FAA losses in May 1941, Iraq

[Alex Smart]

Hi,
Seeking details and/or serial numbers of the nine (+ or -)Swordfish of 814 Sqdn used in support of the RAF during the brief Iraq war in May of 1941.
Thanks
Alex

[Col Bruggy]

Hello,

Have only positively identified one of the 814 Squadron Swordfish involved in the Iraqi affair (the Swordfish bombers were from HMS "Hermes", and were using Shaibah as a land base).

Thursday, 15 May 1941. In the south 814 Squadron remained very active, and during the eighth of a series of attacks on barracks in the Basra area, three Swordfish attacked those at Samawa. Here one of the bombers was hit and made a very heavy forced-landing. The aircraft was surrounded by Arabs, but fell back when the pilot offered them a one dinar note. Another Swordfish, piloted by Lt J.H. Dundas, landed alongside and picked up the downed crew just as Iraqi troops advanced on them and opened fire, holing the fuel tank. Despite this, Dundas got the aircraft off again, Leading Air Mechanic Latham engaging the Iraqis with his Lewis gun; Dundas was later awarded the DSC.

See:
Dust Clouds in the Middle East.
Shores,Christopher.
London:Grub Street,1996.
pp.183-4. (see also: pp.172, 174, 178-9, 187 & 192).

From, The Swordfish Story (Ray Sturtivant):

Swordfish Losses:

15.5.41. - P4036.
814 Sqn Shaibah. Dive-bombing attack Sumawar barracks, crashed (Sub-Lt G. R. Coy (MID) and TAG L. E. Lasson (MID) rescued by Lt J. H. Dundas who was awarded DSC).

See:
The Swordfish Story.
Sturtivant,Ray.
London:Arms and Armour Press,1993.
pp.179 & 198.

See also: FAA Aircraft 1939-1945/Sturtivant/A-B/p.80.

Col.

[Alex Smart]

Thank you Col, I have the Dust Clouds in the Middle East. book here somewhere ��

These are the ones that I thought may have been aboard the Hermes at the time by trawling for 14 Sqdnin the Swordfish section of 'FAA Aircraft 1939 to 1945' -

L2820
L9723
P4036
P4218,
P4228,
P4229,
P4230,
P4274,
P4275
and perhaps -
P4143
V4301,
V4319