945. Three
other wartime VCs were awarded to Coastal Command all posthumous.
Later John Cruickshank learned that on their second attack their
weapons had struck home and U-boat U347 had been sunk.
Of his VC Cruickshank says "The citation said "showed great courage"
and all that nonsense, but a lot of people have done that in those
circumstances".
PARTICIPANTS :
Nimrod MR.2 XV243/43 KSW RAF Kinloss HUNTER 1 / HUNTER LEAD / HUNTER
FORMATION
Tornado GR.4 ZA461/AC 9 Squadron, RAF Marham (Off Port Wing of Nimrod)
- BATMAN 2
Tornado GR.4 ZA585/AH 9 Squadron, RAF Marham (Off Starboard Wing of
Nimrod) - BATMAN 1
AIRSPARE: Tornado GR.4 ZA546/AG 9 Squadron, RAF Marham (broke-off
south of Ipswich) - BATMAN 3
-
-
Roger Smith
Lowestoft Aviation Society
- Suffolk's Eyes on the Skies
www.lowestoftaviationsociety.org
|
