Spotlight Walrus

Scrutinizes the history of...

The Supermarine

Above lthough originally ‘Mutt’ Summers was at the controls. wings were designed to be folded up When returning to designed to fulfil a Royal Just five days later he flew it at on , meaning that an aircraft a launch ship, the Walrus Australian Air Force the Society of British Aerospace with a normal wingspan of 45ft 10in Walrus would land on water and be (RAAF) requirement, the Companies show at Hendon, and (14m) could be effectively reduced AWalrus went on to serve both the surprised spectators – and Mitchell to 17ft 6in for stowage. lifted aboard by a . BOTH KEY ’s and the – by successfully looping the aircraft. The Walrus was usually flown by RAF throughout World War Two. The machine had certainly not been just one pilot, though it could be Compared with Supermarine’s most designed with such manoeuvres configured for two, with additional famous design, it was an inelegant in mind, but the feat proved the work stations for a radio operator and rudimentary looking creation, strength of its aluminium alloy and navigator. The type’s detachable but it was undoubtedly fit for construction. The amphibian control column was a particularly purpose and proved to be of great was intended to serve in tropical unusual feature. It could be fitted value in more than one role. climates, and was therefore made in either of two positions, and – Its roots can be traced back to largely of metal rather than wood remarkably – could be unplugged 1929 when the RAAF stated a need (the latter tended to deteriorate in and passed from one position to the for an aircraft capable of being such conditions). other (for example, when the pilot catapult-launched from . Powered by a Bristol Pegasus was handing control over to the R J Mitchell – who would of course , the Walrus (as it co-pilot). go on to draw up the Spitfire – became known in British hands) designed a distinctive single-engined was of ‘pusher’ configuration, Going to sea that was initially called the meaning that the propeller faced Following Summers’ memorable Seagull V. Although it resembled the the rear. This was to protect crew demonstration of the new type at manufacturer’s earlier Seagull III, members as they climbed on top Hendon, further trials were carried it was essentially a completely new of the cockpit to pick up mooring out by the Felixstowe-based Marine aircraft. lines, and it kept both the propeller Aircraft Experimental Establishment. Construction was delayed until and most of the engine clear from Shipboard testing took place from 1933 due to other commitments, spray when alighting on water. The HMS Repulse and Valiant, and at but the prototype made a successful engine also housed electrical Farnborough it became the first first flight on June 21 of that year. equipment and an oil tank – the air aircraft to undergo a catapult launch Supermarine test pilot Joseph intake acted as an oil cooler. The while carrying a full military load. Flt

70 FLYPAST October 2017 SPOT FACT The type was produced from 1936 until 1944 Origin & history

Supermarine Walrus

AT A GLANCE: RANGE (miles)

0 200 400 600

600

AT A GLANCE: SPEED (mph) Construction: A total of 740 were built. 0 40 80 120 160 First Flight: The prototype fl ew on June 21, 1933, in the hands of Joseph ‘Mutt’ Summers. Powerplant: One 680hp (510kW) Bristol Pegasus VI radial engine driving a four-bladed 135 propeller. Dimension: Span 45ft 10in (14m). Length 37ft 7in. Height 15ft 3in. Wing area 610sq ft (56.7 sq m). Weight: Empty 4,900lb (2,220kg). Loaded 7,200lb. Performance: Max speed 135mph (215km/h) at 4,750ft (1,450m). Service ceiling 18,500ft. Rate of climb 1,050ft per min. Max range 600 miles (965km). AT A GLANCE: CEILING (feet) Armament: Two or three 0.303in Vickers K machine guns, six 100lb (45kg) bombs or two 250lb bombs or two 250lb depth charges. 0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 Crew: Three or four – pilot (sometimes with co-pilot) plus navigator and radio operator. 18,500 Note: performance and weights varied according to role and confi guration.

Lt Sydney Richard Ubee, later an Air version of the Walrus called the Sea successfully struck Italian headquarters Below Vice-Marshal, was at the controls for Otter. Nearly 300 were made, but at Zeila, Somalia in August 1940. I this challenging first ‘mission’. they never entirely replaced the older From 1943, catapult-launched G-AHFN was fl own by test pilot and air racer The RAAF placed an initial order for amphibian, instead serving alongside aircraft were being withdrawn, as John Grierson to win the 24 Seagull Vs, with aircraft entering them, usually in the air-sea rescue role. increasingly advanced rendered Folkestone Trophy in 1946. Walrus service from 1935. The RAF’s first The Walrus was well established in them obsolete. Walruses were instead order was for 12 examples – the first British service by the time World War used to rescue downed crews of its aircraft, K5772, made its debut Two broke out. Its main task from the sea, often flight on March 16, 1936. There were in the early years of operating from carriers. a few aerodynamic modifications the conflict was A handful remained made to the production fleet, the to search in Argentine Navy main one being the addition of for enemy service into the late Handley Page slats on the upper submarines 1950s, with a few wings. and other flying in civilian Three versions were produced, vessels, and by hands elsewhere. the Seagull V for , and the March 1941 aircraft Today only four Walrus I and II for British forces. The were fitted with survive, including Mk.II was built by Saunders-Roe and new Air to Surface one Seagull V, but was mostly made of wood, as Vessel radar systems. none are currently the preferred light alloy was in A few of the airworthy. great demand elsewhere. were used for bombing Supermarine and strafing in both the also created Norwegian campaign a similar and in East Africa. A but more Royal Australian powerful Navy Walrus

