I wonder if any of you have a complete crew-list for Beaufort N? Fullagar of this crew is buried at Vanse churchyard. Also crew positions and mission type is of interest.
One of a great many aircraft attempting to torpedo the Prinz Eugen which was returning to Germany after being severely damaged by a torpedo from an English U-boot. Following the failure of the entire Beaufort force to inflict any damage at all, the aircraft was withdrawn from service over the North Sea.
The only gen I have on Bristol Beaufort Mk. At around hours on 14 October , three Beauforts of No 42 Squadron based at Leuchars in Fife were ordered to make a torpedo attack on two enemy merchant vessels near Obrestad in Norway, although apparently they did not set off in formation.
At hours, Pett came across a sunken ship off the Norwegian coast, with its superstructure above water and a lifeboat hanging from a davit. He hunted further down the coast but found no other ships and returned safely to land at hours. In overcast and rainy conditions, Sellick found two vessels at hours, of about 1, and 2, tons, and attacked the smaller. There was heavy and light flak from both vessels, hitting the aircraft and wounding the observer, Sgt Martin, in the leg.
The vessel was hit with their torpedo and emitted a high column of black smoke. As they came out of the attack at hours, the crew saw Woodward's Beaufort letter N going directly into the attack. It thus seems probable that James Woodward and his crew, Sgts Fowles, Fullager and Credland, were shot down by the vessels attacked by Sellick, who landed safely back at Leuchars at hours.
