'Tirpitz' 60 yrs ago today

[Martin Bull]

60 years ago this day ; -

http://www.aviatorart.com/trudgian/images/sink.jpg

Spare a thought also for the unforunate men who were trapped in the hull when she capsized.

[NeilD]

Indeed... a great deal of effort was expended to ensure that the Tirpitz was unable to put any of our sea men in that same positon..

I'm going to the 'doo' at the Petwood Hotel tomorrow which revolves around 617 Sqn and their involvment.. its a sell out apparently so I shall report back! shall be back in Woodhall Spa on Sunday for the Remembrance Day memorial, which includes a flypast by a Tornado of 617

[Martin Bull]

I'm very envious ! :o

Have a great weekend, Neil .....

[CFBC]

Indeed... a great deal of effort was expended to ensure that the Tirpitz was unable to put any of our sea men in that same positon..

I'm going to the 'doo' at the Petwood Hotel tomorrow which revolves around 617 Sqn and their involvment.. its a sell out apparently so I shall report back! shall be back in Woodhall Spa on Sunday for the Remembrance Day memorial, which includes a flypast by a Tornado of 617
I could not get a ticket...... :(. I hope it is a good "doo" Neild..... :)

[NeilD]

'twas indeed a good doo... got signatures of S/L Tony Iveson and F/L 'Benny' Goodman, both of whom were on the Tirpitz raid (s)..

Tony Iveson gave the presentation... it suddenly hit me half way through when he said something like " then over the nose of the a/c I could see The Tirpitz.." you get so used to reading 2nd or 3rd hand accounts of whats happened it was superb to hear it from the horses mouth.. and whilst sitting in the building that they left from 60 years ago..

Neil.

[CFBC]

Wow.. Was there many people there Neild......

I bet it made the hairs on yer back tingle hey...... Wish me dad didn't leave it so late to get the dam tickets now.... :(

[NeilD]

there were 250 in the audience.. its an annual event which coincides with Remeberence Sunday and a 617 Sqn reunion.. there were about half a dozen 617 crew from that era there unfortunately they all dashed off to get ready for their dinner so didnt catch them.. dunno who the speaker will eb next year (it always used to be Jim Shortland), but worth getting a ticket.. Lincs Lanc Assoc were there and i bought a couple of books from them.. worth a visit if your passing for a look in the Dambusters Bar in the Petwood as you can go in there for a drink anytime.

attached.. the RAF Ensign flyign over The Petwood today..

[CFBC]

Thanks Neild and GREAT photo...... :)

[Martin Bull]

Ditto Neil ! Glad the weather was so good for the event.

I've been to Woodhall Spa but never to the Petwood - must make a point of visiting one day.....

[NeilD]

Martin

during the talk a video called Life And Death Of The Tirpitz (or something similar) was shown, narrated by Ludovic Kennedy so presume based on his book of the same name.. do you know if this was released commercially as a quick 'Google' didnt show it... virtually all of the footage was 'operational', apart from the shots of the Tirpitz still in the Fjord - when was it finally removed ??

Neil.

[Sailor.]

Maybe this site will shed a bit of light on the question?
http://www.bismarck-class.dk/tirpitz/miscellaneous/tirpitz_wreck_site/tirpitz_wreck_site.html

[Martin Bull]

Fascinating link, Sailor - thanks for posting it ! :)

I'm always a sucker for 'then & now' stuff, and those shots are 't&n' with a difference.

[NeilD]

yep interesting link.. wonder when the bulk of it was finally removed as this video included colour film of it... ? it was in quite shallow water I understand, and was only able to 'turn turtle' because of the craters in the bed caused by bombing?

[NeilD]

..and for anyone who's not been to Woodhall Spa heres the 617 Sqn memorial

[I love planes]

Wow, I'd be interested in seeing that Neil. If you find out let me know.

[Martin Bull]

'Tirpitz' was dismantled for scrap by the Nowegians between 1947/49. It was discovered that the reason for sinking was a 'Tallboy' hit on the port side between the catapult and funnel ; this blew out a large section of the port side and, indeed, the ship probably went over as a result of craters or water displacement caused by multiple near-misses.

Something like one-third of the ship, including a complete turret, is still believed to remain on the fjord-bed....