812 sqn Swordfishes in the Petsamo raid?

[Alex Smart]

Hello Kari,
Sorry for the delay.
I agree with Graham's serial numbers and would add these as possible also.
P4136
P4219
V4380

The names given , Rideal and Kindrell are it seems wrong as 812 had NO losses apparently as ALL Swordfish returned to the ship.
So one more serial number to make the nine Swordfish. Perhaps V9732 but am not sure.

all the best
Alex

[Graham Boak]

I agree with P4136 but P4219 may not have joined 812 in time for the raid.

V4380 I listed - is this a typo for another or are we looking for another two?

V9732 is not a Swordfish serial nor an obvious typo?

V4515 was not delivered to the RN until 6/7/41, but did go to 812 Sq. and was with it on Ark Royal later in 1941, but perhaps too late for Petsamo?
V4574 was also with 812 on the Ark (coded V) but as it was not delivered until 31/7/41 clearly wasn't at Petsamo: this is also true for all later serials.

L2840 with 812, accident at Hatston 9/7/41 - so not Petsamo?
L7632 was G3C then B with 812 on unspecified dates, but from similar examples I suspect an earlier commission.
L7644 812/H 5/41, 767 Sq. 9/41 - Possible
L7676 812 Sq 1941 (after April). - Possible
P4136 812 Sq 1941 (after March) - Possible
P4146 812 Sq 9/41 - probably not
V4293 821Sq 1941 but after November?
V4375 from 7/41 - surely as it was lost from Furious 21/8/41 (From previous list)

It seems that the unit replaced all(?) its aircraft in summer 1941, which is possibly why it is described as only having nine aircraft for the Petsamo raid, with later arrivals identified as being on the Ark later in the year.

[Kari Lumppio]

Hello!

Thank you Graham. If I got it right there is now three "good" code/letter pairs for Petsamo raid Swordfishes. All three letter codes are also supported by the attack map shown at the Britmodeller thread:

P4380 / G
P4277 / C
L7644 / H

Of these L7644 was with 812 sqn May to Sep 1941 and the other two were delivered just before the Petsamo raid?

"H" (L7644) seems to be the only one which achieved hit with it's torpedo (No 2 pier/jetty). No 4 Quay was target for "C" and No 1 Quay for "G" and neither of these quays are reported damaged.

As far as I am concerned the code (markings) question has been solved satisfactorily even if some detail questions remain. But all new pieces of information are welcome.


Thanks again,
Kari

[Alex Smart]

Hello Graham,
My typo V9732 should have been L9732 but does not fit after all .
Also with regard to V4380 again my typo.
Meant to have put V4370.

V4384 I think is out as Cat "Y" 18.7.41 meant that repairs would have to be done other than with the Squadron.

With regard to V4389, perhaps she crashed on board on return from the op, S/L Rideal unhurt ?

S/L E B Kiddell was involved in a much earlier crash L2829, 2-7-1940, and although taken pow was shot and killed whilst escaping.

S/L CJK or CJW Kindell was connected to Swordfish V4389 but not killed as he was in an accident in L2780 on 12-4-42 and again in Albacore N4390 on 14-6-42.

So I now offer these possibles -
L7644
L9765
P4136
P4277
V4364
V4370
V4375
V4380
V4389

Alex

[Graham Boak]

Just a note that the two (three?) photographs of 812 Sq aircraft in Stuart Lloyd's book are from an earlier period, April 1940.

[Alex Smart]

Hello, just in hope that the four 880A flight Sea Hurricanes may have been found ?

I offer the following four.
W9216
W9218
W9220
W9223.
These four Were from the Royal Naval Deposit Account ( RN aircraft held by an RAF Storage Unit) - 27 MU at Shawbury.
Going to 880 Sqdn from around early June,1941.

Alex

[Stig Jarlevik]

Our friend Geoffrey Sinclair offers the following:

Hurricanes:
W9216, W9220, W9223 possible
W9218 23 July 1941 MSFU reports Sea Going Hurricane W9218 arrived from Langley in the afternoon, catapult launches 28 and 29 July, local flying 30 and 31 July

Other possible Hurricanes W9215, W9219

Others to MSFU W9208 (19 July), W9209 (27 July), W9279 (24 July)
Geoffrey Sinclair

[Alex Smart]

Thanks Stig, hoped that my post would reawaken the questions of the aircraft on the July 41 Operation.
So maybe 3 out of 4 isn't a bad result so far ��