Flt Lt Frede Johannes Florentsen

254 Sqn

Beaufighter X (Z)

08.08.44

12:25 - 17:36

1225/36 A/B North Coates in formation 9 Beaufighters of No. 455 Squadron (cannon) 4 of No. 455 (R.P. & cannon) and 15 Beaufighters of No. 489 Squadron (cannon) and escorted by 48 Mustangs of 9th U.S.A. Air Force.
All Beaufighters of No. 254 Squadron except 'T' 'N' & 'B' were armed with one torpedo Mk XV 10 ft. setting and 4 cannon. 'T' 'N' & 'B' had cannon only.
The force was led by W/Cdr R.E. Burns DFC in 'T'/254.
1435 Formation turned on to patrol off Egersund [Norway].
1441 Sighted and attacked convoy of 5/7 M/V's, 1 possible Sperrbrecher, 4/5 E/V's on N'ly course close inshore.
T/254 attacked M/T of 3/4000 tons and saw cannon strikes amidships. W/254 attacked suspected Sperrbrecher with cannon. M/254 fired torpedo at M/V towards rear of convoy. F/254 attacked M/V towards head of c/v with torpedo and cannon. Numerous cannon strikes seen forward of bridge. D/254 attacked possible Naval type escort vessel with torpedo and obtained cannon hits on A/T at rear of convoy.
V,Z,X - all attacked large A/T at head of C/V with torpedoes. V also attacked single M/V inshore close to Egero with cannon. 'U' fired torpedoes at large A/T at rear of C/V. 'Q' attacked Naval escort with torpedo and an A/T inshore of convoy was well raked with cannon from stem to stern. 'S' attacked an M/V inshore of Naval escort with torpedo. 'K' attacked E/V towards rear of c/v with torpedo. 'R' attacked a large M/V with torpedo. 'O' attacked M/V in centre of c/v with torpedo. 'B' (S/L James, W/O Reynolds) missing after operation. Many crews claim to have seen 3 possible torpedo hits, three on 2 different. M/V's and one on large unidentified type of Naval Escort. Naval escort was heavily hit by cannon and was reported burning furiously. A column of smoke 700 ft high seen rising from an M/V at head of convoy after the attack. Fires seen on three further M/V's and 3 further E/V's were left smoking.
Photographs show at least 5 M/V's, 7 A/T's, 1 Tug type armed auxiliary and very heavily armed Naval type escort. One M/V was Norwegian 'VIM', 2 M/V's tanker types all about 2/3000 hrs. Two torpedo hits on one tanker type and one on another vessel. Four vessels on fire. One of the missing aircrew seen to bale out by parachute. Z/254 [Florentsen] had several holes in rudder and tail unit. D/254 hit on underside of starboard engine which cut. Crashed landed at base and caught fire. Crew safe.
1650/1736 All landed at base except B/254 missing.

AIR 27/1516