were used at Lee-on-Solent for trials of Air to Surface Vessel radar 2 October 2017 FLYPAST 71 Spotlight Supermarine Walrus The Sea Shall Not Have Them Graham Pitchfork relates the exploits of two brave and determined life-savers

ffervescent, outspoken and sometimes rebellious, Tom Fletcher did not see eye-to- eye with his commanding Eofficer. Training completed, the sergeant pilot had joined 43 Squadron to fly Spitfires; but the CO took the opportunity to transfer Tom to another Spitfire unit, 91 Squadron. Tasked with coastal patrols, 91 supported and escorted aircraft engaged on air-sea rescue (ASR) operations. Attracted to the role, Fletcher soon joined 277 Squadron at Hawkinge, Kent, to fly the Westland Lysander and the amphibious Supermarine Walrus. The Lysanders had been pressed

72 FLYPAST October 2017 SPOT FACT The rst Walrus Men Behind Mk.II  ew in May 1940 the Walrus The Sea Shall Not Have Them into service for ASR duties. During Channel, landed in the sea four miles volunteered for the task. He carried Far left the summer of 1942, while flying off the French coast on the edge of a out the rescue with conspicuous Aircrew of the the former army co-operation type, minefield. [This was very likely Sgt gallantry… he ignored all dangers Hawkinge ASR Flight with Tom Fletcher Tom located a number of aircrew M H F Cooper of 616 Squadron and through coolness, considered second from left. in the sea and directed RAF high- and Mk.VI BR159 – ED.] His leader judgement and skill, succeeded in speed launches (HSLs) to the scene. orbited the dinghy and transmitted an picking up the fighter pilot.” Below left Within three months he had been emergency call. In the event, Tom was awarded an A 277 Squadron Walrus responsible for saving nine airmen. Naval authorities at Dover immediate DFM, the next-highest at Warmwell in January considered it impossible to get a gallantry award available for a senior 1944. Snatched from launch through the minefield and too non-commissioned officer at that Below capture dangerous for a Walrus to have a go. time. With crewmen in the On October 2,1942 a Spitfire pilot, Despite this advice, Tom immediately bow and rear hatches, a forced to bale out over the English volunteered to try and make a rescue Friend or foe Walrus prepares to pick attempt and took off, with a Spitfire Late in the afternoon of December up a survivor. squadron providing an escort. 14, six men were found adrift on a He arrived on the scene as another raft 10 miles (16km) east of Dover. Spitfire squadron engaged enemy Tom located them in the rough fighters trying to interfere with the sea and immediately landed, even rescue. He located the dinghy, alighted though he could see that it would be 150 yards (137m) away and taxied impossible to take off again. In failing towards the survivor who failed to light he made three passes to pick up grasp the boathook on the first pass, individuals but others had been swept and in doing so fell out of his dinghy. from the raft. In the strong wind and choppy sea, Continuing to manoeuvre his Tom tried once again, and this time Walrus, which had started to fill with the pilot was hauled aboard. He taxied water, he managed to recover another clear of the minefield and took off, just man after struggling for 30 minutes clearing a floating mine. Throughout to turn into wind. By now it was the rescue, the Walrus had come under completely dark and Tom reluctantly heavy fire from shore batteries. abandoned the search and started to The Air Officer Commanding 11 taxi towards Dover. Group strongly recommended Tom The Walrus continued to ship water for the award of the Victoria Cross, and he had great difficulty controlling writing: “Sergeant Fletcher was fully it, finally making the harbour after aware of the risks involved when he almost two hours of coaxing

 ew with Amphibious Airways of Rabaul in Papua New Guinea 4 October 2017 FLYPAST 73 SPOT FACT It was among the rst aircraft to be tted with an undercarriage position indicator on the panel

Right the wallowing amphibian through Aircrew of 277 mounting waves and swell. The Squadron around a Walrus at Martlesham harbourmaster reprimanded the crew Heath. for not getting permission to bring their sinking aircraft into his harbour. Below right The survivors were German sailors. Tom Fletcher after Fletcher was awarded an immediate receiving his DFC. bar to his DFM, one of only 60 presented during World War Two. The citation noted his “conspicuous

“The harbour master, who reprimanded them for not getting permission to bring their sinking aircraft into his harbour, met the crew. The survivors were German sailors”

