Aviation Museum - Restored Second World War Operations Room - Spitfire and Hurricane Fighter Aircraft

At the beginning of April 1940, Hitler’s Wehrmacht invaded Denmark with ease as the latter lay virtually defenceless and did not expect to be the subject of hostile actions from Germany. Hitler however, saw Denmark as the ideal launch pad for his invasion of Norway. Success in Norway would yield Germany vast iron ore deposits, other minerals necessary for war production and the all important safe anchorages, with immediate access to the North Atlantic for the German fleet. Eight German Divisions supported by strong naval and air assets, invaded Norway in the second week of April 1940. The brave, but hugely outnumbered, Norwegian Army acquitted themselves well but were forced back by overwhelming firepower. Between 18-23 April, Britain and France landed around 12,000 troops in and around Trondheim and they marched south to meet the enemy. In a series of engagements, the Allied land forces suffered several defeats and were eventually forced to evacuate Norway during the final days of May and early June 1940.

The air war involved RAF Gloster Gladiators, of 263 Sqn, biplane aircraft which belonged to the 1930’s and not best suited to engaging fast monoplane Me-109’s or the latest German bombers. Further fighter re-inforcements were required and these were provided by the Hurricanes of RAF Digby’s 46 Squadron. On 10 May, they departed Digby for Dyce in Scotland, where the aircraft were prepared for embarkation upon the carrier HMS Glorious. Over the following 2 days the squadron’s aircraft were loaded onto coasters and ferried to the carrier, which was lying in deep water. The aeroplanes were winched aboard the Glorious and with her 2 escorting destroyers, HMS Acasta and HMS Ardent, the Glorious then steamed eastwards. On 26 May, with HMS Glorious steaming at 30 knots into the wind, the 18 Hurricane, of 46 Squadron, with Sqn Ldr Cross leading the way, were flown off the deck of the carrier to Harstad. The Hurricanes were eventually deployed to Skaanland airfield later the same day and were soon in action, shooting down their first Junkers 88 on 28 May, followed later the same day by 2 Dornier bombers. 46 Squadron flew many sorties from Skaanland and Bardufoss and scored further victories. Their fellow fighter Pilots of 263 Sqn also scored notable successes and brought down several enemy machines as well as destroying enemy ground targets. Both squadrons however, lost aircraft and pilots in these air engagements and from attacks on their airfields and improvised “frozen fjord” landing sites.

Once the fighters had provided all the cover they could to protect the evacuating Allied land forces, they themselves were ordered to depart Norway. The Gloster Gladiators, which had gone to Norway aboard the carrier HMS Furious, now left the fjords and mountains behind and recovered to the departing carrier HMS Glorious. On 6 June 1940, OC 46 Sqn, Sqn Ldr Ken Cross, was instructed to destroy his Hurricanes on land and make good their escape via merchantman. Sqn Ldr Cross, realising that the Battle of Britain was about to begin decided that his aircraft should make every attempt to get home. With the Glorious steaming westwards, and his Hurricanes with only sufficient fuel to reach the ship, and unable to return to land if the deck landing was aborted, Cross and his Pilots took the brave decision to have a go. None of the Pilots of 46 Sqn had ever completed a carrier landing before, nor were the Hurricanes equipped for deck operations; plus when they undertook their one way sorties it was during arctic night conditions. In an effort to reduce the landing speed of each aircraft, the Hurricanes each had 2 heavy sandbags roped to their fuselage just forward of the tailplane. Their Royal Navy colleagues selected “burly matelots” to grab the tailplanes of the slowing Hurricanes as they hit the deck to stop them over-shooting. The first section of 3 aircraft took off and headed out to sea, eventually rendezvousing with Glorious around midnight on 7 June. The remainder of the squadron followed within the hour and by the early hours of 8 June, all of the 46 Sqn Pilots had landed safely. HMS Glorious and her escorting destroyers, HMS Acasta and HMS Ardent, sailed for home.

