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CPO Donald Bunce CGM
Joined FAA in January 1940 and trained as a Telegraphist Air Gunner (TAG). Don was drafted to 825 Squadron and then transferred to HMS Victorious at Scapa Flow, joining HMS Hood and HMS Prince of Wales. Torpedo attack on Bismarck same day as HMS Hood was sunk. His Squadron later transferred to HMS Ark Royal for Malta Convoys etc until she was torpedoed and sunk. The Squadron reformed at Lee-on-Solent and sent to Manston, Kent where they prepared for the night attack on Scharnhorst, Gneisehau and Prinz Eugen. This turned into a daylight raid on 12th February 1942 and all the aircraft were shot down, with only five survivors – four officers and CPO Bunce himself. From then on Don transferred to training squadrons. He was demobbed in January 1946. He died on 29th September 2008.
| CPO Donald Bunce CGM - Signed Aviation Art |
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| Text for the above items : |
Operation Cerberus - The Channel Dash by Philip West. The Channel Dash (officially known as Operation Cerberus) was one of three operations during the Second World War for which the Swordfish was to become the most famous. Heavily outgunned in the Straits of Dover on this day in February 1942 by the German warships Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and Prinz Eugen, with their accompanying flotilla of destroyers and motor torpedo boats, and with top cover provided by deadly fighter aircraft of the Luftwaffe, all six Fleet Air Arm Swordfish were shot down. Only five of the eighteen aircrew survived. Here we see the Swordfish flown by Sub. Lt. Kingsmill and Sub. Lt. Samples with PO Bunce in the rear, fighting for their lives with his machine gun. |
| CPO Donald Bunce CGM Aircraft details |
 Swordfish Manufacturer : Fairey Built : 2399 | Swordfish Torpedo bomber and reconnaissance biplane, crewed by three, with a top speed of 154mph, reduced to 136mph as a float plane. Maximum ceiling 19,000 feet, reduced as a float plane. Armed with a .303 Vickers machine gun fixed forward and one in the rear cockpit. One 1610lb torpedo or up to 1500lb bomb load. At the outbreak of world war two the fleet air arm had 13 operational squadrons. The Fairey Swordfish has earned its place in history for major contributions to naval warfare, during the Norwegian campaign, and especially during the raid on Taranto. In November1940, twenty Swordfish took off from HMS Illustrious to attack the Italian fleet in their Harbour of Taranto. At Least nine torpedoes hit their targets. Seven Italian ships were badly damaged including the battleships, Caio Duillio, Littorio and Conte De Cavour. This was followed in February 1942, by a heroic but suicidal attack on German battlecruisers in the English Channel by six Swordfish of 825 squadron from RAF Manston. All aircraft and crews were lost. This resulted in a Victoria Cross for the leader Lieutenant Commander E Esmonde. The next major event was the torpedo attack on the Bismarck by Swordfish from HMS Ark Royal, which badly damaged the steering gear of the Bismarck which helped in the final destruction of the German battleship by Royal Navy battleships. The Fairey Swordfish was also used in anti-submarine and anti-shipping roles. The Swordfish sunk more enemy ships (by tonnage) than any other aircraft acting in the same role. By the end of the war the Fleet Air Arm still had nine active squadrons, but these were finally disbanded in May 1945. A total of 2399 Swordfish were built. |
| CPO Donald Bunce CGM Squadron details |
No.825 Sqn FAA Country : UK | No.825 Sqn FAA Fleet Air Arm 825 Squadron was formed 8th October 1934 as a reconnaissance squadron equipped with the Fairey IIIF. In July 1936, 825 re-equipped with the Fairey Swordfish Mk I bi-plane whilst on HMS Glorious. In May 1940, 825 disembarked to UK land bases, carrying out operations against U-Boats and E-Boats in the Calais area during Operation Dynamo - the Dunkirk evacuation. They joined HMS Furious in July, taking part in operations off Norway during September. In May 1941, 825 joined HMS Victorious and successfully located the German battleship Bismarck. Damage inflicted by the squadron enabled surface vessels to sink the battleship on 26th May. They transferred to HMS Ark Royal in June for Malta convoy protection duties. Following the sinking of HMS Ark Royal in November the squadron was reformed at Lee-on-Solent in January 1942. Six aircraft on detachment at RAF Manston attacked the German ships Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and Prinz Eugen in the English Channel. No hits were made and all aircraft were lost. 825 was on convoy escort duty in the Arctic and Atlantic until its disbandment in April 1945. Since 1945, 825 has been reformed and disbanded several times. They reformed at RNAS Culdros in May 1982 seeing action in the Falkland Islands. 825 returned to the UK and was finally disbanded September 1982. Crews of the swordfish which attacked the Bismarck on May 24th, 1941 flown from HMS Victorious |
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