Hi everyone
As we prepare for 2 mins silence to remember those who gave their lives for us I thought I would also remind you that it is the70th anniversary of the raid by Swordfish aircraft on the Italian fleet at Taranto. It is often overlooked because of the date and the more well known raids such as the Dams and Amiens. A very daring feat carried out by extremely brave men, as of course they all were.
By: inkworm - 11th November 2010 at 17:58
I’ve just finished reading ‘I Sank the Bismark’ which starts with what I can only assume is a recent Taranto dinner in which the piano was set alight with various spirits so nothing seems to have really changed.
Always important to remember though.
By: slicer - 11th November 2010 at 16:03
My father tells a story of a Taranto Night mess dinner he attended during his FAA days where a model Swordfish was suspended from a long wire above the dining table and at an appropriate moment, slid down the wire and dropped a torpedo. Those were the days…pre PC!
By: Dave Homewood - 11th November 2010 at 14:05
Indeed an important event and worth remembering. I was told just two days ago by a historian friend that, although no New Zealanders were among the Fleet Air Arm pilots who took part in the raid, apparently a kiwi called Willoughby was very instrumental in the planning of the attack. I have not had any chance yet to look into this further so I wonder what the experts here can add to this? My mate said Willoughby later got into significant trouble for refusing to take his men on an obviously suicidal raid. I don’t know anything else though.
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November 11, 2010 at 10:54 am