[James A Pratt III]

The book "The War in the Air The Royal Air Force in World War II" edited by Gavin Lyall has a chapter on 263 Sqn in Norway "Back Every Friday"

Back to "Narvik"
Page 143 "9 tons of stores for 263 Sqn arrived to late and were loaded on the cruiser Arethusa who sailed a day later with the cruisers Sheffield and Glasgow who were transport part of the 15th Brigade sailed on 22 April and during the night of the 23rd discharged their loads at Aandalsnes and Molde. The lubricating oil for the Gladiators failed to arrive in time so a few gallons from the Sheffield and Glasgow which carried some for their own aircraft were unloaded.

"...the ground crews many of them strangers to the unit and unfamiliar with their aircraft were demoralised. Taking shelter among the trees on the shores of the lake they remained there while the officers and sergeants were left to the work of refueling, rearming and starting up the aircraft. On the other hand the naval crews of the two Oerlikon guns supplied for anti-aircraft defense and the Royal Marine platoon for guarding the petrol supply, with Lewis guns, stuck valiantly to their posts and gave a warm reception to any bomber which ventured low to machine-gun the airfield."

FE pages 286-7 on 26 April 40:
He-111 Stab/LG 1 hit by AA fire
He-111s of 7/LG 1 and 6/KG 54 damaged by AA and fighters