http://www.caffrenchwing.fr AIRSHOWCAF FRENCH - BULLETIN MENSUEL - MONTHLY NEWSLETTER http://www.lecharpeblanche.fr PUBLIC EDITION http://www.worldwarbirdnews.com found on Wikipedia. This well-known The men who were engaged in the Volume 20 - N°02 - February 2015 “free encyclopedia” should always raid knew this perfectly, yet carried be read with caution, if not outright out their orders without hesitation, for EDITORIAL skepticism. However, some of its which some paid the ultimate price. contents are actually quite good, he staff members of the French such as this “featured article” which As we are about to celebrate the 70th T Wing recently met at the Air & details a little-known yet important anniversary of the armistice, let us Space Museum in Le Bourget to aerial battle. not forget what our predecessors had prepare for this year’s events and to sacrifice to achieve victory, up to activities. A few members were What made the events of 9 February the very last days of the war. present as well. You will find in 1945 particularly tragic is that these columns details about the they could, and should, have been Enjoy your reading ! topics that were discussed as well avoided, especially at a time when as what decisions were made. the war was clearly coming to an end. - Bertrand Brown

As always, we will need our members to help out, whether at meetings and airshows to man the PX and welcome the public, clean up the hangar and prepare the meals for the fly-in, or simply participate in the many daily chores that need to be done at the hangar or on the airplanes.

The date for our annual fly-in has been set to Sunday the 17th of May. We are counting on your help and assistance to organize everything and also to help us gather as many classic aircraft as possible. We’re hoping to do at least as well as previous years, CAF 3rd Pursuit Squadron and hopefully better!

In this issue of Airshow, Col. Roger Robert continues to tour Commemorative Air Force units and presents the 3rd Pursuit Air Force Royal Squadron. This unit, which is not Photo as well known as it should, was founded by a former “Flying Tiger”, Erik Shilling.

You’ll also learn about “”, a disastrous raid led by RAF Coastal Command units against shipping in 70 years ago on this day. Although it was slightly modified and illustrations were added, it should 70 years ago: be noted that this article was Coastal Command’s «Black Friday» Airshow - Public Edition

Airshow is the monthly newsletter of the CAF French Wing. This "public" edition is meant for people who are not members of the association. Content which is for members only may have been removed from this edi- tion.

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NB: Subscription to the public edition of Airshow is completely free and can be cancelled at any time. Your personal data is solely used for the purpose of managing your subscription and will remain strictly confidential. •••••••••••••News••••••••••••• CAF French Wing 2015 Events Bertrand Brown Photo

CAF French Wing Annual Fly-In The date for the CAF French Wing’s annual fly-in has been set to Sunday the 17th of May. Please save the date and let the word out. Here is a preliminary list of events

A preparatory meeting will take place during the Carrefour de that the French Wing will attend l’Air on Sunday the 12th of April. We would like to make improve- during the 2015 airshow season. : ments on safety measures as well as other points. • 11/12 April - Carrefour de l’Air We will need to set up a team to prepare and serve the meals. An ideal figure would be at least 4 people, so that tasks can be shared and nobody is left to “slave around”. As usual, meals and • 17 May - CAF French Wing Fly- drinks will be free but we will gladly accept donations, for which in a basket will be made available. • 23/25 May - La Ferté-Alais air- In order to reinforce security, we would like to have several se- curity teams which will take turns on the “ramp”. If we could have show four teams of two people, that would allow us to safely direct flight operations. We’re especially worried about children run- • 6/7 June - Compiègne Aéro ning around. Classic As always, the more the merrier and if there are enough volun- teers, everyone will get a chance to contribute to a great day We’re also planning group visits to while not being overwhelmed with work. The specifics will be various museums or airshows. The discussed on April 12, but we ask volunteers to get in touch with first of these will be at the World us now. War One museum in Meaux, on On a final note, please let us know if you want to invite friends to Sunday 8 March. Practical details the fly-in, especially if they plan on coming with classic aircraft or warbirds! The food and drinks are free, but we still need to will be sent by email and posted on know how many people to expect! ■ the website.