On 4 June 1940, the German battle-cruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau sailed from Kiel to hinder the withdrawal of Allied forces from Norway. They sunk several merchantmen before encountering smoke on their western horizon on the afternoon of 8 June. Increasing speed to close with the Royal Navy warships, in order to identify their quarry, the German telescopic sights identified an aircraft carrier and 2 escorting destroyers. Out ranging the Royal Navy ships, whose highest calibre weapon was 4.7in, the German warships opened fire using their 11in guns and soon obtained hits on HMS Glorious. The Glorious sustained catastrophic heavy damage and was clearly doomed. She subsequently sank after 2 hours of repeated hits. Her escorting destroyers did what they could to protect their charge by making smoke and attempting to close with the enemy in order to launch torpedo attacks. HMS Ardent was soon hit by several heavy calibre shells which blasted her to pieces. The Acasta, though damaged, continued to steam at high speed seeking shelter within the smoke screen. While obscured from the enemy, the Captain of HMS Acasta, Commander C E Glasford, broadcast to the ships crew that they would not leave Glorious or their comrades on Ardent; he then changed course and attacked. Emerging from the smoke, the Acasta was very close to the enemy warships, which were probably quite surprised to see the destroyer still afloat. HMS Acasta fired a spread of torpedoes and observed the pleasing sight of a large explosion appearing against Scharnhorst. The Acasta retired to the smoke screen and prepared to sally forth once more against the enemy, but this time they were prepared for her attack. With all guns firing and the remaining torpedo tubes prepared the Acasta attacked. Several heavy shells struck HMS Acasta as she emerged from the smoke, though she still managed to fire her torpedoes, and the order to abandon ship was given. The few crew that had survived the battle took to the sea and observed the Captain on the bridge, smoking a cigarette, awaiting the final death of his ship.

All 3 Royal Navy ships were sunk with a loss of around 1561 crew and airmen. Less than 50 survived. All of 263 Sqn were lost and only 2 from 46 Sqn made it back to the UK. The single torpedo hit from HMS Acasta on Scharnhorst caused heavy damage and resulted in several months in port under repair. On 26 December 1943, it would be the turn of Scharnhorst to suffer a similar fate when she was engaged and destroyed, during the Battle of North Cape, by the battleship HMS Duke of York and the cruisers HMS Jamaica, Belfast and Norfolk. Out of a ships company of 2000, a mere 36 survived. The Gneisenau survived the war but had a less than renowned history, for most of the war she suffered repeated damage from aerial bombardment and was constantly under repair. She was eventually scuttled in March 1945.

Lest we forget.