Right coolness and skill under extremely A former Royal Navy difficult weather conditions”. Walrus transferred to the RAF at Mersah During the summer of 1943, Matruh, . he picked up seven more ditched aircrew including a USAAF fighter Below right pilot, a Belgian Spitfire pilot and Arnold Divers (left) crew members of RAF and USAAF with Sergeant Keeble. bombers. Top-scoring rescuer On October 3, Tom took off to find a Typhoon pilot reported in the sea too near the French coast for a launch French coast that he had to fly the to be able to reach him. He found Walrus over enemy-held territory to three dinghies, landed and rescued approach it and be able to make an the occupants, which turned out to be immediate take-off towards England. survivors from an RAF bomber. The biplane’s crew came under heavy After returning to base, he anti-aircraft fire throughout the rescue immediately took off again and finally bid, wounding one of them, but they located the Typhoon pilot, picking snatched the Canadian from the sea him up. But the sea was too rough and Tom took off. for a take-off so he started the long In the next few months, he rescued taxi back to England. A Royal Navy an American bomber crew from launch arrived to assist and soon the Somme Estuary and, on his last afterwards the Walrus lost a float. An rescue, picked up a Spitfire pilot on attempt to tow the aircraft failed and April 30. it started to sink – Tom, his crew and Tom was the most successful, and the survivor having to transfer to the most decorated, ASR pilot, many launch. By this time he was a flying also considering him the bravest. officer and was awarded an immediate Very much his own man, he tolerated DFC. no nonsense from contemporaries During the spring of 1944, he took or superiors and his determination, off to rescue a Canadian fighter pilot dedication and gallantry in saving his in a dinghy floating so close to the fellow airmen was universally admired.

74 FLYPAST October 2017 Men Behind the Walrus

Fletcher remained in the RAF after Sicily. This involved establishing days later he landed on a calm sea and Below the war. In July 1945 he was attached additional ASR units, including taxied up the beach near Palermo to Aircrew of 277 Squadron; to the Tangmere-based High Speed Walrus squadrons. pick up a wounded US soldier. Tom Fletcher is second left. Flight as the search and rescue pilot On July 3,1943 a crew of 47 when, on September 7, Gp Capt Squadron needed the services of 283 Balancing act E M Donaldson broke the world Squadron. Their Beaufighter had been On November 3 the crew of a USAAF speed record off the Sussex coast in hit by flak during a shipping strike and B-25 Mitchell returning to Gerbini in Meteor IV EE549. The jet is preserved was forced to ditch. central Sicily sent a distress message at the Tangmere Military Aviation New Zealander Sgt Arnold Divers that they were baling out over the sea Museum. and his crew took off in a Walrus from after an engine failure. At 15:45 hours In 1948 Tom was badly burned Maison Blanche in northern Algeria Divers and his gunner, Sgt E F Keeble, when his Mosquito crashed during a and after landing to refuel at Bone were scrambled from their base at training sortie at the Central Flying 600 miles away in the northeast of the Palermo to search for a reported five School. [Very likely T.3 TW116 country, they found the missing crew dinghies 30 miles to the south. Twenty which suffered a structural failure on after a brief search 15 miles south of minutes later they were airborne and landing at Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucs, Sardinia. They were unable to take heading for the area. on August 4 – ED.] off and for the next nine hours taxied The bomber crew were wearing He trained as a fighter controller back in a very rough sea before the life jackets but were adrift in the sea. but returned to flying in 1956 before Walrus ran out of fuel. During his parachute descent, one continuing his career at ground The next afternoon, an RAF HSL of the crew spotted the aircraft’s five- control centres in Fighter Command, arrived and took off the survivors man dinghy, which had released and and retired from the RAF in 1964. Flt and two of the Walrus crew who inflated as the doomed Mitchell hit Lt Tom Fletcher died in March 2010 were suffering badly with seasickness. the sea. Despite the rough sea, he aged 95. Arnold remained at the controls of the located the B-25 and was able to cut amphibian and another HSL arrived the dinghy free of the sinking wreck. 283 Squadron to tow him back to Bone harbour. Over the next two hours the other Allied air activity around Italy Throughout the summer, Divers was crewmen were located and pulled increased significantly following regularly in action. He picked up a into the dinghy. A B-25 from their Operation ‘Husky’, the invasion of German pilot on August 10 and nine formation had noted their position

Royal Navy units operated Walruses 24 October 2017 FLYPAST 75 SPOT FACT When returning to a ship (other than carriers) it would land on water and be lifted aboard by a crane