We’re also considering organizing a group trip to Duxford for the “Fly- ing Legends” meeting on July 11/12

Bertrand Brown as well as the Commemorative Air Force’s Airsho in Texas in August. Photo We’ll need help for all of these events and ask volunteers to get in contact Stéphane Duchemin or Ber- News of the Piper Cub trand Brown by email as soon as Our Piper Cub «Spirit of Lewis» will soon need some minor re- possible. We’ll especially need help pairs. There are no major problems to be dealt with but the win- at La Ferté-Alais. If we can have dow that was slightly cracked last year now needs replacement, and we also need to replace an access door hinge which is giv- two “teams”, we can work in shifts ing signs of fatigue. and make sure that everyone gets a

As last year, we will be organizing «hangar days» at the airfield chance to enjoy the airshow without to do such work and spend time together as soon as the weather having to stay at the French Wing’s improves. Dates will be communicated on the website and by stand all day long! ■ email. ■ 3 •••••••••••••News••••••••••••• Staff meeting at the Paris Air & Space Museum

The French Wing staff and a few members met on Sunday the 18th of January at the Roger Vaucamp and Yves Donjon, Paris Air & Space Museum to discuss and plan for the French Wing’s 2015 events. French Wing honorary members Thanks to Col. Roger Robert, we were given During the January 18 staff meeting, the French Wing board members elect- access to a meeting room, with greater com- ed to induct two former French Wing members as honorary members. fort and heat than could be expected in the hangar at this time of year! The first is Roger Vaucamp, a figure well known by some of our oldest mem- bers. Roger, known as “Jethro” due to his resemblance to the legendary CAF During the meeting, various topics were dis- leader Jethro Culpepper, was already a CAF Colonel in the early 80s when cussed: preparation for the airshows we’ll be the CAF was still based in Harlingen, Texas. He joined the French Supporter attending as well as our annual fly-in, new Squadron when it was created by Bernard Delfino and has always held high items and organisation for the PX, group vis- the values and colours of our unit, as can be seen on this photo taken when its, etc. he was commenting an airshow in Couhé-Vérac or Chauvigny. Roger is the proud owner of a Pioneer P300 S nicknamed “Vieux Croa”, referring to Bud We’ve decided to renew with the practice of Anderson’s P-51 Mustang “Old Crow”, and wearing a CAF - Celtic Air Force group visits to museums or airshows. The - livery! first of these will be the visit of the Great War Museum in Meaux on Sunday the 8th The second honorary member is Yves Donjon. Yves has been the Mémorial of March. Normandie-Niémen’s librarian for years and has done remarkable work to honour the memory of the former members of the famous Free French fighter After the meeting, participants had lunch at regiment. He is the author of “Ceux du Normandie-Niémen”, now in its fourth the restaurant “L’Hélice” (the propeller) and edition. This book presents the biographies of all regiment personnel: pilots, a few seized the opportunity to visit the mu- mechanics, translators, doctors... Yves was a member of the French Sup- seum in the afternoon after lunch. ■ porter Squadron and later French Wing. We are proud to honour him today and see him join our ranks again. ■ Rearwin Sportster project

Great War Museum group visit Our first group visit will take place on Sunday the 8th of March at 10:00 AM at the Great War Museum in Meaux. We’ll have lunch at the Courtepaille restaurant near the museum Our Rearwin Sportster was one of the topics discussed during the staff before resuming the visit in the afternoon. If meeting. A full restoration currently seems impossible due to the lack we can gather 15 members or more, the ad- of manpower and qualified personnel. One possibility is to set up a mittance cost will be 7€ per person, or 10€/ series of “restoration workshops” to rebuild or restore some parts of person if there are fewer of us. the aircraft, while teaching interested members some basic restoration techniques and advancing a little on the project. If you’re interested A registration form has been sent with this in participating in this, please contact Bertrand Brown by email. If no newsletter. To participate, please fill it and progress is made this year on the Rearwin Sportster, we will have to return it to Stéphane Duchemin by March 1st consider parting with it, so that it will have a chance of being restored at the latest. ■ and flying again. ■ 4 CAF French Wing Partners

5 CAF 3rd Pursuit Squadron LowAltidude (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) LowAltidude (CC BY-NC-ND Photo

