irish recipents of the victoria cross during
the second world war
A shell apparently struck the ammunition storage area of HMS Hood, and the ship was destroyed by a viloent explosion. Only three of the Hood's 1,418 crew members survived the action. The biplanes flying from the Victorious, made a 120 mile flight in foul North Atlantic weather to attack the Bismarck. The squadron's attack hit the Bismarck amidships. The ships rudder was disabled some days later by a seperate Swordfish torpedo strike from HMS Ark Royal. Unable to effectively steer the Bismarck was doomed. The ship was sunk the next day by the naval forces pursuing her. As a result of Esmonde's leadership and actions in the hunt for the Bismarck battle he was decorated with the Distinguished Service Order on the 11th February 1942, the award was actually announced on the 16th September 1941.
Below, the ' hunt for the Bismarck ' If you would like to see the last episode, drop me a line and i will add it.
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Eugene had already been involved in another dramtic event by the time he received the DSO. His squadron was serving on HMS Ark Royal when she was torpedoed in November 1941. Attempts to tow her to Gibralter were abandoned, and on the 14th November 1941 she sank. The Swordfish of the squadron ferried some of the ship's crew off the doomed ship prior to her ventual sinking, and Eugene was Mentioned in Desptaches for his actions on this occasion.
Officers and ratings who were decorated for the part they played in the sinking of the Bismarck, pictured in front of a Fairey Swordfish aboard HMS Ark Royal during an inspection by Admiral James Somerville. Eugene is second from left.
Esmonde earned his Victoria Cross when he led his squadron against elements of the German Fleet which made the ' Channel Dash ' ( Operation Cerberus ) from Brest in an attempt to return to their home bases at Wilhelmshaven and Kiel through the English Channel. On the 12th February 1942 off the coast of England, 32 year old Lieutenant Commander Esmonde led a detachment of six Fairey Swordfish in an attack on the two battlecruisers ' Scharnhorst ' and ' Gneisenau ' and the heavy crusier Prinz Eugen ( which had already managed to get from Brest without hindrance ) These ships, along with a strong escort of smaller craft, were entering the Straits of Dover when Esmonde received his orders. He waited as long as he could for confirmation of his fighter escort, but eventually took off without it. One of the fighter squadrons ( 10 Supermarine Spitfires of No. 72 Squadron RAF ) did rendevous with Esmonde's squadron, and the two squadrons were later attacked by enemy fighters of JG 2 and JG 26. The subsequent fighting left all of the planes in Esmonde's squadron damaged, and caused their fighter escort to become separated from the Swordfish squadron.
' Channel Dash ' The Scharnhorst centre right, being followed by the Gneisenau are protected by smaller destroyers as they make thier dash through the English Channel.
The torpedo bombers continued their attack, even with their damaged aircraft and lack of fighter protection. Heavy anti-aircraft fire from the German ships now added to their peril, and Esmonde's plane sustained a direct hit from anti-aircraft fire that destroyed most of one of his port wings. Esmonde's squadron continued their attack run despite their damage, and Esmonde led his flight through a screen of the enemy destroyers and other small vesels protecting the battlecruisers. He was still some 2,700 metres from his target when he was again hit, resulting in his aircraft bursting into flames and then crashing into the sea. The remaining aircraft continued the gallant attack, but were all shot down. Only five of the squadron's 18 men flying that day survived the action, and four of these survivors were wounded.
Of the survivors, four officers received the Distinguished Service Order, and the lone enlisted survivor was awarded the Conspicious Gallantry Medal. The disproportionate ratio of officer to enlisted survivors was most likely due to the fact that the officers, who were the aircraft pilots, sat further forward in the aircraft and were closest to the aircraft's large radial engine, which served as a shield from enemy fire. The enlisted members sat behind the pilots in rear facing seats and were exposed to more enemy fire as a result.
The courage of the gallant Swordfish crews was particularly noted by friend and foe alike. Admiral Ramsay later wrote: " In my opinion the gallant sortie of these six Swordfish aircraft constitutes one of the finest exhibitions of self-sacrifice and devotion to duty the war had ever witnessed. " . . . .
Of the survivors, four officers received the Distinguished Service Order, and the lone enlisted survivor was awarded the Conspicious Gallantry Medal. The disproportionate ratio of officer to enlisted survivors was most likely due to the fact that the officers, who were the aircraft pilots, sat further forward in the aircraft and were closest to the aircraft's large radial engine, which served as a shield from enemy fire. The enlisted members sat behind the pilots in rear facing seats and were exposed to more enemy fire as a result.
The courage of the gallant Swordfish crews was particularly noted by friend and foe alike. Admiral Ramsay later wrote: " In my opinion the gallant sortie of these six Swordfish aircraft constitutes one of the finest exhibitions of self-sacrifice and devotion to duty the war had ever witnessed. " . . . .
