Some very special naval aviators

[hertsman]

I attended an Historic Aircraft Association seminar at RAF Hendon on Sunday 15 November.

Amongst the speakers were de Havilland Sea Vixen test pilot Desmond Penrose and RAF pilot Tom Eeles who recounted his experiences when he went to sea on HMS illustrious flying Buccaneers. Both were entertaining and fascinating insigts into flying carrier-type aircraft and gave a flavour of some of the skills the UK will need to find again if the new carriers do get comissioned.

However the star of the show was the near 90 year-old John Moffat. John flew one of the Swordfish aircraft from Ark Royal to attack the battleship Bismarck in 1941, and it's thought it was his torpedo which jammed Bismarck's rudder, enabling Royal Navy ships to press home their successful attack. His first hand account told of the dedication and bravery of all concerned, in storm conditions that would keep modern fighters on the deck. He held an audience which included numerous ex combat pilots and aviation veterans in rapt attention as he described the difficulties of pressing home his attack in atrocious weather, low cloud base, ferocious anti-aircraft fire and all with minimal communication means with either other aircraft or naval forces. All delivered with the understated, self-deprecating humour common in men of outstanding courage and dedication.

I don't know why, but as he spoke, I just couldn't get a line from a song of much more recent era out of my head: 'What have you done today, to make you feel proud?', and, in comparison with John, coming up short in my answer. I don't even know that John did feel proud, it was just part and parcel of doing his duty. I do know that I left exhilerated but feeling very, very humble.

If you get a chance to hear any of these gentlemen speak, then I can confirm you will not be disappointed.

hertsman