Article: Col. Roger his Squadron bears the name of Several other aircraft are also flown by Robert T the former unit in which one of its members of this unit: founding members served. Erik Shil- Above: The CAF 3rd ling was a member of the American • Harvard / SNJ / T-6 Pursuit Squadron’s Volunteer Group (AVG), better known Ryan PT-22 and Anto- as the “Flying Tigers” during World • Big Panda - Antonov AN-2 nov An-2 «Big Panda». War II. These volunteers fought along- side Chines troops to contain the Japa- • Grumman Martlett / FM-2 nese invasion. The Flying Tigers were composed of three squadrons: the 1st • Polikarpov I-16 Pursuit Squadron “Adam and Eves”, the 2nd Pursuit Squadron “Panda Bears” • Beech T-34 and the 3rd Pursuit Squadron “The Hell’s Angels”, of which Erik Shilling Eriksen E. Shilling was part. (Born 28 March 1916, deceased 18 March The Commemorative Air Force’s 3rd 2002). Pursuit Squadron was founded to hon- our these men and present their impor- In April 1941, 1st Lieutenant Erik Shil- tant achievements. link of the US Army Air Corps was one of the first to join the AVG. During his Just as other CAF units, the goals of training in Toungoo, north of Rangoon, the the 3rd Pursuit Squadron also in- Shilling painted a sharkmouth on the clude the restoration and preservation nose of his P-40. As he later recalled: of World War II aircraft. This means “I got the idea from a British magazine presenting these aircraft to the public in which I saw the picture of a Mess- during airshows and displaying them erschmitt Bf 110C of the ’s Find out more in museums to show the important Haifischgruppe in Crete (Author’s note: on the 3rd Pur- role these machines and their aircrews ZG 76, known as the “Shark Group”)”. suit Squadron played in the defence of liberty. from its web- The AVG’s first mission took place on 10 site: The 3rd Pursuit Squadron owns a Ryan December 1941, a photo-recon mission PT-22, which it restored to airworthi- from Rangoon to Bangkok carried out by 3rdpursuit.com ness. Shilling, Allen Christman (Group Intel-

6 ligence Officer) and future ace Ed Rec- He left Laos in 1969 and joined the tor. Flying Tigers Airline, leaving in 1979.

Shortly after, flight leader Erik Shil- The Flying Tigers ling led a group of three Curtiss- Wright CW-21 Demon on a ferry This was the name given to a squadron of flight from Rangoon, Burma, to the American pilots, whose offical designation Flying Tigers’ main station in Kun- was the 1st American Volunteer Group. ming, where the aircraft were to be Based in China during World War II, the tested. The absence of radio sets, en- squadron fought the Japanese in China gine problems and very poor weather and was involved in the Burma campaign. conditions led to the emergency land- It was later incorporated in the United ing and loss of all three aircraft dur- States Army Air Forces. ing the trip. Claire Lee Chen- Centre: the unit’s He later joined nault, Chiang Kai- newsletter is called the Civil Air shek’s military advi- “Ding Hao” (good Transport and sor, sought to build news). On this pho- made over a hun- an air force in 1938 to , the Ding Hao” dred flights over to assist the Chinese logo is painted on the the “Hump”, the government. leather flight jacket of supply route that a P-40 pilot. went from In- Starting in 1940, dia to China and the officially neutral overflew the Him- American govern- alayan mountain ment began provid- range. He took ing China with Cur- part in the Chi- tiss P-40B fighters nese civil war un- via the Lend-Lease til the 1949 Com- Photo 3rdpursuit.com agreement. Chen- munist victory. nault recruited 100 pilots (60 from the US Navy and Marine Corps and 40 from In 1949, the Civil Air Transport, the US Army Air Corps) as well as 200 nicknamed the “Flying Tiger Line”, technicians and mechanics. became close to the recently-created Central Intelligence Agency. From These men were paid by CAMCO (Cen- 1951 to the end of the Korean War in tral Aircraft Manufacturing Company), 1953, Shilling flew several missions a private military contractor. They were in Communist China. mercenaries but were presented as volun- teers and unofficially benefitted of Presi- In March 1954, Shilling took part in the dent Franklin D. Roosevelt’s approval, resupply effort for the French troops in although no written executive order was Dien Bien Phu. Shilling and his com- ever given. rades flew day missions without escort, and had to dive in the valley with heav- ily-loaded C-119 cargo aircraft, fly at low altitude and drop their load before climbing out under fire from enemy po- sitions in the neighbouring hills.

In 1958, when the US began getting in- volved in South-East Asia, Shilling took part in the “unnamed war” in Laos in 1967 and became the last Flying Tiger to fly combat missions. 7 The squadron became famous for its shark- mouth-adorning fighters, a practice initiated by Erik Shilling. A fighter squadron in the Libyan desert also decorated Bernard Delfino their aircraft in a similar fashion, inspired

Photo by Messerschmitt Bf 110 of the Luftwaffe’s HaifischGruppe.

Pilots began their training during the summer of 1941. They were based in Kunming, China, and were tasked with the protection of strate- gic supply points in Burma. Claire Lee Chen- nault set up a new group of “American vol- unteers”, the 2nd American Volunteer Group, equipped with Lockheed Hudson and Doug- las DB-7, and was planning the formation of a third group. However, the Japanese attack Photo 3rdpursuit.com on Pearl Harbor and subsequent entry of the United States into the war made this unneces- sary. Although the Flying Tigers are presented as the first American volunteer group, they were the only ones to ever see action.

Their first taste of combat came on 20 De- cember 1941 and resulted in a victory, when a Japanese raid on Kunming was defeated. The

Roger Robert Flying Tigers then participated in the Burma campaign and shot down some 50 aircraft Photo while defending Rangoon.

In the spring of 1942, the United States Army Air Forces took over. Chennault was reinstated in the American Army and took command of the China Air Task Force. On 4 July 1942, the Above, from top to bottom: the American Volunteer Group was officially dis- Grumman FM-2 Martlett in banded and became the 23rd Fighter Group flight, the Ryan PT-19 and of the China Task Force. the Curtiss P-40 #48 of the CAF P-40 Sponsors Group In 1992, shortly before the 50th anniversary bearing colours inspired by of the unit’s reintegration in the regular Army, those of Tex Hill’s aircraft. Below: Shilling in the Planes all of its members were retroactively incorpo- of Fame Museum P-40. rated in the US Air Force. In 1996, survivors were decorated, pilots receiving the Distin- guished Flying Cross and ground personnel the Bronze Star.

Despite their short existence, the Flying Ti- gers secured a major place in American mili- tary aviation history, as can be seen by their modern-era fame. Tom Cleaver via Roger Robert Tom Their combat record was 21 pilots killed or Photo missing in action for 286 Japanese aircraft shot down (according to David Ford’s “Flying Tigers”). ■ 8 Air Force official photographer Royal Flt Lt B.J. Daventry, Photo «Black Friday» 9 : Coastal Command’s disastrous raid over Norway

Wikipedia article, ue to Allied victories in France and Attacks by the Banff Wing quickly forced adapted by Bertrand DEastern Europe, Germany’s surface German ships travelling along the Norwe- Brown. shipping was largely confined to the lower gian coast to sail at night and take shelter Baltic and Norwegian waters by late 1944. in deep fjords during the day where they Above: A formation of This left ports in Norway as Germany’s last were very difficult to attack. In order to lo- Beaufighter TF. X of remaining bases to continue the Battle of No 404 Squadron, one cate German ships the two wings sent out of the units of the Dal- the Atlantic and conduct trade with Swe- aircraft on almost daily patrols along the lachy Wing. This photo den. When the Baltic iced over during the Norwegian coastline from the to was taken a few days winter of 1944–45, Germany was forced to . During this period the Allied after the raid over the transport its vital imports of Swedish iron squadrons developed a tactic of sending two Scottish countryside. ore from the port of in northern ‘outriders’ ahead of the main body of the Norway. patrol; these aircraft were manned by expe- rienced aircrew and penetrated into fjords In response to the growing importance of in search of shipping which might not be German maritime transport routes through spotted by the other aircraft. By December Norwegian waters, the Royal Air Force’s 1944 patrols were also routinely escorted by Coastal Command transferred seven squad- RAF Mustang Mk III fighters and accompa- rons of anti-shipping aircraft from bases in nied by air-sea rescue air- eastern to northern dur- craft. Only a single squadron of Mustangs ing September and October 1944. Three was available, however, as these long-ranged squadrons equipped with Mosquito light fighters were needed to escort daylight raids bombers were stationed at RAF Banff while by heavy bombers against Germany. Ger- a wing made up of four squadrons operat- man fighters began to be encountered off ing Beaufighter heavy fighters was based at the Norwegian coast in December, and RAF Dallachy. The Dallachy Wing com- from the end of the month onwards it was prised the British No. 144 Squadron, Ca- common for Allied wing-sized operations nadian No. 404 Squadron, Australian No. near Norway to be attacked by groups of 455 Squadron and New Zealand No. 489 up to 30 fighters. In March 1945 the Luft- Squadron. These four squadrons were vet- waffe had 85 single-engined and about 45 erans of many anti-shipping operations over twin-engined aircraft operating from ten or the . twelve airfields south of Trondheim.

