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Channel Dash Heroes
Location: Kent
Sixty years ago, as the largest German battle fleet ever assembled made a dash through the Channel, 18 Fleet Air Arm crewman flew 6 Swordfish bi-planes from Manston to attack them led by Irishman Eugene Esmonde, one of 13 killed in the action. No aircraft returned and only 4 men survived WWII, known locally as the "Channel Dash Heroes" brought together for the last time by this project.
Everyone in the community was encouraged to participate. Local school children matched landmarks with old photographs and mapped the original take-off point. Other community groups and individuals contributed photographs and memorabilia.
A drama documentary was recorded to re-enact the mission and interview survivors with music specially written by Beatles record producer and Swordfish crew Sir George Martin. A book was published including reminiscences by local people and previously unpublished photographs taken by a German crewman aboard one of the warships of the Swordfish flying in to drop their torpedos before all were shot down.
An event for 300 local contributors beside the original airstrip exhibited photographs and models to inform the public of this historic wartime event as a Royal Navy Historic Flight crew flew in the country’s last surviving Swordfish to join them for lunch. Our heroes proudly paraded in its shade to receive gifts from local children. Failing health did not deter one of the four travelling from his home in Canada. The day ended when the Swordfish took-off from the original airstrip and flew symbolically out over the Channel.
An Irish contributor displayed a 72 inch radio control model Swordfish which later so accurately depicted Esmonde’s aircraft that he became the National Aeromodelling Champion before presenting it to join other items for permanent public display in Manston Memorial Museum.
Group Name |
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Fleet Air Arm Association Kent |
| Address |
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2 Enticott Close, South Tankerton, Kent |
| Project Postcode |
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CT5 3ET |
| Finishing Date |
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1 September 2002 |
| Local Community Involvement / Partnerships: |
| Local schools, the elderly residents, local community groups |
| Grants: |
Heritage Lottery Fund: £15,000
Nationwide Building Society: £ 3,000
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