Eugene Esmonde facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Eugene Esmonde
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Officers and ratings who were decorated for the part they played in the sinking of the Bismarck, pictured in front of a Fairey Swordfish aboard HMS Ark Royal. Esmonde is second from left.
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| Born | 1 March 1909 Thurgoland, Yorkshire |
| Died | 12 February 1942 (aged 32) English Channel |
| Buried |
Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, Kent
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| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
Royal Air Force (1928–34) Royal Navy (1939–42) |
| Years of service | 1928–1934 1939–1942 |
| Rank | Lieutenant commander |
| Commands held | 825 Naval Air Squadron (1940–42) 754 Naval Air Squadron (1939) |
| Battles/wars | Second World War
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| Awards | Victoria Cross Distinguished Service Order Mentioned in dispatches |
| Relations | John Joseph Esmonde (father) Sir John Esmonde, 14th Baronet (brother) Sir Anthony Esmonde, 15th Baronet (brother) Thomas Esmonde (great-uncle) |
Lieutenant Commander Eugene Esmonde (born March 1, 1909 – died February 12, 1942) was a very brave Irish pilot. He served in the Fleet Air Arm, which is the aviation branch of the Royal Navy. He was given the Victoria Cross (VC) after he died. This is the highest award for bravery in battle for people from the Commonwealth of Nations. Esmonde earned this award during the Second World War. He led a squadron of torpedo bombers in a famous action called the 'Channel Dash'.
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Eugene Esmonde's Early Life
Eugene Esmonde was born on March 1, 1909, in Thurgoland, Yorkshire, England. His father, Dr. John Joseph Esmonde, was an Irish doctor and a former politician. Eugene had several brothers and sisters.
When Eugene was young, his father passed away in 1915. The family then moved back to their old family home in Drominagh, County Tipperary, Ireland. Eugene went to school at Wimbledon College in London and then at Clongowes Wood College in Ireland.
Esmonde's Early Flying Career
Eugene Esmonde became a pilot in the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1928. In the early 1930s, he moved to the Fleet Air Arm. This part of the navy handles aircraft. He flew in the Mediterranean Sea.
After leaving the navy in 1934, he flew for a company called Imperial Airways. He even flew special mail flights to Australia.
Eugene Esmonde in the Second World War
Starting His Wartime Service
When the Second World War began, Eugene Esmonde rejoined the Fleet Air Arm. He became a lieutenant commander. His first ship was HMS Courageous, which was sunk in September 1939. Later, he served on HMS Victorious.
Attack on the German Battleship Bismarck
On May 24, 1941, Esmonde led his squadron, No. 825 Naval Air Squadron. They flew nine Fairey Swordfish torpedo bombers. Their mission was to attack the huge German battleship, German battleship Bismarck. This attack happened after the Bismarck had sunk HMS Hood.
The Swordfish planes flew 193 kilometers (120 miles) in bad weather. One torpedo hit the Bismarck. This hit helped to slow the Bismarck down. It made it easier for other British ships and planes to find and sink it later.
Esmonde was given the Distinguished Service Order award for his brave leadership. This award was announced on September 16, 1941.
Sinking of HMS Ark Royal
Esmonde's squadron was later on HMS Ark Royal. In November 1941, this ship was hit by a torpedo. It began to sink. Esmonde and his squadron helped fly some of the crew off the ship before it went down. He was mentioned in official reports for his actions during this event.
The Channel Dash Mission
Eugene Esmonde earned his Victoria Cross during a very dangerous mission. This mission was part of the "Channel Dash" (also known as Operation Cerberus). German warships were trying to sail from Brest back to Germany through the English Channel.
On February 12, 1942, off the coast of England, Lieutenant Commander Esmonde, who was 32 years old, led six Fairey Swordfish planes. Their target was a group of powerful German ships. These included the battlecruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, and the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen. These ships had many smaller escort ships and fighter planes protecting them.
A Brave, Desperate Attack
The British knew the German ships were coming. They had a plan to attack them. But the German ships were not spotted until they were almost at Dover. This meant the British attack had to be rushed and was not well organized.
Esmonde's squadron was ordered to attack. They were supposed to have fighter planes to protect them, but these planes did not show up. Esmonde waited as long as he could. But he knew he had to go, so he took off without his escorts.
One group of British fighter planes did meet up with Esmonde's squadron. But soon, German fighter planes attacked them. This fighting separated Esmonde's planes from their escorts.
Even though their planes were damaged and they had no fighter protection, the torpedo bombers kept going. The German ships fired many anti-aircraft guns at them. Esmonde's plane was hit by a German fighter plane. It burst into flames and crashed into the sea.
The other planes in his squadron continued the attack. But all of them were shot down by enemy fighters. Only five of the 18 crew members survived the mission. The four surviving officers received the Distinguished Service Order. The one surviving enlisted crew member received the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal.
Recognizing Their Courage
People on both sides, British and German, admired the bravery of the Swordfish crews. Admiral Bertram Ramsay of the British Navy said their attack was "one of the finest exhibitions of self-sacrifice and devotion to duty the war had ever witnessed." Admiral Otto Ciliax on the German ship Scharnhorst called it "The mothball attack of a handful of ancient planes, piloted by men whose bravery surpasses any other action by either side that day."
Sadly, none of the torpedoes hit the German ships.
Seven weeks later, Lieutenant Commander Esmonde's body was found in the Thames Estuary. He was buried in Woodlands Cemetery in Gillingham, Kent, on April 30, 1942.
It is interesting to know that his great-uncle, Thomas Esmonde, also won the Victoria Cross. He received it during the Crimean War.