9 During the first weeks of 1945 the Allied strike wings flew few operations due to se- vere weather. On 15 January, the Banff Wing was intercepted by 30 Fw 190 fighters from the III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 5 (III./ JG 5) during a raid on the town of Leirvik.

In the resulting fighting five Mosquitos and Memorial Australian War five Fw 190s were shot down. By 9 February, the Ninth and Twelfth Squadrons of JG5 Photo were based at near , about 65 miles (105 km) to the south of Førde Fjord. These units were equipped with Fw 190s and the Twelfth Squadron was commanded by Leutnant Rudi Linz, a 28-year-old flying ace with 69 ‘kills’ to his credit.

The German Narvik-class Z33 en- Squadron conducted a patrol of the Nor- Above: Australian tered service in February 1943. She served in wegian coast. These aircraft first sighted a crews of No 455 Norwegian waters from July of that year and 1,500-ton merchant ship in Stong Fjord. Squadron in front of a saw combat on several occasions. She was Continuing north, they were surprised to Beaufighter in October the last German destroyer to leave north- find a Narvik-class destroyer accompanied 1944. ern Norway, and sailed for Germany on 5 by a and two flak ships in February 1945. It was intended that Z31, Førde Fjord. The aircraft continued their which had completed initial repairs at Ber- patrol and spotted five large merchant ships gen after being heavily damaged in the Ac- in the Nord Gulen and two tion of 28 January 1945, would join her to and a flak ship near . Despite the make a joint passage to the Baltic. However, pilots’ surprise, the Allied command was Z33 ran aground in Brufjord on 7 February, aware that Z33 was in the area from damaging her port shaft and propeller and signals intelligence. causing both engines to fail. She was subse- quently taken under tow to be repaired in The Dallachy Wing was on alert to attack Trondheim. Z33 and the two tugboats that any ships found by the reconnaissance pa- were towing her chose to shelter in Førde trol. Although the group of five merchant Fjord during the daylight hours of 9 Febru- ships were highly vulnerable to attack and a ary while en route to Trondheim. worthwhile target, Coastal Command came Battle Preliminaries under the operational command of the Ad- miralty and was bound by its decision to Below: JagdG- give higher priority to attacking warships On the morning of 9 February, two New eschwader 5 “Eismeer” than merchant vessels. As a result the wing Focke-Wulf Fw 190 in Zealand-crewed Beaufighters from No. 489 Herdla in 1945. Source: www.jagdgeschwader5und7.de

10 be a costly raid, particularly given that the war was clearly coming to an end, but carried out the order to attack Z33 to the best of his ability.

After being spotted, the German ships in Førde Fjord sailed further up the fjord and prepared for an Allied attack. Z33 and several of her

Source: http://www.vvjack.be escorts anchored close to the steep southern slopes of the fjord near the village of Bjørke- dal. Meanwhile other ships moored near the northern shore after breaking up pack ice with gunfire. This anchorage was also protected by flak batteries on the shore of the fjord.

The Attack

At 1:30 pm on 9 February, Milson led 31 or 32 Beaufighters into the air from Dallachy. The Above: This photo was dispatched against Z33 even though the strike force was joined by either ten or twelve taken by a Beaufighter’s destroyer and its escorts were well protected P-51 Mustang fighters from No. 65 Squadron gun camera illustrates and in a difficult position for aircraft to attack. the difficulties encoun- RAF and two Warwick air-sea rescue aircraft from No. 279 Squadron RAF carrying life rafts tered by Beaufighter Wing Commander Jack Davenport, who had and Mosquito anti- to help any aircrew forced to ditch. All four of commanded No. 455 Squadron until October the Dallachy Wing’s squadrons contributed shipping crews when 1944 and was now on the staff of No. 18 Group attacking targets in aircraft to the force. The No. 404 and No. RAF, planned the attack on Z33. The plan fjords. The steep fjord 455 Squadron Beaufighters were armed with called for two ‘outriders’ to precede the main walls only allowed for «60lb» rockets while the aircraft from No. 144 predictable attacks force and confirm the location of the German Squadron and the single No. 489 Squadron coming from a single ships. The Beaufighters would then arrive to Beaufighter dispatched were armed only with direction while provid- the east of the German anchorage, turn to the their four 20 mm cannon and six machine ing German ships with west and attack the ships before escaping over guns. high level of protection. the sea. Davenport sought to minimise Allied casualties, but the location of the German ships After the attackers crossed the Norwegian in a narrow and protected fjord meant that the coastline at 3:40 pm, two Beaufighters from operation was inherently risky. The strike lead- No. 144 and No. 489 Squadrons detached er was Wing Commander Colin Milson, the themselves from the main force and pressed 25-year-old commanding officer of No. 455 ahead as outriders. The two ‘outriders’ crossed Squadron, and a veteran of anti-shipping oper- Førde Fjord near where the German ships had ations against Italian and German ships in the been sighted that morning. At 3:50 pm they Mediterranean and North Seas. Milson had sent Milson a radio message stating that they reservations about making what was likely to could not see the ships. The ‘outriders’ then

