FAA Operation EF

[Michael Turner]

Hello:

I am trying confirm if the Fulmars from No. 809 Sqd which were assigned to HMS Victorious that provided fighter escort for the the attakck on German shipping in Kirkenes, Norwary and Petsamo, Finland on July 30, 1941 were the Mk I or II versions? Some sources that I have seen have said that they were I's and others have said they were II's. I have also seen that both marks were used?

I believe that by that time, the Mk II was the most widely used mark as only a few Mk I's were built before the remaining batches were converted to the Mk II's?

Thank you.
Michael

[Alex Smart]

Hello,
in answer

800 (HMS Furious) and 809 (HMS Victorious) Sqdns FAA.used Fulmars.
800 and 809 both lost 2 a/c on the 30th .
800 Sqdn: X8624 (P/O. J.F. Black & S/L. F.J.G. Gallichan - both KIA) and N4029 ( S/L E. S. Burke & L/A. J. Beardsley - seen in dinghy, both KIA) were both Mk.II.
809 Sqdn: X8550 Mk.II ( S/L. J. Cooper & LA. D. F. Gilder ); S/L. R. S. Miller (pow) & TAG L/A. L.E. Barrow (KIA) and S/L. T.E. Blacklock & Lt. A.T. Easton (pow's).
From what I have found 21 Fulmars were involved. 9 from Furious and 12 from Victorious.
Of which 6 were used from 800 and 9 were used from 809 on the Raids on the 30th.

Alex


Alex

[Michael Turner]

Hello Alex:

Thank you for the information. It looks like the Mk II was the most widely used version on the attack then?

I have been trying to match the Mk I to some of the big battles/campaigns of WW II. I've just started to but so far, I have read that they were used in the hunt for the Bismark as well as some of the early convoys to Malta.

Thank you again.

Michael

Fyrtog@aol.com