SINK THE GRAF ZEPPELIN!

[crudebuteffective]

In October 1944 the boffins at Bletchley Park decoded a German radio transmission that indicated that the German aircraft carrier Graf zeppelin was putting to sea from its base in the Baltic 

They were unaware of the carriers combat readiness and worried that it would join up with the Tirpitz which had so far survived the attentions of both FAA and RAF, a mission was launched to sink the carrier while it was still in the Baltic as the admiralty didn't want to take the chance of losing it when it passed into the north sea.

A naval task force centred on HMS formidable loaded with a force of brand new sea mosquito TR 33 bombers from 811 sqdn FAA that were just in the working up phase with their new planes, was sent to do the job

The attack was led by the royal navy's foremost torpedo bomber expert Commander Eugene Esmonde VC who had won his VC leading the attack on the Scharnhorst and gneisenau in the channel dash.

The planes took off at extreme range to protect the formidable from the attention of the Luftwaffe and flew at low level over Denmark and into the Baltic having evaded enemy fighters the planes attacked and sank the German carrier despite the German flak from the accompanying cruiser Prinz Eugen, once the attack was completed getting home wasn't as easy, some planes were caught by German fighters on the way back with at least one damaged a/c making for neutral Sweden

For his leadership in the attack commander Esmonde was posthumously awarded a bar for his VC

The aircraft shows the plane flown by Cmdr Esmond during the attack painted in the experimental new RN paint scheme of sea grey and navy blue with the commanders personal markings (the navy followed the RAF practise of allowing wing leaders to have personal codes on planes)

The model is an Airfix NF XIX bought over ten years ago to build a sea mossie but couldn't decide on markings (pre internet & whiffing days) with a spare torpedo and scratch building for ratog etc

[Rheged]

A most credible (and creditable)  posting.  I assume that the torpedo was selected as weapon of attack as there were still some questions over the use of Highball

http://www.sirbarneswallis.com/Highball.htm

[crudebuteffective]

Already have a highball mossie in far east 618 sqdn colours and had a always intended to do a sea mossie with torpedo and ratog

[Hobbes]

 

[sandiego89]

Nice job.  Like the colors. 

[jorel62]

 

[philp]

Great job on story and build.

[MAD]

Nice!
Very nice!!

Excellent work on your model crudebuteffective
I love the RATO's!!

M.A.D

[NARSES2]

Nice job.  Like the colors. 

Concur with both, I really like the back story as well 

[crudebuteffective]

evolution of the sea mossie



De Haviland sea mosquito TF38
811 Squadron HMS Ocean 1951

[sandiego89]

Nice, where is the tail hook?

[Captain Canada]

Gorgeous. Love them both...especially the second one. That really looks good in those colours and markings !