![]() Although the Italian Army was not very formidable, aircraft operating from mainland Italy and Sicily could strike at the strategically vital island of Malta. Nazi Germany, with no overseas possessions and no significant surface navy, was a major land power in Europe but posed no serious threat to the British empire. In doing so, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini opened a dangerous new front. Italy declared war on Great Britain on June 10, 1940. The events of the next few hours would change the balance of power in the Mediterranean, and set the stage for the world-shaking events of December 7, 1941, on the other side of the world at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The aircraft were lumbering Fairey Swordfish torpedo bombers of the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm their target: Italian Navy warships anchored at the port of Taranto. Two days before Moffat’s raid, the ship shook Britain by destroying the pride of the Royal Navy, HMS Hood, prompting Winston Churchill to issue his order to “sink the Bismarck”.On the evening of November 11, 1940, 21 obsolete biplanes took off from the British aircraft carrier Illustrious. ![]() Only when recalling the human cost does he become sombre and serious. Moffat’s tales of his career as a pilot are peppered with laughter and smiles, and the retired Scottish hotelier is still amazed that he survived his date with the Bismarck. The sinking showed battleships could not match air power and put an end to Hitler’s dreams of challenging British superiority on the Atlantic, forcing Germany to focus on submarine warfare. ![]() Moffat is one of the last survivors from the biplane bombers that on May 26, 1941, crippled what was then the world’s biggest warship, enabling the British Navy to destroy the Bismarck. All these heads bobbing up and down in the huge waves, and not a chance in hell of being saved,” Moffat, 91, told Reuters in an interview. BLAINSLIE, Scotland (Reuters Life!) - John Moffat’s sparkling eyes grow dim when he remembers the 2,000 sailors swallowed up by the Atlantic after his torpedo bombers consigned the German battleship Bismarck to its doom nearly 70 years ago. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |