Raids

Battleship Tirpitz

The German battleship Tirpitz, launched in 1941 was the sister ship to the now infamous "Bismark". The Tirpitz fully loaded weighed appromately 50,000 tons and had a crew of 2340 men.Her overall length was 251 metres with a beam of 36 metres and a draught of 9 metres. Her armament consisted of four 15 inch twin mounted turrets, six 5.9 inch twin mounted turrets, eight 4.1 inch twin mounted anti aircraft guns and twelve single mounted anti aircraft cannons.

In January 1942 she was moved to the Trondheimfjord in norway, it seems that the German command at the time were afraid to loose her so she was only used to scatter convoys and one raid on Spitsbergen. After many attemps by the Allied forces to sink her she was moved again in early 1943. She was even attacked by british midget submarines on th 23rd September 1943.

She was further damaged by the allies on the 3rd April 1944 after a suprise attack by fighters and bombers from Victorious, Formidable, the Tirpitz took a heavy battering from all sides her own smoke defences failed. The damage was so great the German command decided she was no longer seaworthy and was towed to a more secure hide away at Tromso.

Once at Tromsofjord it was decided to use her as a coastal defence battery the harbour was being made ready to place her in such a position that if hit again she would not sink, this operation was not completed before the final attack on her on the 12th November 1944. Under the command of Wing Commander Willie Tait 617 and 9 squadrons flying out of Scotland on a clear day, and no smoke screen from the Tirpitz, dropped twenty eight 12,000lb tallboy armour piercing bombs on her at least two hit her square on, this time the attack was more than she could take with direct hits to the hull she started to flood and list, then her own magazines exploded this was the end for the Tirpitz. She now lay keel up, only a handful of crew escaped, the death toll is put at 1000 to 1200 men. The crew that escaped cut a hole in the keel of the ship.

Personnel

Alf Crosby

My grandfather - Alf Crosby - was a rear gunner in 617 Squadron and was involved in the Tirpitz attack. He kept an account of this in his own flight log. He also flew in Wellingtons and Mosquitoes. He was also involved in the "Dummy" D-Day attack over Pas De Calais.

Thanks to Scott Crosby

Mervyn Lewis Mackay

My father is Mervyn L. MacKay DFC, Air Bomber with 617 Sqn. Dad passed away 8 years ago. I have created a Yahoo discussion club for those interested in the Dambusters, where photos may be posted and hopefully some old connections may be reforged. If anyone is interested, please email me and I will send an email invitation to join, or you can see the club at http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/dambusters

Mervyn Lewis Mackay, J87178, Royal Canadian Airforce,DFC air bomber, born 7th November 1920 New Glasgow.

Citation: MacKay, Mervyn Lewis F/O (J.87078) R.C.A.F. 617 Sqn. D.F.C. London Gazette 20 July, 1945; p.3785 "F/O MacKay has completed a large number of successful sorties as air bomber, he has taken part in many operational missions against some heavily defended targets in Germany including Berlin, Stuttgart and Numerburg and in three attacks on the battleship "Tirpitz". On one sortie to the Kembs Barrage the A/C was badly hit in the bomb aimer's compartment. In spite of the extensive damage, this officer displayed outstanding skill and coolness and greatly assisted his pilot to complete the mission successfully. His coolness and determination have always been an inspiration to his crew."

Died 12th February 1991, and buried at Heatherdale Memorial Gardens, Alma, Pictou County

Thanks to Glenn Mackay

KC-H Aeroplane

KC-H was flown by John Cockshott and Phil Martin Flew it on the second Tirpitz Raid 29/10/43.

Thanks to Andrew Lee

Tirpitz Memorabilia

I'm just back from RAF Lossiemouth, and as promised tried to gain some information on the 'Dambusters' unfortunately, although I managed work expierence and befriended one of the top men in the sqn I was unable to gain very much information. What I did gather was just basically that all the logbooks belonging to Guy Gibson are in the possession of 617Sqn and are situated in their crewroom. They have also got a bulkhead belonging to the 'Tirpitz', also situated in the crewroom. This is mounted on the wall with a newly fitted laser alarm. This was put in as the mission involving the 'Tirpitz' was a joint sortie with 9sqn. Because of this 9sqn want to own a bit of it too so each time they visited Lossiemouth in the past they have 'pinched' the bulkhead. Eventually 617 'acquired' it back a few years ago and then fitted the laser alarm around it! I know for sure that you would thoroughily enjoy their crewroom as it is basically a mini museum. even the Flight Lieutenant I befriended agreed that most of it should be situated in an RAF museum at Cosford or similar.

Thanks to Philip Johnston