Above and alerted the ASR organisation. counteract the list, but this was only released from hospital the day they Saunders-Roe-built At 17:35 Divers and Keeble saw a partially successful. After an hour, were scrambled for the rescue after Walrus X9498 of the ASR Flight at red flare six miles away. The light was Divers relieved him. recovering from malaria. He was unfit Cassibile, Sicily. fading fast and there was a moderate For the next two hours the two men for flying, but all the other pilots were Hurricane IIc swell. Divers alighted and with the aid alternated for shorter periods because unavailable and, without reference to KW980 of the of the aircraft’s searchlight, he saw the of the cold. But then, the seas began to any senior officer, Divers immediately Mediterranean dinghy and taxied over. break over the Walrus. took off despite his weakened state. Air Command In ten minutes he had all five men A light was sighted on the horizon so For his outstanding devotion to duty, Communications Unit based at on board and then attempted a take- a two-star green-red flare was fired and Divers was awarded the DFM. Maison Blanche, off. The Walrus porpoised violently the Aldis lamp was used to signal for Algeria, is parked and the take-off was abandoned due help. After 30 minutes a ship trained Walrus down in front of the to the swell, darkness and excessive a light on the Walrus before drawing On March 8, 1944, Divers saw medieval tower weight. Divers decided to stay on the alongside. The five survivors of the more action. A Spitfire pilot of 253 which served as water overnight, so the drogues were B-25 were taken on board. Squadron was forced to bale out after the airfi eld control tower. thrown out and the bilge pumps were Divers and Keeble were determined attacking enemy shipping. His dinghy manned every hour. to stay with the Walrus in the hope failed to inflate and he was left floating Below The swell and wind increased that they could salvage it. The in his ‘Mae West’ five miles off the A Walrus, and the aircraft began to roll badly. aircraft was almost heeling over and north coast of Elba. apparently painted Divers started the engine to keep it the captain of the ship ordered the A Walrus of 293 Squadron, piloted with ‘Invasion DFM stripes’, under tow. into wind but he soon noticed a list Walrus crew to abandon it. The two by the now W/O Arnold Divers , to port, which quickly became more men were thrown ropes and were with W/O P Graham as his crew, was pronounced. The port float was dragged on board the US Navy directed to the area. A large oil patch leaking, causing the mainplane to hospital ship Seminole, which took and fluorescein dye, used to help bend under the weight, and there was the seven men to Naples. After two located a downed aircraft, was spotted a danger that the Walrus would break nights recovering, the RAF crew and soon the fighter pilot was located. up. returned to Palermo. After dropping a smoke float to Just before midnight, Keeble moved Neither was injured, but it is worth assess the wind, Divers landed on out on to the starboard wing to recording that Divers had only been the rough sea and taxied up to the

76 FLYPAST October 2017 Men Behind the Walrus exhausted man. As Graham started the rescuing aircraft had been hit and Channel. to drag him on board, shore batteries was unable to take off so he continued After this particularly hazardous and opened fire with salvoes of shells. to the scene at 30 knots. gallant rescue, Rogers was awarded the Divers attempted to take off, but As the launch approached the north DSC. His coxswain, Parham, received shrapnel hit the engine and the side of the island he spotted shells the DSM and the rest of the crew propeller was mauled. Despite taking falling ahead and a smoke signal from received commendations. evasive action, the amphibian was the survivors. Rogers directed the HSL For Arnold Divers, it was the third again hit and badly damaged. An towards the dinghies at full speed. time he had been in such straits. SOS was sent and Divers decided to The shore batteries opened fire on He had been towed to safety in July abandon the Walrus. the launch at 11:05 and for the next 1943 and forced to abandon another After destroying the equipment and 20 minutes gave their undivided Walrus in November. maps on board, Graham inflated the attention to it. The coxswain, Arnold Divers made his final rescue M-type dinghy into which he dragged Corporal Eric Parham, took evasive on March 18 when he picked up a the injured Spitfire pilot. Divers action and despite the intense USAAF fighter pilot off the coast of inflated a K-type dinghy and loaded it bombardment, the three men were Italy. He spent 45 minutes looking with rations, flare pistol and cartridges. taken on board. for calmer water before he was able to Graham then attended to the injured Before setting course, Rogers asked take off and head for Corsica.

“The exploits of these two pilots in very different theatres of war graphically illustrate the skill and courage of those who ew the very basic, but sturdy, Walrus” pilot as they drifted away from the Divers if he should take the Walrus A few days later he returned to Above left Walrus. under tow. As this would have meant the UK. After converting to the A Walrus of 278 Squadron. The grab rails that remaining stationary as the tow lines Mosquito, he flew night intruder were placed around the Rescuing the were made fast, he was ordered to sorties with 487 () fuselage to help rescued rescuers abandon the amphibian and leave the Squadron. His last operational sortie airman get on board can At Bastia on Corsica, Fg Off Jack area. was on May 2, 1945. be seen. Rogers, the master of the Miami class Rogers escaped at high speed under The exploits of these two pilots launch HSL 2543, was alerted at the protection of RAF and USAAF in very different theatres of war Above Divers and Keeble with 09:35 that a Spitfire pilot was in the fighters that escorted him out of the graphically illustrate the skill and the USAAF B-25 survivors. sea. He and his very experienced crew area. The shelling continued until the courage of those who flew the very ALL VIA AUTHOR were holding at a waiting position launch was ten miles north of Elba. basic, but sturdy, Walrus. They midway between Corsica and the On return to Bastia, the launch faced conditions and difficulties not Italian coast and immediately headed was refuelled. The crew returned to experienced by any other airmen but for Elba. immediate readiness to be available to the weather, the sea or the enemy did Shortly afterwards, a Walrus flew respond within three minutes should not deter them if a fellow crew was in overhead en route to the scene. This another call come for their assistance. danger and needed rescuing. was Divers who came up on the VHF To prevent the Walrus falling into radio with the message: “We will enemy hands, it was destroyed by The title for this feature comes from the leave the dinghy for you [to pick up] 37mm shells fired by one of the 1953 novel of the same name by John chum,” a typically friendly remark escorting P-39 Airacobras of the Harris, a story of bravery by HSL and from airborne rescuers when passing USAAF’s 345th Fighter Squadron. Walrus crews. Lewis Gilbert directed an HSL. In the event, the Walrus crew This rescue says a great deala bout the film version, released the following spoke too soon. the courage and determination of the year, with an impressive cast, including: Rogers was told that the Walrus had air and sea rescue men, both airborne Michael Redgrave, Dirk Bogarde, Nigel picked up the Spitfire pilot. Just as he and at sea. Rogers had previously Patrick, Bonar Colleano and Jack turned for base, he was informed that given valuable service in the English Watling.

were embarked on Dutch vessel 'Willem Barentsz' 2 October 2017 FLYPAST 77 Spotlight Supermarine Walrus

Eyes of

Andy Haythe artwork of a Walrus that flewNavy in the Battle of Cape Matapan Artwork lthough the Supermarine Supermarine Walrus Mk.I P5668 Supermarine Walrus Walrus fulfilled several was launched from HMS Gloucester Mk.I P5668 ‘Alice II’ of HMS ‘Gloucester’ roles during World War to assess Italian strength and during the Battle of Two, it was designed to be positions. The aircraft was named Cape Matapan on Aa spotter for the Royal Navy. In the Alice II in the tradition of her March 28, 1941. early years of the war, the amphibians predecessor, L2299 Alice, after the ANDY HAY-2017 were launched from cruisers and Duchess of Gloucester. , usually tasked with As a result of the information identifying enemy positions at sea. gained, along with other Our subject performed this intelligence, the enemy ships important role on March 28, were attacked by Fairey Albacore 1941, during the Battle of Cape and Swordfish torpedo bombers, Matapan, off the southwest coast and were later bombarded at close of the Peloponnesian peninsula of range by the British battleships Greece. After coded Italian messages Barham, Valiant, and Warspite. were intercepted and deciphered The Italians lost five vessels, and by personnel at Bletchley Park’s sustained damage to others. Some Government Code and Cypher 2,300 of their sailors were killed, School, British and Australian with more than 1,000 taken prisoner warships could intercept vessels in a conclusive naval victory for the belonging to the Regia Marina Allies. (Italian navy).

78 FLYPAST October 2017 SPOT FACT The Pegasus engine was offset by Walrus three degrees to starboard to counter yawing i n p r o l e the Navy

aircraft served with the Argentine Navy after World War Two 8 October 2017 FLYPAST 79 Spotlight Supermarine Walrus Walrus at War ll Royal Navy units at sea 31 during a patrol its Walrus, L2261, received an Admiralty was lost over the South Atlantic with flash signal that read: its crew of Lt Stanley Bird, Lt Cecil ‘Total Germany, Total Osmaston and Leading Airman Bill AGermany’. The message had been Brown. expected for a long time and By early December Graf Spee had nobody was surprised; the fleet had sunk a dozen ships and the Walruses been mobilised. It was September embarked in the Royal Navy cruisers 3, 1939 and operations to protect greatly increased the areas that could British shipping and hunt for be scoured. The enemy ship was German surface raiders began finally caught east of the River Plate immediately. estuary, off the coasts of The pocket Graf Spee was and Uruguay, early on the 13th. It known to be in the South Atlantic was badly damaged and eventually and Indian Ocean and several hunting scuttled (deliberately sunk). groups were formed to search for her. As action was joined, HMS Exeter’s HMS Sussex was part of ‘Force-H’ aircraft, K8341 and K8343, were engaged in the pursuit but on October prepared to be catapult launched.

80 FLYPAST October 2017 SPOT FACT The rst Walruses were Walrus introduced to service in 1935 in Combat

When war broke out, Supermarine’s amphibian may have looked like a throwback to a different time, but as Andrew Thomas Walrus at War explains, it proved its worth in combat on the high seas Both were hit by shells from the Later, Groves was catapulted off and destroyed only four aircraft. Far left German warship and had to be HMS Sheffield in P5670 on a recce After an hour both flew to The DSC awarded to Midshipman David Corkhill jettisoned. off Trondheim where several Heinkel Scotland. After sunrise Suffolk during the Norwegian In February 1940 HMS He 115 floatplanes at anchor were was attacked by the Luftwaffe and campaign was the fi rst Dorsetshire’s Walrus sighted the spotted. The intruding amphibian heavily damaged. gallantry award to Walrus German merchantman SS Waikama was engaged by Luftwaffe fighters. aircrew. VIA B CULL off Rio de Janeiro, and the vessel was Groves managed to evade them Narvik expedition promptly scuttled. by extreme low flying: after this After withdrawing from central Below The fi rst ship’s fl ight to P5670 was named ‘The Terror of , the Allies concentrated to re-equip with the Walrus Terror of Trondheim Trondheim’. the north and an expedition was sent was from HMS ‘Achilles’: The invasion of Norway began Further south, Operation ‘Duck’ to Narvik. On May 18 the carrier K5783 was allocated to it on April 9, 1940. The following began before dawn on the 9th when HMS Glorious sent off six Walrus of in 1937. SUPERMARINE day Walrus P5655 flown by Sub HMS Suffolk shelled Sola airfield 701 Squadron to Harstad. Known Lt Groves with Lt Cdr Fleming at Stavanger. Lt H H Bracken and as ‘Bishop Force’, the biplanes were as observer attacked a submerged crew in L2281 catapulted off to spot very vulnerable as the Luftwaffe U-boat 10 miles east of Orkney for the guns, followed soon after enjoyed almost total air superiority. and noted oil and bubbles rising by Lt MacWhirter in L2284. The This was brutally shown when, on afterwards. bombardment was largely inaccurate its third sortie of the day, HMS

were produced in total 740 October 2017 FLYPAST 81 SPOT FACT It was the rst British aircraft in squadron service to feature a fully retractable main undercarriage

Benson-Dare died in the aircraft and Hill succumbed to his injuries. The 18-year-old Corkhill later received the DSC: “for his coolness in action against heavy odds.” It is believed this was the first decoration awarded to a Walrus crewman. Over the next week several of 701 Squadron’s aircraft were destroyed on the ground at Harstad and by the end of May Narvik had been captured by the Germans. Walrus patrols over Narvik, Skaanland, Lødingen and Harstad continued.

Above Devonshire’s P5647 was attacked by With depth charges a Heinkel He 111. Lt Pat Benson- under wing, a Dare put the Walrus into a dive, Walrus of 700 (Med) Squadron at pulling up at 100ft over the water. Dekheila, Egypt, in By making tight turns, he managed early 1942. M HODGSON to prevent the much faster German aircraft hitting P5647, even though Right all its guns were firing. A Walrus of 712 Squadron being Midshipman David Corkhill the manoeuvred on the observer and Leading Airman D W deck of a carrier, Hill pluckily returned fire from the 1939. VIA J D OUGHTON nose and rear positions. After 15 minutes, the fuel tank and engine Below were hit and with the pilot wounded Walrus Is K8343 and K8341 on the the Walrus fell into Malangsfjord. catapults on HMS Corkhill managed to swim ‘Exeter’ during a through the shattered hull, spotted “By tight turns, he managed to visit to Vancouver, in the injured Hill and began pulling 1937. J CROOKALL VIA L him to the shore. They were picked prevent the much faster German MILLBERRY up by a Norwegian fishing boat. aircraft hitting P5647, even though all of its guns were ring”

82 FLYPAST October 2017 Walrus in Combat

On June 6 one of the most bizarre bombing raids of the war took place. Escorted by two Hurricanes of 46 Squadron in improving weather five Walrus of 701 attacked the quay at Røsvik on the southern shore of Sørfolda Fjord northeast of Bodø, fortunately without loss. The following day the five were flown aboard HMS Ark Royal as the Allies evacuated Norway. Submarine kill Towards the end of June 1940, HMS Argus delivered a Walrus of 701 Squadron to Reykjavík, Iceland, for anti-submarine work. On the 21st P5666 from HMS Manchester found the Scharnhorst, though the out- gunned did not engage the German warship. In Britain with the threat of invasion looming, L2271 was experimentally fitted with a 20mm cannon for surface strafing. It was tested at Boscombe

