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Channel Dash Heroes Editorial
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Channel Dash Heroes Editorial
Location: Kent
 On 12th February 1942, 18 young men took on the might of the largest German battle fleet ever assembled. The crewmen flew six Swordfish bi-planes from Manston to attack the enemy over the skies of the English Channel.
This proved to be the beginning of a tale of heroics, of men who rose to fame as the "Channel Dash Heroes". The four survivors were brought together for the last time by this project.
The following extract is from the book Channel Dash Heroes, by Ted Powell.
I want to tell you an unforgettable story – the story of 18 young men of the Fleet Air Arm. They took six Fairy Swordfish torpedo-bomber, canvas covered biplanes with a top speed of only 150 mph, into the attack on three powerful German warships in the Straits of Dover that were protected by over 50 other destroyers, flak ships, E boats and countless modern fighter aircraft.
Not one of the Swordfish came back and only five of the 18 airmen were rescued alive. Of these five, only one was unhurt.
  Admiral Ramsey realised these six old planes were the only aircraft immediately available to attack
When the presence of the German ships in the Channel was established beyond reasonable doubt, Admiral Ramsey who commanded Dover Castle, the command post which was the nerve centre of the Channel war, realised these six old planes were in fact the only available aircraft immediately available to attack. But how could he send these slow moving planes out in daylight against the ferocious “flak” and extremely heavy fighter escort of the German battleships?
It would be certain death.
Ted Powell, February 2002
To read the full account, contact the Channel Dash Heroes project for a copy of Ted Powell’s book.
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