The MEDITERRANEAN SEA:
Since mid April, the powers that be had refused to allow the then shattered remnants of "the" Beaufort Squadron (39 Squadron, RAF) to conduct any major strikes, much to the chagrin of the aircrews. The reason behind the decision only became apparent in the second week of June when the Squadron was placed on alert to cover the fleet during the impending supply operations to Malta, "Operations Harpoon and Vigorous".
"The" Beaufort Squadron (39) was alerted to operate from the North African coastal landing ground LG.05 near Sidi Barrani, while 217 Squadron, currently in transit through the Mediterranean bound for Ceylon, had been held on Malta. Both Squadrons were reserved to operate against the Italian Fleet, who was expected to make a major effort to stop the valuable convoy from arriving at the beleaguered island fortress.
The actual operations, set in motion days before with convoys approaching Malta from both West (Harpoon and East (Vigorous. Both had already generated much action in the prior three days. Harpoon convoy, protected by as many fighters as the venerable carriers HMS Eagle and HMS Argus could carry, fought its way through repeated air attacks throughout the 13th and 14th, before retiring and leaving the convoy, with a light escort, to pass through the Sicilian Straights.
Vigorous was beset by stronger odds. With no operational capital ships, the
Mediterranean Fleets escort consisted only of a cruiser covering force and a strong ASW
screen, all operating under the limited aerial protection of the two RAF Beaufighter
Squadrons in theatre, 252 and 272. Under air attack throughout the 13th and 14th, the odds
took a decided turn for the worse when late afternoon reconnaissance flights picked up the
presence of a strong contingent of the Italian Fleet, built around the two modern 15
battleships Vittorio Veneto and Littorio. This was exactly the target the two Beaufort
Squadrons had been held back to hit. Dawn would see them do just that.
First to fight were was Malta based 217 Squadron. Taking off 0415 in the pre-dawn darkness
was the Wing Commander W. A. L. Davis leading nine Beauforts. Unfortunately, 217 contained
few experienced crews, and the group was unable to form up. Davis found himself leading
but five while the other four proceeded independently. In the event, 21 year old veteran
FO Arthur H. Aldridge, already with a DFC to his credit, came upon an Italian heavy
cruiser division in the pre-dawn light. Mistaking him for their arriving air escort, the
Italians paid the Beaufort no notice and he slipped his torpedo into the cruiser Trento,
bringing her to a halt, before a shot was even fired at him!
The resulting bedlam soon attracted the rest of the squadron. Arriving from several
different directions. WC Davis vic (Davis, FO Goodale, Sgt. Hutcheson) and SL Lynns pair
(Lynn, Sgt. Downe) attacked the battleships from opposite directions. Lt. Strever, SAAF,
and Sgt. Nolan also went after them, while FO Stevens took a crack at the crippled Trento.
While several hits were claimed, none were made, though by the time the attack had ended
the Italian fleet was in total disarray.
Better yet, all nine aircraft returned to Malta, though Strever had to belly in his
battered DD975, which was written off. While all this was going on, on the other side of
Malta, the battle to push Harpoon convoy through had come to a climax. The convoys
remaining escort was but a light AA/ASW screen of one old AA cruiser (HMS Cairo), five
fleet destroyers, and four Hunts. To their horror, dawn brought into view a strong Italian
force out of Sardinia with two cruisers (Raimondo Montecuccoli and Eugenio di Savoia) and
five destroyers, and the escort soon found itself embroiled in the a surface action, while
signaling to Malta the need for immediate air support.
Unfortunately, with 217 Squadron already well on its way to attack the battleships threatening Vigorous convoy, Malta had little to offer 217s last two operational Beauforts, only now being fitted with torpedo couplings, and four Fleet Air Arm Albacores! Undaunted by the odds, fortified by the promise of a full squadron of Spitfires as escort (though they could not go the whole way), the six torpedo planes set off at 0930. The two Beauforts, flown by the least experienced of 217s crews, soon outdistanced the plodding Albacores, arrived in the middle of the on again, off again gunnery action, and flung themselves at the lead cruiser, Montecuccoli (which had, by this time, been damaged by the British DDs). Sgt. Fenton, who pressed to within 800 yards before dropping, was outdone by his leader, FO Minster. On his first operational sortie, Minster accomplished a technical first when he pressed in so close that his torpedo, set to arm at 300 yards, passed right under the target amidships without the magnetic exploder having armed! While neither torpedo hit, the ferocity of the sudden assault had a more than detrimental effect on the Italians willingness to continue the surface battle. Both aircraft returned safely.
Meanwhile, back on the other side of Malta, 39 Squadron was taking their own crack at the Italian battleship force. At 0615 Wing Commander A. J. Mason led off 12 Beauforts with orders to return to Malta after the attack. The squadron was deployed in four vics led by Mason and FL A. M. Taylor of the first flight in slower Mk. Is, and SL R. P. M. Gibbs and FL A. T. Leaning of second flight in faster Mk. IIs. They were also assigned a miniscule escort of two Beaufighters of 272 Squadron, RAF (PO R. L. H. Corbisier and Sgt. W. G. Blessing), all that was available after assigning aircraft to the Squadrons primary mission, providing long range fighter escort for the convoy.
The outward flight continued for over 90 minutes, approaching dangerously close to the Axis held North African coast near Derna and crossing between the enemy airfields and Vigorous convoy; an unenviable position sure to attract attention from Axis fighters. The first sign of trouble was a group of mysterious splashes astern (Bf-109 belly tanks being jettisoned), followed by a surprise high-side attack that chopped Leanings left wing Beaufort, FL C. S. Thomas AW352, in half. What followed was another long running battle reminiscent of the 14 April disaster. Gibbs right wingman, PO J. Abrams in AW297 went down as well, while five Beauforts, either because of battle damage or excessive fuel use, were forced to turn back for Africa. Leaning and Taylor made it back to LG.05, while PO K. R. Grant and Sgt. L. W. Daffurn managed to force-land in the British held desert, though both aircraft were destroyed. PO R. C. Hooper managed to drag DD955 within a few miles of the Axis held coast before making a water landing, he and his crew becoming PoWs. The dogfight also cost both Beaufighters and their as well [T4869/J PO Roger Leon Herman Corbisier, RAFVR 117340 (Belgian) and T4829/V Sgt. Wilson George Blessing, RAAF 402219 (23)/FltSgt. John Raymond Williams, RAFVR 924223 (22)]
When the air settled only five Beauforts remained: Mason with PO R. S. Marshall (RAAF) on his wing, and Gibbs with FO A. O. S. Jepson and WO F. Morse formed on him. By this point a 203 Squadron Maryland had reported the latest position of the Italian force and soon the battered formation was flinging itself at the foe at the exact moment a formation of US Liberators was executing a high-altitude bombing attack. The Italians opened with a terrific AA barrage, hitting both Gibbs AW337 and Marshalls DD975 forcing them to drop well out, but the other three pressed on to 1,000 yards before releasing their fish. Though none of the torpedoes hit, one of the Liberators bombs did, none of which had a positive effect on the Italain Fleets morale. Then 39 Squadron turned towards home. Amazingly, despite the tremendous AA barrage and the long air battle, all five made it to Malta, though Gibbs was forced to make a belly landing, and Marshall, having no brakes, slammed into a damaged 217 ship, demolishing both machines.
While only one actual hit had been scored, the Beauforts had done the job they set out to do, keeping the Italian Fleet at bay. As an additional plus, after 217 Squadron had left Trento stationary and on fire, submarine HMS Umbra had slipped in and administered the coup de grace with two torpedoes.