RMS Lancastria	Squadron Roll	HMS Glorious


	HMS Glorious

Historically speaking By Warrant Officer David Curry MBE RAF The wartime history of Royal Air Force Digby involved operations at home and abroad and resulted in victories, and some terrible losses. In April 1940, 46 Squadron, then flying Hawker Hurricane Mk I’s and commanded by Sqn Ldr K B Cross, was sent to Norway, aboard HMS Glorious, to add support to the Allies’ attempt to stem the German invasion of yet another friendly country. The story of 46 Sqn and of their Royal Navy colleagues involved in this action is indeed a sad one, but echoes the courage and spirit of those that served. The Loss of HMS Glorious At the beginning of April 1940, Hitler’s Wehrmacht invaded Denmark with ease as the latter lay virtually defenceless and did not expect to be the subject of hostile actions from Germany. Hitler however, saw Denmark as the ideal launch pad for his invasion of Norway. Success in Norway would yield Germany vast iron ore deposits, other minerals necessary for war production and the all important safe anchorages, with immediate access to the North Atlantic for the German fleet. Eight German Divisions supported by strong naval and air assets, invaded Norway in the second week of April 1940. The brave, but hugely outnumbered, Norwegian Army acquitted themselves well but were forced back by overwhelming firepower. Between 18-23 April, Britain and France landed around 12,000 troops in and around Trondheim and they marched south to meet the enemy. In a series of engagements, the Allied land forces suffered several defeats and were eventually forced to evacuate Norway during the final days of May and early June 1940. The air war involved RAF Gloster Gladiators, of 263 Sqn, biplane aircraft which belonged to the 1930’s and not best suited to engaging fast monoplane Me-109’s or the latest German bombers. Further fighter re-inforcements were required and these were provided by the Hurricanes of RAF Digby’s 46 Squadron. On 10 May, they departed Digby for Dyce in Scotland, where the aircraft were prepared for embarkation upon the carrier HMS Glorious. Over the following 2 days the squadron’s aircraft were loaded onto coasters and ferried to the carrier, which was lying in deep water. The aeroplanes were winched aboard the Glorious and with her 2 escorting destroyers, HMS Acasta and HMS Ardent, the Glorious then steamed eastwards. On 26 May, with HMS Glorious steaming at 30 knots into the wind, the 18 Hurricane, of 46 Squadron, with Sqn Ldr Cross leading the way, were flown off the deck of the carrier to Harstad. The Hurricanes were eventually deployed to Skaanland airfield later the same day and were soon in action, shooting down their first Junkers 88 on 28 May, followed later the same day by 2 Dornier bombers. 46 Squadron flew many sorties from Skaanland and Bardufoss and scored further victories. Their fellow fighter Pilots of 263 Sqn also scored notable successes and brought down several enemy machines as well as destroying enemy ground targets. Both squadrons however, lost aircraft and pilots in these air engagements and from attacks on their airfields and improvised “frozen fjord” landing sites. Once the fighters had provided all the cover they could to protect the evacuating Allied land forces, they themselves were ordered to depart Norway. The Gloster Gladiators, which had gone to Norway aboard the carrier HMS Furious, now left the fjords and mountains behind and recovered to the departing carrier HMS Glorious. On 6 June 1940, OC 46 Sqn, Sqn Ldr Ken Cross, was instructed to destroy his Hurricanes on land and make good their escape via merchantman. Sqn Ldr Cross, realising that the Battle of Britain was about to begin decided that his aircraft should make every attempt to get home. With the Glorious steaming westwards, and his Hurricanes with only sufficient fuel to reach the ship, and unable to return to land if the deck landing was aborted, Cross and his Pilots took the brave decision to have a go. None of the Pilots of 46 Sqn had ever completed a carrier landing before, nor were the Hurricanes equipped for deck operations; plus when they undertook their one way sorties it was during arctic night conditions. In an effort to reduce the landing speed of each aircraft, the Hurricanes each had 2 heavy sandbags roped to their fuselage just forward of the tailplane. Their Royal Navy colleagues selected “burly matelots” to grab the tailplanes of the slowing Hurricanes as they hit the deck to stop them over-shooting. The first section of 3 aircraft took off and headed out to sea, eventually rendezvousing with Glorious around midnight on 7 June. The remainder of the squadron followed within the hour and by the early hours of 8 June, all of the 46 Sqn Pilots had landed safely. HMS Glorious and her escorting destroyers, HMS Acasta and HMS Ardent, sailed for home. On 4 June 1940, the German battle-cruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau sailed from Kiel to hinder the withdrawal of Allied forces from Norway. They sunk several merchantmen before encountering smoke on their western horizon on the afternoon of 8 June. Increasing speed to close with the Royal Navy warships, in order to identify their quarry, the German telescopic sights identified an aircraft carrier and 2 escorting destroyers. Out ranging the Royal Navy ships, whose highest calibre weapon was 4.7in, the German warships opened fire using their 11in guns and soon obtained hits on HMS Glorious. The Glorious sustained catastrophic heavy damage and was clearly doomed. She subsequently sank after 2 hours of repeated hits. Her escorting destroyers did what they could to protect their charge by making smoke and attempting to close with the enemy in order to launch torpedo attacks. HMS Ardent was soon hit by several heavy calibre shells which blasted her to pieces. The Acasta, though damaged, continued to steam at high speed seeking shelter within the smoke screen. While obscured from the enemy, the Captain of HMS Acasta, Commander C E Glasford, broadcast to the ships crew that they would not leave Glorious or their comrades on Ardent; he then changed course and attacked. Emerging from the smoke, the Acasta was very close to the enemy warships, which were probably quite surprised to see the destroyer still afloat. HMS Acasta fired a spread of torpedoes and observed the pleasing sight of a large explosion appearing against Scharnhorst. The Acasta retired to the smoke screen and prepared to sally forth once more against the enemy, but this time they were prepared for her attack. With all guns firing and the remaining torpedo tubes prepared the Acasta attacked. Several heavy shells struck HMS Acasta as she emerged from the smoke, though she still managed to fire her torpedoes, and the order to abandon ship was given. The few crew that had survived the battle took to the sea and observed the Captain on the bridge, smoking a cigarette, awaiting the final death of his ship. All 3 Royal Navy ships were sunk with a loss of around 1561 crew and airmen. Less than 50 survived. All of 263 Sqn were lost and only 2 from 46 Sqn made it back to the UK. The single torpedo hit from HMS Acasta on Scharnhorst caused heavy damage and resulted in several months in port under repair. On 26 December 1943, it would be the turn of Scharnhorst to suffer a similar fate when she was engaged and destroyed, during the Battle of North Cape, by the battleship HMS Duke of York and the cruisers HMS Jamaica, Belfast and Norfolk. Out of a ships company of 2000, a mere 36 survived. The Gneisenau survived the war but had a less than renowned history, for most of the war she suffered repeated damage from aerial bombardment and was constantly under repair. She was eventually scuttled in March 1945. Lest we forget.