[Mark E Horan]

Brian;

The Fighter Catapult Ships were RN with the personnel being supplied by 804 Squadron, FAA. Launches were:

1. 11.01.41: SL-60 & HG 49, 53.25N, 16.22W; Fulmar [PO(A) Frederick James Shaw, RN Fx.79970] from HMS Pegasus; Fw-200 escaped; Shaw landed at Sydenham, Belfast, safely.
2. 11.05.41: OB 319; Fulmar N4072 [T/S-Lt.(A) Frederick Michael Cavendish Harvey, RNVR & LA D. Sykes] from HMS Ariguani, enemy a/c never sighted; Harvey landed in Kaldardanes, Iceland safely.
3. 07.06.41: HG 63, 55.35N, 13.22W; Fulmar N4094 [T/Lt.(A) Bernard Franklin Cox, RNVR] from HMS Pegasus, Fw-200 driven off; pilot landed at Sydenham, Belfast safely in bad weather.
4. 10.06.41: HX 129, 55.18N, 14.00W; Fulmar N4065 [PO(A) Frederick James Shaw, RN Fx.79970] from HMS Springbank at 0930; claimed Fw-200 possibly damaged from long range; pilot landed at Aldergrove, Belfast safely.
5. 07.07.41: SL 78 & OG 67; Fulmar N4038 [S-Lt.(A) Thomas Robert Verner “Cocky” Parke, RN & LA Edwin Francis Miller, RN Fx.78923] HMS Pegasus at 0758; Fw-200 evaded; Parke headed to Ireland poor visibility but flew into high ground S of Cambeltown, both men were killed.
6. 18.07.41: OB 346, 54.57N, 16.53W; Sea Hurricane W9277 [Lt.(A) Robert William Hanmer “Bob” Everett, RNVR] from HMS Maplin; at 0940; closed an Fw-200 [F8+AB (SG+KS); w/n 0043; Gr.Kdr. Hpt. Fritz Fliegel and crew KiA] but it was shot down by AA from SS Norman Prince; Everett landed at St. Angelo.
7. 03.08.41: SL 81, 50.33N, 19.40W; Sea Hurricane W9277 [Lt.(A) Robert William Hanmer “Bob” Everett, RNVR (DSO), KiFA 26.01.42] from HMS Maplin shot up an Fw-200C [F8+CL, w/n 0066, damaged and crash-landed in France, two dead, one injured] while a second Fw-200 escaped. Everett ditched and was rescued by HMS Wanderer. First, and only, Fighter Catapult Ship air-to-air kill.
8. 27.08.41: OS 4 (OG84?), 53.36N, 16.40W; Fulmar N4072 (A/S-Lt.(A) Maurice Andrew Birrell, RN & LA D. Sykes] from HMS Ariguani; Fw-200 escapes; plane flew to Eire and landed on a beach near Ardara in bad weather, then continued to Eglinton, Northern Ireland.
9. 14.09.41: HG 72, 100 nm SW of Ireland; Sea Hurricane W9215 [T/P/S-Lt.(A) Cecil Walker, RNVR) from HMS Maplin damaged an Fw-200; Walker baled out and was rescued by HMS Rochester.
10. 18.09.41: HG 73, 35.57N, 08.30W; Fulmar N4065 [T/Lt.(A) Bernard Franklin Cox, RNVR], 1415, from HMS Springbank, Fw-200 [F8+IL] escaped after jettisoning its bombs due to gun jams in the fighter due to faulty loading of ammunition; pilot landed at Gibraltar.
11. 25.09.41: HG 73 Fulmar [PO(A) Frederick James Shaw, RN Fx.79970 & LA Tilley] from HMS Springbank, Fw-200 not intercepted; pilot flew to Gibraltar.
12. 04.10.41: OG 75, 52.18N, 20.18W; Fulmar [Lt. Ronald Arthur Bird, RN] from HMS Ariguani damaged a Fw-200; pilot baled out and rescued.


Again, I hope this is of interest, sir!


Mark