12 February 1942. Operation Fuller, Cerberus,

The German warships Gneisenau, Scharnhorst and Prinz Eugen made good their escape from Brest by a dash through the English Channel to German home ports; in air attacks by the RAF and the Fleet Air Arm against these ships, 42 aircraft were lost: An air attack by 6 Fairey Swordfish resulted in the loss of the entire formation; its leader, Lieutenant Commander Eugene Esmonde was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross. However, it was subsequently learned that both the Gneisenau and Scharnhorst had been damaged by air sown mines, most probably by Hampdens of 5 Group.
http://www.channeldash.org/index.html

49 Sqn Hampdens lost 4 ac and 16 aircrew, 13 have no known grave. My uncle is included in the latter and is commemorated on the Royal Air Force Runnymede Memorial in Surrey. He had been with the Sqn for 43 days straight out of training and probably been undergoing night flying training the night before. He was 19.

This year will focus on many 70 year commemorations. Lest we forget!
At the going down of the sun, we shall remember them.