[davidnzl]

25 August 1944

I have at least three versions of this photo - and 2 newspaper clippings that relate to this attack. I also have extracts from 2 logbooks describing it - please let me know if you would like a copy - davidnzl@xtra.co.nz

P


This iconic photograph appears in several publications, each of which provides a different perspective. Three such captions are:

Photo caption 1: “On 25 August 1944, forty four Beaufighter TFXs from four squadrons (including 489) attacked a German convoy off Schiermonnikoog in the Dutch Frisian Island. The squadrons were 144 from Strubby (Lincolnshire), 254 from North Coates (Lincolnshire), together with 455 (RAAF) and 489 (RNZAF) from Langham (Norfolk). The convoy consisted of six or eight armed merchant ships with ten escorted. The Beaufighters attacked with torpedoes, rocket projectiles and cannon fire. All torpedoes missed but the German minesweeper M347 of 637 tons was sunk. No aircraft were lost” PRO ref AIR 37/1231/80

Photo caption 2: “Beaufighters attack enemy escort vessels. A ship’s balloon can be seen on the left. The German vessels used cables supported by balloons as a defensive measure. “Christina Goulter

Photo caption 3: “Shipping strike – a wild melee of Beaufighters over a German convoy in 1944, and the splash of cannon shells and rockets hiding (and blinding) a flak ship. An attack like this was supposed to last no more than two minutes.” The War in the Air