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Bismarck sinking pilot recalls attack | |
(about 7 hours later) | |
It is 70 years since the sinking of the German warship the Bismarck. | It is 70 years since the sinking of the German warship the Bismarck. |
The last surviving member of the air attack has been remembering his role on a visit to his old squadron at RNAS Culdrose in west Cornwall. | The last surviving member of the air attack has been remembering his role on a visit to his old squadron at RNAS Culdrose in west Cornwall. |
Jock Moffat, 92, from Dunkeld, is believed to have fired the torpedo that hit the Bismarck's rudder, affecting its steering. | Jock Moffat, 92, from Dunkeld, is believed to have fired the torpedo that hit the Bismarck's rudder, affecting its steering. |
The order came from Winston Churchill to destroy the ship, after it had sunk HMS Hood three days earlier. | The order came from Winston Churchill to destroy the ship, after it had sunk HMS Hood three days earlier. |
Mr Moffat, who was born and grew up in the Scottish Borders, is the last surviving member of the air attack, carried out by 820 Squadron, the oldest in the Navy. | Mr Moffat, who was born and grew up in the Scottish Borders, is the last surviving member of the air attack, carried out by 820 Squadron, the oldest in the Navy. |
The night before the Bismarck's sinking, a plane from Naval Air Squadrons based on HMS Ark Royal launched a torpedo that hit the Bismarck's rudder. | The night before the Bismarck's sinking, a plane from Naval Air Squadrons based on HMS Ark Royal launched a torpedo that hit the Bismarck's rudder. |
This action made it possible for the British ships and planes to inflict damage on the heavily-armoured Bismarck. | This action made it possible for the British ships and planes to inflict damage on the heavily-armoured Bismarck. |
Remembering his orders while he was in the air, Mr Moffat said: "All of a sudden they said to let her go. I pressed the necessary and my torpedo left my aircraft. | Remembering his orders while he was in the air, Mr Moffat said: "All of a sudden they said to let her go. I pressed the necessary and my torpedo left my aircraft. |
"I can't honestly turn around and say I changed it. But I would like to think I did. They decided it was my torpedo that managed to hit it." | "I can't honestly turn around and say I changed it. But I would like to think I did. They decided it was my torpedo that managed to hit it." |
Hundreds were killed on both sides during the sinking of HMS Hood and the German ship. | Hundreds were killed on both sides during the sinking of HMS Hood and the German ship. |
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