Eugene Esmonde: Victoria Cross
Profile of First Fleet Air Arm Pilot to Win Supreme Award
Mar 17, 2007
In February 1942 the battle cruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, in company with the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen slipped out of Brest harbour and began their celebrated ‘Channel dash’ to German ports in the Baltic. They were escorted by a screen of destroyers and E-boats plus a flotilla of minesweepers travelling ahead of the fleet. Their move was not unexpected; with the RAF maintaining constant air surveillance on the harbour. But the armada had advantage of low cloud base and a lethargic reaction from British service chiefs. Consequently the Germans had a 300-mile start before the British defences became aware of the situation.
At noon on the second day the fleet was negotiating the narrow straits of Dover, the most critical stage of the passage. A possibility existed for a torpedo strike using Swordfish from a Fleet Air Arm unit temporarily based at Ramsgate. Six aircraft from 825 squadron were on stand-by, led by Lt.Cdr. Esmonde. He was an experienced Swordfish pilot who distinguished himself in the hunt for theBismarck in May 1941. It was Esmonde who led a flight from the carrier Victorious on one of the torpedo strikes against the battleship.
Esmonde's story
Eugene Esmonde was born in Tipperary in 1909, one of twin brothers in a family of thirteen children. In 1928 he enlisted for a five-year period in the RAF, and on gaining his wings served with No.43 squadron and also the Fleet Air Arm. At the termination of his tenure he joined Imperial Airways as an airline captain until early 1939. He was then offered a long-term commission with the Fleet Air Arm.
Esmonde was given command of 825 Squadron, which became part of the air strength of Victorious. During the hunt for the Bismarck, Esmonde was awarded the DSO for his determination and courage in that engagement. In June 1941 the squadron transferred to Ark Royal and was aboard when the carrier was torpedoed and sunk in that November.
Back in the U.K. the squadron was being reformed when Esmonde was asked if he would lead a night attack against the German capital ships in the event of a breakout from their base at Brest. On February 12 they made an unexpected departure , denying the Swordfish crews the scanty protection of darkness.
Suicide mission
The operation had assumed the proportions of a suicide mission; a situation where Esmonde could have quite honourably demurred. Instead he accepted and made plans accordingly with his five other crews. As they waited impatiently for the promised escort of five squadrons of Spitfires, Esmonde and his fellow pilots were under no illusion about their chances of survival. Apart from an intensive flak barrage from the warships there was an umbrella of fighters protecting the armada. It was hardly an optimistic prospect in a 90mph biplane.
At 1225 Esmonde took off with his formation and circled Manston airfield to link up with the promised fighter escort of five Spitfire squadrons. To their dismay they realised that just a single squadron was at hand. Esmonde could not afford to delay the mission any longer. He formed the six Swordfish into two flights and set off for his appointment with destiny.
Under attack
As expected, enemy reaction was swift and aggressive. Only ten minutes after setting course they came under fighter attack. The Spitfires in turn fell on the German fighters and in the ensuing melee contact was lost between the Spitfires and Swordfish. Esmonde’s formation managed to force their way past the fighters and deliver an inconclusive torpedo attack on Scharnhorst. But with all pilots severely wounded the three aircraft crashed into the sea. Esmonde and his crew perished, and of the other crews Royal Navy MTBs later rescued five survivors.
All aircraft lost
The second flight fared even worse. All managed to launch their torpedoes, but no hits were recorded and all three were shot down with no survivors. Of the 18 airmen involved in the mission, just five survived and all of these were decorated. The missing crews were mentioned in despatches.For Esmonde, who like his comrades never expected to survive, there was the award of a posthumous Victoria Cross, the first to a member of the Fleet Air Arm.
An embarrassing debacle
Operation Cerberus was a resounding success for the Kreigsmarine. After surviving further torpedo attacks from Coastal Command Beauforts and high level raids from Bomber Command the fleet proceeded to their northern bases. Scharnhorst was the sole casualty when it struck a mine and suffered some damage but was still able to continue. All things considered, the operation was an acute embarrassment to the Royal Navy and the RAF; not to mention the sacrifice of the many aircrews involved.
 |