Right: Few photos of No 65 Squadron Mustang Mk III exist. As practically all Brit- ish Mustangs, FZ120 was equipped with a Malcolm hood which gave the pilot better visibility. Shortly afer the raid, No 65 Squad- ron received bubble-top Source: http://forum.tantopergioco.it Mustang Mk IV, of which many photo- graphs are available... 11 Photos: Australian War Memorial Australian War Photos:

turned to the east and overflew the town of The fighting continued until 4:25 pm. By that Above: These three pic- Førde before searching the next fjord to the time the German ships had shot down seven tures were taken during north; during their flight near Førde Fjord they Beaufighters. Fw 190As had claimed another the attack against Z33 did not spot the German warships in their new two Beaufighters and a Mustang III. The Al- and its escorts in Førde position. Meanwhile the Ninth and Twelfth lied losses included six of the eleven No. 404 Fjord. The destroyer Squadrons of JG5 were scrambled from Herdla Squadron aircraft involved in the attack. Over- is visible on the first two, having broken at 3:50 pm and ordered to attack the Dallachy all, the Germans killed 14 Allied airmen and the ice to get closer Wing and its escorts. took four prisoner of war. The Allies damaged to the fjord’s walls. Z33 and several of the other German ships and The third picture Several minutes later, the main body of the raid shot down either four or five Fw 190s. Linz shows one of the reached the southern shore of Førde Fjord trav- and another German pilot were killed. Kriegs- escorts under attack. elling north. To their surprise, the Allied planes marine fatalities included four sailors on Z33 The silhouette of a passed directly over the German ships and and three on the converted trawler VP6808; rocket can be seen in came under intense attack from anti-aircraft both of these ships were damaged during the the upper right hand guns, though no aircraft were hit. In response, attack. There may also have been fatalities on corner of the photo- Milson wheeled his force to the right in an at- the other German ships. graph. tempt to attack the ships from east to west as planned. The steep walls of the fjord protected Aftermath Z33 from attack from this direction, however. As a result, Milson led the force west to near After departing the Førde Fjord area, the sur- the mouth of the fjord and ordered the Beau- viving Beaufighters, many of which were dam- Below: German ace fighters to attack in relays from west to east. aged, returned to RAF Dallachy. Several had Rudi Linz in the cock- This required the aircraft to fly into the face of difficulty making safe landings, and two were pit of his Fw 190A-8 alerted German defences and then escape over forced to land on their bellies due to under- WerkNummer 732183, steep mountains. The narrow confines of the carriage damage, but no further aircraft were which was named after fjord also meant that the Beaufighters had to lost. The air and ground crew were shocked by his wife. He was shot attack individually from a single direction and the scale of the losses, and the battle became down and killed in this would not be able to swamp the German de- known as «Black Friday». The losses suffered aircraft of 9 February fences as they normally sought to do. by the Dallachy Wing on 9 February were the 1945.

Milson led the first group of Beaufighters into Førde Fjord at about 4:10 pm. His aircraft es- caped undamaged after attacking a flak ship and other Beaufighters followed him into the fjord. At about this time 12 Fw 190s arrived at Førde Fjord and flew through German flak to intercept the Beaufighters that were wait- ing their turn to attack. The British Mustangs were taken by surprise, but dived to intercept the German fighters. This led to an intense air battle, with over 50 aircraft either engaged in dogfights or diving to attack the German ships; it was the largest aerial conflict ever fought over Norway.

