Blackburn Skua II - L2940
The Blackburn Skua was designed for the Fleet Air Arm as a low wing monoplane that was primarily used for dive bombing. The Skua was powered by a 905 hp 9 cylinder Bristol Perseus XII radial engine which was somewhat underpowered. By the outbreak of war the Skua was obsolete, however it was used on many operations. The Skua attained the first British 'kill' when a Dornier DO18 flying boat was shot down on 26 September 1939. During the German Invasion of Norway, Skuas of 800 & 803 Squadron attacked and sank the battleship Konigsberg in Bergen Harbour. For a relatively small production run of 190 aircraft, the Skua saw a great deal of service during early years of the war.
Skua L2940 was embarked on HMS Ark Royal 27 April 1940, when it went on patrol with two others in the Andalsnes area. The flight spotted a Heinkel He111 attacking the troopship, Flamingo, which they proceeded to attack and shot down. After the attack the flight turned for home but the engine on L2940 cut out forcing the pilot, Captain Partridge RM, to land on a frozen lake. The crew of the aircraft set fire to the fuel tanks in order to destroy code books and radio equipment. L2940 stayed on the ice until it thawed in the spring where after it sank into the lake.
The aircraft was discovered in 1974 by Norwegian Divers after which it was recovered by the Naval Air Command Sub Aqua Club. L2940 was transported to the Fleet Air Ram Museum where today it is on display as is shown below.
Skua L2940 was embarked on HMS Ark Royal 27 April 1940, when it went on patrol with two others in the Andalsnes area. The flight spotted a Heinkel He111 attacking the troopship, Flamingo, which they proceeded to attack and shot down. After the attack the flight turned for home but the engine on L2940 cut out forcing the pilot, Captain Partridge RM, to land on a frozen lake. The crew of the aircraft set fire to the fuel tanks in order to destroy code books and radio equipment. L2940 stayed on the ice until it thawed in the spring where after it sank into the lake.
The aircraft was discovered in 1974 by Norwegian Divers after which it was recovered by the Naval Air Command Sub Aqua Club. L2940 was transported to the Fleet Air Ram Museum where today it is on display as is shown below.
