Kenneth Campbell VC
A Beaufort Pilot's Gallant Torpedo Attack at Brest Harbour
Flying Officer Kenneth Campbell joined No.22 squadron in September 1940. A Scot from Ayrshire he gained a degree in chemistry at Cambridge; becoming a member of the University Air Squadron; and in Sept. 1939 he was mobilised for RAF service. His squadron had recently re-equipped with the Bristol Beaufort; designed primarily as a torpedo bomber. Campbell settled in to operational service and displayed great determination in torpedoing a merchant vessel near Borkum in March 1941. Some days later he made a remarkable escape when a pair of Me110 fighters cornered his Beaufort. A running battle ensued during which Campbell avoided being shot down despite extensive damage to his aircraft. Two days later on a ‘Rover’ patrol he succeeded in torpedoing another vessel, this time off Ijmuiden.
Scharnhorst and Gneisenau
In April 1941 the squadron was ordered from its regular base at North Coates to St.Eval in Cornwall; the reason for the move was the presence in Brest harbour of the battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau. The pair had arrived at Brest following an Atlantic foray against Allied shipping. Bomber Command's reaction was immediate and positive, embarking on a period of intensive high and medium altitude bombing. No hits were recorded but an unexploded bomb fell close to Gneisenau; forcing the Germans to move the vessel to the open harbour while disposal squads attempted to salvage the unexploded bomb. Photo/reconnaissance film of Brest harbour exposed Gneisenau’s vulnerable situation; thus creating an opportunity for the Beauforts to conduct a strike; despite the heavy anti-aircraft defences.
The Mission
An immediate torpedo attack was ordered for the following day, April 6. Only six Beauforts were serviceable at such short notice; which involved arming three with torpedoes and a further three with conventional bombs. The plan was for the bombers to create a diversion at Brest harbour and give the torpedo aircraft an opportunity for a successful strike. F/O Hyde, Sgt.Camp and F/O. Campbell were the pilots assigned to the torpedo strike. The trio took off from St.Eval in pre-dawn darkness and set course for their objective; unaware that only one of the bombers managed to get airborne from the boggy St.Eval airfield.
Campbell’s Attack
Brest harbour was shrouded in low cloud and fog when the torpedo bombers made an appearance. Prior to beginning their own attack they circled the area, waiting for a signal from the bombers, but with the approach of daylight and still no sign of the bombers, the situation for a successful torpedo attack was becoming untenable. At that time while F/O Hyde was circling the area he observed Campbell dive towards the harbour. He began his attack across the outer harbour, dropping down to sea level as he roared across the stone mole towards his target. During his hectic passage he passed between several flak ships, with their crews fully alerted. With the target looming large in his sights Campbell dropped his torpedo at a range of 500 feet. He then began a desperate climb towards the hills that surrounded the harbour. His Beaufort was forced to run the gauntlet of a withering flak barrage, so intense that it was impossible to escape the holocaust. The crippled Beaufort crashed into the harbour and was later salvaged by the Germans. All four crew members were later buried in a grave of honour.
Posthumous VC
Campbell’s gallant attack was successful; and damage to Gneisenau was so severe that it was rushed to dry dock before it sank completely. It remained there for a further 8 months and only emerged in February 1942; to become part of a flotilla of warships that took part in the celebrated ‘Channel dash’. Details of Campbell’s exploit filtered through the French underground to England; resulting in the award of a posthumous V.C. This was gazetted on13 March 1942 and was the first of four VCs awarded to Coastal Command crew members.
Ken Campbell
|
Bristol Beaufort
|
What do you think about this article?
More in History
Latest Articles