12 highest any of Coastal Command’s strike wings the battle was dedicated in the town of Førde sustained in a single operation during the war. on 8 May 1985, the 40th anniversary of Nor- way’s liberation. This monument was later The German fighters, many of which were moved to Bergen Airport. The Air Combat short of fuel and ammunition, also broke off Museum in the town of also houses at about 4:25 pm and returned to base. On photos, maps, aircraft parts and other artifacts the night of 9/10 February, the German ships relating to the battle. left Førde Fjord and continued their journey to Trondheim. A subsequent Allied attack on At least one of the Focke-Wulf Fw 190A fight- the ships by a different strike wing was also ers of JG 5 that crashed as a result of the «Black unsuccessful. Z33 arrived in Trondheim on 11 Friday» aerial engagements, an F-model air- February and was repaired. She subsequently frame with factory serial number, or Werk- departed for Germany on 26 March and safely nummer of 931 862, was found and recovered arrived in Swinemünde on 2 April. She did not as a salvageable aircraft wreck in September see any further combat, and was decommis- 1983. It currently resides in Kissimmee, Flor- sioned at Brunsbüttel in late April as the Navy ida, and was under restoration by the «White lacked the fuel needed to operate her. 1 Foundation» towards a resumption of full flightworthy status. In 2012, it was transferred The losses incurred during the raid on Førde to the Collings Foundation which is continu- Fjord led to changes in the tactics used by RAF ing restoration work. In 2005 its last pilot, the Coastal Command’s anti-shipping squadrons. former Luftwaffe Unteroffizier Heinz Orlowski Below: Flying Beau- Following the attack, the Admiralty agreed to visited it and sat one final time in the cockpit of fighter TF. X NE831 a proposal by Air Chief Marshal Sir Sholto his «under-restoration» Fw 190F-8, some sixty of No 144 Squadron, Douglas, the commander of Coastal Com- years after he last flew it and five years before Flight Sergeant S. But- mand, to assign a higher priority to attacking his death in 2010. Rudi Linz’s Focke-Wulf Fw ler (pilot) and Flight merchant vessels than to and small 190A-8 (WerkNummer 732183) was also Sergeant Nicholls (nav- warships. A second squadron of Mustangs was salvaged and is displayed at the Military Avia- igator) were the last to also assigned to protect Coastal Command air- tion Museum in Virginia Beach. attack during the raid. craft operating near Norway from early March. They were hit by flak Milson was awarded a bar to his Distinguished The locations of several of the Beaufighter from their target, the Service Order on 13 July 1945 for his leader- planes—gravesites—were found by marine German destroyer Z33, ship and personal courage during the raid on archeologist Rob Rondeau and diving crew before taking hits from Førde Fjord, which was described in the cita- 60 years later. One site was given a com- a JG 5 Focke-Wulf Fw tion as a «brilliantly executed operation». memorative plaque, in the presence of one 190. They managed to surviving Canadian airman, Herbert (Bert) return to base but had The raid was commemorated in Norway after Ramsden, who participated in the action and to do a wheels-up land- ing in Dallachy. the war. A monument to the aircrew killed in a sister of an airman who died there. Photo IWM

13 Battle Colours: « Black Friday » Profils: Bertrand Brown (aka Gaëtan Marie) www.bravobravoaviation.com

Focke-Wulf Fw 190A-8 Werknummer 732183 «Blue 4» of 12./JG 5 was the aircraft in which Luftwaffe ace Ober- leutnant Rudi Linz was killed during the fighting above Førde Fjord on 9 February 1945. Before falling to Allied fighters, he probably shot down a No 65 Squadron Mustang thus bringing his tally to 70 aerial victories. For this, he was posthumously awarded the Knight’s cross of the Iron Cross. The aircraft was recovered decades later and is now under restoration in the US.

This Fw 190A-8 (unknown Werknummer) was flown by Unteroffizier Gerhard Eisermann of 9./JG 5, who claimed his only aerial victory of the war by shooting down a Beaufighter while defending Z33. In the initial moves of the aerial battle, 12./JG 5 engaged the escort fighters while 9./JG 5 went after the attacking Beaufighters.

Photos of No 65 Squadron RAF Mustang Mk III are very scarce. A short time after Black Friday, the squadron re- ceived bubble-canopy Mustang Mk IV, which are much better documented. This aircraft, serial FZ120/YT-J, was that of Squadron Leader Derrick Westenra, the squadron’s commanding officer in 1944. Westenra left No 65 Squadron sev- eral months before “Black Friday”. 14 15