Loading HD874 on to HMAS ‘Labuan’ in Sydney Down, but the project did not Above Harbour, December 1947. KEY COLLECTION proceed. The observer of a Walrus Towards the end of June, a Walrus climbing out onto the centre section of the from HMS Albatross flown by Petty upper wing, prior to Off Hoffman, later relieved by having the aircraft another from Dorsetshire, spotted and hoisted aboard the host shadowed the Vichy French battleship ship during an exercise Richelieu off the West African port of off Malta in April 1939. Dakar and it returned to harbour once KEY COLLECTION it had been spotted. Patrols off Norway continued and in August HMAS Australia’s Seagull V A2-24 attempted to dive bomb Tromsø but was thwarted by bad weather. (Australia was the first to order the Walrus, when it was still designated the Seagull V.) Australia had moved to participate in Operation Menace – the Return of the ‘Snow Goose’ bombardment of Dakar on September Built by Saunders-Roe at Cowes on the , Walrus Mk.II HD874 was shipped 25. The guns were spotted by L2247 to Australia and arrived at Rose Bay, Sydney, on September 14, 1943. It was issued to 9 on loan to the RAAF and embarked Squadron RAAF at Bowen, Queensland, on December 17. It was placed into store in April on Australia. Vichy Curtiss Hawk 75 fighters 1945 but one more task awaited it. intervened and Cdt Fanneau de Given the name Snow Goose, and an overall yellow colour scheme, HD874 was prepared la Horie of GC I/4 shot down the for the RAAF’s Flight. In October 1947 it was loaded on board the converted Walrus, killing 33-year-old Flt Lt tank landing ship, HMS Labuan, and the vessel departed Sydney to take part in the George Clarke, Lt Cdr Frank Fogarty National Antarctica Research Expedition to Heard Island, mid-way between Australia and and Petty Off Burnett. Antarctica itself. The Labuan arrived in December and HD874 was readied for fl ight; it During the Anglo-French operation was to operate from the beach alongside the Australian base camp. Crew for the Snow off Gabon on November 7, Goose was pilot Flt Lt M D Smith, photographer W/O P C Swan and wireless operator W/O Devonshire’s L2268, flown by Petty G Dunlop. Off Peter Parsons, was catapulted The Walrus’s last fl ight – perhaps its only one from Heard Island – was on December 13 off in search of the Vichy submarine Poncelet. Observer Sub Lt David when photographs were taken of the 11,000ft dormant volcano Big Ben. On December 21, Corkhill spotted the submarine, just a 120mph gale ripped through the camp and HD874 was wrecked. as it submerged. Parsons dived and The fuselage lingered and was salvaged by the RAAF Museum on March 27, 1980, being straddled the Poncelet with 100lb anti- transported to Australia on the MV Cape Pillar. Following an extensive restoration, HD874 submarine bombs. The submarine was rolled out at Point Cook, Victoria, in its Antarctic colours on April 4, 2002. burst to the surface surrounded by bubbles of air. The crew abandoned

metal Mk.Is were constructed by Saunders-Roe 270 October 2017 FLYPAST 83 SPOT FACT The fabric-covered wings had stainless steel spars and wooden ribs

it but the captain, Bertrand de Saussine, decided to go down with his Above boat. A Walrus being Off Freetown, Sierra Leone, SS catapulted from HMS Eumaeus was sunk by an Italian ‘Bermuda’ in 1943. submarine on January 14, 1941 but VIA R C STURTIVANT most of the passengers and crew Right got away in lifeboats, or clung to The Walrus was wreckage. Walrus P5667 from 710 also extensively Squadron on HMS Albatross flown by used for air-sea Lt Vernon Cheesman searched for the rescue duties in the Mediterranean. submarine and found some survivors. Mk.II W2757 of He alighted to render aid and tow 293 Squadron at drifting lifeboats back to the main Pomigliano, Italy, group, but in doing so the Walrus 1944. VIA A PRICE was damaged and unable to take off. Eventually, two anti-submarine trawlers arrived to pick up survivors “Hobart’s Walrus bombed the and tow P5667 to Freetown. By the time they got ashore the Italian ghter base at Zeila in crew had been on board P5667 for 22 hours. Cheesman was awarded an Italian Somaliland in August and MBE, and CPO Dale a BEM. later provided recce support to Arctic convoys troops withdrawing from British While shadowing Bismarck and Prinz Eugen in the Denmark Strait on May Somaliland” 23, 1941 HMS Norfolk was shelled. Sitting on its catapult, Norfolk’s Walrus L2184 was damaged and took no part Duly alerted, the cruiser raced to the It was eventually towed to Novaya in the action that sank the Bismarck. spot and its fire caused the tanker to Zemlya and then taken as deck cargo However, Walruses did take part in explode spectacularly. on the SS Ocean Freedom to Archangel the peripheral action. Lt MacWhirter From the start of 1942, the where it was loaned to the Russians piloting L2288 from HMS Kenya numbers of Walrus embarked on and presumably used for local anti- found the enemy supply ship Aase warships began to decline but the submarine patrols. By mid-1944 Maersk between Greenland and amphibian continued to make its catapult training had ended and 700 Iceland. presence felt, particularly on Arctic Squadron disbanded. It was sunk by the Kenya. Several convoys. of the tankers positioned around the During the ill-fated PQ 17 convoy Red Sea and the Bismarck were also found and sunk. (it suffered severe losses to enemy ‘Med’ MacWhirter was in action again on forces) to Russia on July 4, the Italy entered the war on June 10, October 3. West of Gibraltar, W2700 Walrus from HMS Norfolk was 1940 and on the 19th HMAS was catapulted from HMS London flown off on an ice patrol by Sub Hobart’s Walrus L2321, flown by under very low cloud and he found Lts Wignall and Riley and Leading Flt Lt Davies, dive-bombed targets the Kota Pinang refuelling a U-boat. Airman Gibbons. near the Italian port of Massawa

84 FLYPAST October 2017 Walrus in Combat on the Red Sea coast of Eritrea. On moved to Aboukir and expanded to cruiser was lost with all hands, the 26th HMNZS Leander’s L2330 a dozen aircraft. including her RAAF Walrus attacked a beached Italian submarine It then went to Beirut under RAF detachment. The German ship was in the Red Sea. control, becoming 700 (Levant) also eventually sunk. Hobart’s Walrus struck the Squadron. On July 4, W2709 flown Britain declared war on Japan on Italian fighter base at Zeila in by Lt Dinsdale spotted a submarine December 8, 1941 and two days Italian Somaliland in August and but was unable to attack. Five days later Petty Off Crozier and crew in later provided recce support to later in the same aircraft Lt Chorley R6587 catapulted off HMS Repulse troops withdrawing from British sighted another sub and signalled an to search for reported invasion Somaliland. This was followed in escort that engaged the vessel and barges. They watched helplessly as November by Dorsetshire’s Walrus captured it. Japanese aircraft sank Repulse and spotting for raids on the East African On the 11th Sub Lt Jordan, HMS Prince of Wales. town of Dante after which it dive- piloting W2709, sank the Italian During the bombed oil tanks. submarine Ondina along with on March 1, 1942, HMS Exeter Walruses in the Mediterranean surface vessels east of Cyprus. and HMAS Perth were sunk. Perth Fleet were also out spotting for guns; During a patrol on August 8, took with it Walrus L2319 and over Bardia in Libya on June 21 and Chorley and Cook in W2789 were five of the air party, although Fg Scarpanto in the Dodecanese on supporting when they Off Donaghue and Naval Airman September 4. During the successful attacked and sank a large submarine. Wallace became prisoners of war. bombardment of the Italian port of Following the Allied landings in On Easter Sunday, April 5, the Genoa by ‘Force-H’ on February 9, Algeria in November, a detachment cruisers Cornwall and Dorsetshire

of six Walruses of 700 Squadron were steaming from Colombo to Above left was established at Arzeu. Under the Addu Atoll in the , and The fi nal operational role for the Walrus was control of 328 Wing, these were were attacked and sunk by Japanese mine spotting in the used for anti-submarine patrols until carrier-based bombers. Over a Adriatic: 624 Squadron April 1943. thousand men survived, among at Grottaglie, Italy, early them Vernon Cheesman, who was 1945. AUTHOR’S COLLECTION Cornwall’s Walrus pilot. He had German surface raiders were also played a crucial role in the Freetown Above Flown by Lt Lawrence, a active against shipping ‘East of Suez’ rescue of January 1941. Walrus of 1700 Squadron and Royal Navy cruisers scoured Japanese aircraft caught and sank on the deck of HMS the seas for them. On February HMS Shropshire on the 10th off ‘Ameer’, July 1945. VIA R C 21, 1941, HMS Glasgow’s Walrus Ceylon’s east coast. Going down STURTIVANT located the Admiral Scheer off East with it was Walrus L2777, although Left Africa but had to withdraw due to pilot Lt McConnell survived. The RAF mechanics servicing a shortage of fuel and the pocket Japanese navy also thrust into the a Walrus belonging to battleship evaded the pursuers. southwest Pacific and in a night an air-sea rescue unit in On May 8, HMS Cornwall’s action off Guadalcanal on August Corsica. Left to right: LACs Walrus spotted a suspicious vessel 8 HMAS Canberra was lost, along Cook, Gordon and Bowell. 1941, HMS Renown took the lead in the Bay of Bengal. As the with five of the 9 Squadron RAAF KEY COLLECTION and her Walrus provided valuable warship closed to investigate, the detachment and P5715. support for the big guns. Kriegsmarine auxiliary cruiser Obsolete when it entered the war, At the end of the year, after HMS Pinguin opened fire and the British the Walrus nevertheless played Queen Elizabeth and Valiant had vessel was sunk in a one-sided a vital role in two oceans and in been damaged in Alexandria, their action. European waters. As well as its Walruses were disembarked to Then, when the German auxiliary primary task as the ‘eyes for the Dekheila for shore-based patrols cruiser Kormoran was found by fleet’, the adaptable amphibian also along the Egyptian coast. As 700 HMAS Sydney off Western Australia proved its ability in the offensive (Mediterranean) Squadron, the unit on November 19 the Australian role.

airmen were rescued by Walruses of the RAF’s 277 Squadron 598 October 2017 FLYPAST 85